Balanitis is when the head of penis (the ‘glans’) becomes inflamed. This can cause the skin to become red, sore or itchy. If the foreskin is involved as well, it is referred to as balanoposthitis. The inflammation is often accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms.
It can occur in anyone who has a penis, but it mostly affects those who are uncircumcised, often also causing inflammation of the foreskin (Posthitis). Smegma is a substance made up of oil and dead skin cells. It can accumulate under the foreskin in an uncircumcised penis and around the folds of the labia.
Balanoposthitis
Balanoposthitis (balano + posthitis) is a condition that affects the penis and causes inflammation of the foreskin (also known as the prepuce) and glans. The foreskin is a fold of movable skin that covers the glans of the penis. The glans, or head, is the rounded tip of the penis.
Since the foreskin is removed during circumcision, balanoposthitis only affects uncircumcised males. It can appear at any age. It has many causes, but poor hygiene and a tight foreskin can make it easier to get balanoposthitis.
What causes Balanoposthitis?
A number of factors can increase the risk of balanoposthitis. In most cases, more than one cause is often identified. Infections are among the most common causes of balanoposthitis, for example:
- penile yeast infections,
- chlamydia,
- gonorrhea,
- herpes simplex,
- human papillomavirus (HPV),
- primary or secondary syphilis,
- trichomoniasis,
- chancroid.
Penile yeast infections are among the most common causes of balanoposthitis. They’re caused by candida, a type of fungus that’s normally found in small quantities in the human body.
Noninfectious conditions can also increase the risk of balanoposthitis. Some of these conditions include:
- chronic balanitis (balanitis xerotica obliterans),
- eczema,
- injuries, accidents, irritation caused by rubbing or scratching,
- irritation from exposure to chemicals,
- psoriasis,
- reactive arthritis,
- tight foreskin.
Everyday activities can also lead to balanoposthitis. For instance, exposure to chlorine in a swimming pool can cause penile irritation. In other cases, balanoposthitis will appear a few days after sexual intercourse and might be the result of rubbing or use of latex condoms or may be transmitted infection.
Common symptoms of Balanoposthitis
Signs of balanoposthitis appear near the penis head and foreskin and can range from mild to severe. They can make urinating or having sexual intercourse uncomfortable. Common symptoms include:
- pain, tenderness, and irritation,
- discolored or shiny skin,
- dry skin,
- itching or burning,
- thick, leathery skin (lichenification),
- unusual discharge,
- phimosis (a tight foreskin that doesn’t retract back over the penis),
- foul smell,
- skin erosion or lesions.
The combination of symptoms usually depends on the cause of balanoposthitis. For example, balanoposthitis caused by a penile yeast infection might include symptoms like itching, burning, and white discoloration around the penis head and foreskin.
Balanoposthitis vs. phimosis vs. balanitis
Balanoposthitis is often confused with two similar conditions: phimosis and balanitis. All these three conditions affect the penis. However, each condition affects a different part of the penis.
So –
- Phimosis is a condition that makes it difficult to retract the foreskin.
- Balanitis is inflammation of the head of the penis.
- Balanoposthitis is inflammation of both the penis head and the foreskin.
Phimosis can occur alongside either balanitis or balanoposthitis. In many cases, it acts as both a symptom and a cause. For example, having phimosis makes it easier to develop irritation of the glans and foreskin. Once this irritation occurs, symptoms such as pain and swelling may make it more difficult to retract the foreskin.
Causes of Balanitis
Balanitis is usually found in uncircumcised males. Poor hygiene can contribute when the area under the foreskin is not washed regularly and bacteria, skin, and sweat accumulate.
Balanitis is most often caused by a fungal infection, like a yeast infection, bacterial infections etc. This most often happens as a result of improper hygiene, especially because the foreskin can trap moisture, creating the perfect environment for fungus and bacteria to thrive.
Improper hygiene can mean not washing well enough, but it can also mean over-washing, which can both cause irritation and swelling. Not rinsing all of the soap from the area after showering or using cosmetic products or medicines that contain irritants like perfumes and dyes can also cause irritations.
Other causes of balanitis include: 
- allergic reaction to latex condoms and spermicides,
- allergic reaction to certain medications, including some antibiotics and pain relievers,
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs), like gonorrhea and trichomoniasis,
- scabies,
- certain medical conditions, including diabetes and reactive arthritis,
- injuries on the tip of the penis or foreskin.
Types of balanitis
There are three types of balanitis:
- Zoon’s balanitis: Also, just called balanitis, this is the primary type of balanitis. It mainly affects middle-aged people with uncircumcised penises.
- Circinate balanitis: This type of balanitis is caused by reactive arthritis. With this type of balanitis, the inflammation is also accompanied by tiny sores on the head of the penis.
- Pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis: This rare type of balanitis affects people over 60 with penises. It causes scaly, wart-like bumps on the glans.
The possible medical benefits of circumcision include: A lower risk of HIV and some other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) during the first year of life and penile cancer later in life.
Symptoms of balanitis
Swelling and redness of the head of the penis are the most common symptoms and often affect the foreskin.
Depending on the cause, balanitis might also cause:
- soreness, pain, and irritation around the glans,
- tight, shiny foreskin,
- itching on the skin of the glans,
- unusual penile discharge,
- sores on the head of the penis,
- a thick, white discharge under the foreskin (smegma),
- a foul smell from the penis,
- painful urination,
- swollen groin lymph nodes.
How is balanitis transmitted?
Balanitis is a symptom rather than a condition and therefore can’t be transmitted. It can, however, be caused by infections which could be sexually transmitted, mites that can be transmitted to others.
Yeast infections and STIs can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, and oral sex with different partners. Scabies and some STIs can also be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact or through infested clothing and bedding.
Diagnosis of balanitis
Balanitis can usually be diagnosed during a physical examination because most of its symptoms are visible.
Other tests are needed to determine the cause that’s why each will depend on patient’s symptoms. Tests can include:
- a swab of urethral opening to check for STIs and other infections,
- urinalysis to check for signs of infection or diabetes,
- blood tests to check for signs of infections, diabetes, and other conditions,
- a skin scraping sample to examine for mites under a microscope.
Allopathic treatment for balanitis
Balanitis treatment usually begins with improving your genital hygiene by washing and drying under the foreskin and avoiding the use of hygiene products that contain potential irritants, like perfumes.
If caused by an allergic reaction to certain products or medications especially allopathic, help your patient to find suitable alternatives. For instance, different types of allopathic medication or latex-free and spermicide-free barrier methods. 
Other allopathic treatments can be used to help relieve the inflammation and treat the underlying cause. They might include:
- Antifungal creams: Creams, such as clotrimazole or miconazole, might be prescribed if the inflammation is caused by a yeast infection.
- Anti-itch creams: Over-the-counter and prescription anti-itch creams can help with itching and redness.
- Steroid creams: Creams containing corticosteroids can help relieve inflammation and itching.
- Antibiotics: If caused by an STI, antibiotics may be prescribed. The type of antibiotic and duration will depend on which STI type and stage.
- Diabetes treatment: If patient has diabetes, recommend a treatment plan to manage diabetes. This usually involves a combination of medication and lifestyle modifications to control blood sugar.
- Circumcision: If patient developed a recurrent balanitis symptoms or phimosis, recommend circumcision to remove the foreskin and prevent future symptoms and complications.
Homeopathic treatment for balanitis
With allopathic treatment each type of STI/STD, balanitis or any other skin infection requires a specific sort of therapy; on the other hand, in Homeopathy there are lot of medicines and each of them works best on multiple types of skin bacterial as well as viral infections. For Homeopaths the easiest skin infections like eczemas, boils etc to cure permanently are those caused by fungi, bacteria, allergic/infectious (viral and/or bacterial) diseases and scabies.
With Homeopathic treatment, all types of skin, sexual organ’s diseases could be treated in surprisingly short time period. Here are very few of Homeopathic medicines for balanitis proven good in my clinical experience:
Arsenic Album
Violent itching along with great restlessness, the skin peels off in large scales and is very sore to touch. Dry, rough, scaly, dirty skin like parchment burns intensely, Over-sensitiveness skin. Itching, shooting, and burning in the glans and in the prepuce. Inflammation, painful and gangrened swelling of the genital parts. Glans swollen, cracked, and bluish. Swelling of the testes. Balanitis.
Kali Sulphuricum
Dry and harsh skin with extreme itching, Peeling and flaking of the skin, worsens with heat are observed. Gonorrhea of glans or urethra; discharge yellow, mucous, or greenish. Orchitis from suppressed gonorrhea. Gleet. Balanitis.
Tellurium
Erections all night. Increased desire, followed by long-lasting indifference. A drop of viscid fluid glues meatus. Secondary gonorrhea. Herpes on scrotum and perineum. Balanitis.
Graphites Naturalis
Eruption of pimples on the prepuce, and on the penis. Balanitis. Dropsical swelling of the prepuce and the scrotum. Dropsical swelling of the testes. Eruption of pimples on the prepuce, and on the penis. Dropsical swelling of the prepuce and the scrotum. Dropsical swelling of the testes. Voluptuous excitation in the genital parts. Indifference, or extreme excitement of sexual desire. Violent erections. Uncontrollable sexual excitement. Priapism. Absence of erections in the morning. Emission of semen, almost involuntary, without erection. 
Borax
Skin difficult to heal; dingy, unhealthy-looking skin; every injury tends to ulceration. Absence of sexual desire. Erections, with painful tension, on waking in the morning. Gonorrhea. Chancres studding prepuce. Balanitis. Sticking, sore pain.
Pulsatilla
Itching and tickling in prepuce and scrotum. Thick white, milky or cream-like, acrid discharge, itching and burning on the inner and upper side of the prepuce, Dropsical swelling of scrotum of a whitish blue color, Flow of prostatic fluid. Inflammation of prostate gland. Balanitis.
Merc Sole/Mercurius
Increase of sexual desire, and great lasciviousness, with frequent erections and pollutions. [Erections: man/boy may have this, lasting all night, causing emaciation; patient often pull and tear at the prepuce all the time, which may cause great emaciation, and result in death; adults often have this pulling, a kind of itching being the cause, and a feeling as if he “must do so”; collection of smegma behind glans.
Voluptuous itching, tingling, tearing, and shooting in glans and prepuce. Puffing, or inflammatory swelling of prepuce, sometimes with burning pain, fissures, rhagades, and eruptions. Balanitis. Burning in urethra during coitus. Purulent secretion between prepuce and glans. Vesicles and phagedenic ulcers (chancres) with lard-like, or cheesy, bases, and raised margin, on glans and prepuce. Profuse perspiration of genital parts.
Mezereum
Diminished secretion of urine. Discharge of mucus from urethra. Scaly eruptions or crusty scabby eruptions with pus-like discharge, Balanitis. Itching at prepuce. Tearing and burning lancinations in the end of the glans. Heat and swelling of penis, Abundant secretion of smegma behind glans, like gonorrhea Balani.
Ulcers with thick, whitish, yellow scabs, under which thick, yellow pus collects. Skin covered with elevated white scabs. Itching, especially at night, Miliary eruptions, sometimes chronic. Furunculi. Inflamed ulcers, with burning and shooting, or with gnawing pain of excoriation. Inflammation and swelling, Vesicles around the ulcers, itching violently and burning.
Antimonium Crudum
Itching eruptions, Miliary eruptions and nettle-rash. Discolored tumors and blisters. Eruptions are similar to chickenpox, with shooting pain on pressure, thick, hard scabs, often honey-yellow, here and there a crack oozing a green sinuous fluid, burning as if immersed in hot embers. Balanitis. Pustules with yellowish or brown scurf. Freckles. Hepatic spots. Deep spongy ulcers with gastric ulcers. Fistulous ulcers. Horn like excrescences and disposition to abnormal organizations of the skin, Degeneration of the skin.
Silicea
Itching, and red spots on glans. Excoriation, itching, and redness of prepuce. Swelling of prepuce, which is covered with itching and moist pimples. Balanitis. Dropsical swelling of scrotum. Perspiration and itching in scrotum. Itching, and moist spots on scrotum, peeling of skin, itching, pain, Perspiration from slight exercise, sweating with offensive smell, blisters.
Sepia Succus
Chapping of the skin, or cracks may extend deeply into the tissues disposed to crack. Ulceration of the exanthema; bed sores; brown sphacelus. Tetters in general. Ulcers suppurating; pus too copious; swollen; with proud flesh circular, ring-shaped lesions on the skin in isolated spots. Balanitis. Ringworm infection, Excessive sensitive skin. Dry and itching eruptions, Eruptions of vesicles, like pemphigus. Itching, stinging, lancinating, burning, or sometimes indolent ulcers.
Sulphur
Intense itching and scratching which worsen with washing and heat, especially during the night. Unhealthy skin with pimply eruptions which are painfully sensitive to air. Balanitis. Stitches in penis. Involuntary emissions. Itching of genitals when going to bed. Organs cold, relaxed and powerless. 
Carbo Vegetabilis
Sensation of tingling of the skin, throughout the body, itching all over the body in the evening, and on becoming warm in bed (scabies). Smooth, red, and oozing spots on the glans penis. Balanitis. Burning sensation in different parts of the skin. Eruption of small pimples like miliary scabies.
Antimonium Crudum
Eczema with gastric derangements. Pimples, vesicles, and pustules. Sensitive to cold bathing. Thick, hard, honey-colored scabs. Urticaria; measle-like eruption. Itching when warm in bed. Balanitis. Dry skin. Dry gangrene. Scaly, pustular eruption with burning and itching, worse at night.
Kreosotum
Skin soft, unnatural feel of skin, with pegged teeth. Violent itching all over body, with burning sensation in arms and legs, after scratching. Balanitis. Prepuce bluish black with hemorrhages and gangrene. Nettle-rash. Eruption, like bug-bites, with violent itching especially in evening; Large, greasy looking, pox like/shaped pustules over whole body. Mealy and pustular, dry or humid tetters with violent itching.
Phosphoricum Acidum
Insensibility of skin. Crawling tingling under skin. Formication of skin. Lancinating pains in glans. Fine pricking at point of penis. Balanitis. Eruption like scarlatina. Erysipelatous inflammations. Tingling and oozing vesicles round frenum. Eruption of pimples with burning pain, or pain as from excoriation.
Scabious vesicles. Eczema. Humid and dry tetters, squamous; variola. Corns with shootings and burning pain. Chilblains. Wens, Warts: large, jagged, often pedunculated, exuding moisture and bleeding readily; indented. Condylomas. Furunculi. Flat, indolent ulcers, with secretion of a dirty-looking pus, and having a serrated bottom. Itching ulcers.
Zincum Metallicum for balanitis
Balanitis. Itching, with violent lancinations, especially in evening in bed, disappearing immediately on being touched, hands constantly on the genitals. Tingling between the skin and the flesh. Chronic eruptions, Eczema of back of right hand with terrible irritation, little oozing and fistulation feels better in cold weather while excited by rubbing.
Manganum
Skin burning all over skin, in evening, and when rising from bed. Itching tetters. The skin does not heal easily; every injury tends to ulceration. Eczema. Excoriation and fissures in bend of the joints. Voluptuous itching worse by scratching. Balanitis. Itching in hollow of knee and on shin (Psoriasis). Suppuration of skin around joints.
Psorinum
Glans inflamed, with an ulcer on it, testes swollen and heavy. Burning pain at tip of penis on beginning to urinate. Chronic painless discharge from urethra. Chronic gleet. Balanitis. Frequent tightness of penis, with drawing. Absence of erections; even with lascivious thoughts, afterwards morning erections and pollutions, with satyriasis. Drawing in testicles, but steadier in small of back. Painful suppurating vesicle on scrotum. Hydrocele: from repeated inflammation caused by pressure of truss.
Taraxacum Officinale
Unhealthy, pimply, sycotic skins. Stinging on skin. Balanitis. Eruption over body, penis and limbs itching severely, and appears to be a mixture of lichen and urticaria. Eczema. Biting in skin with sweat.
Antimonium Tartaricum and balanitis
Itching in the skin. Itching pimples, and miliary eruption. Eruptions like scabies. Eruption of pustules, like varioloids, as large as peas, filled with pus, with red areola (like smallpox), and which afterwards form a crust, and leave a scar. Eczema. Itching round inveterate ulcers. Pustular eruption on different portions of the body, leaving a bluish-red mark. Balanitis.
Leontodon taraxacum
Burning sensation, and burning shootings in eyes, Balanitis, inflammation, sensation of heat and redness, shootings and pressure. Eczema. Unhealthy, pimply, sycotic skins. Eruption over body and limbs itching severely and appears to be a mixture of lichen and urticaria. Biting in skin with sweat.
Hamamelis
No remedy has a wider sphere of usefulness in cases of hemorrhage and disordered blood-vessels like hamamelis. Balanitis. Varicose veins and ulcers, with stinging or pricking, bruised soreness, purpura. Eczemas. Capillary stasis. Orchitis, intense soreness and swelling. Varicocele.
Bellis Perennis
Balanitis. Small boil, painful pimple, slight pimple with burning pain in skin – of a dark fiery purple color, and very sore, burning and aching pain in it. Eczema.
Crotalus Horridus
Petechiae. Vesicles; herpes; pimples; boils; carbuncles; burns; stings; pemphigus; ulcers; gangrene; felons; anthrax; eczema. Old cicatrices break out again. Peliosis rheumatica. Dropsies. Sexual instinct increased with entire relaxation of penis. Sharp cutting in glans. Balanitis.
Vipera Berus
Red patches on limbs, penis; livid; in spots; black petechial spots – over whole body. Eczema. Balanitis. Roseola-like eruption on inside of arm and downside of body,  offensive Gangrene.
Sulphuricum Acidum for balanitis
Red, itching spots on penis, or small, red, livid, and bluish spots, as from ecchymosis. Eczema. Excoriation of skin, also with ulceration like gangrene (becomes easily chafed when walking or riding). Furunculi. Gnawing (eating pain in the) ulcers. Excessive heat in genital parts and testes. Emission of semen, without voluptuous sensation. Itching pain in upper margin of glans. Scrotum relaxed. Orchitis. Balanitis.
Lachesis
Ecchymosis: wounds and ulcers bleed readily and copiously (small wounds bleed a good deal; ulcers bleed readily; cicatrices bleed readily; pain in old cicatrices), wounds bleeding a great while; skin very hard to heal, masses of blood pass through the pores. Eczema – almost all types. Varicose swellings, liary eruption, pimples, vesicles, and other small ulcers, Gangrenous ulcers. Gangrenous blisters. Superficial ulcers, foul at bottom. Cancerous ulceration. Carbuncles, with copper-colored surroundings and many smaller boils. Balanitis.
Antimonium Crudum
Eczema with gastric derangements. Pimples, vesicles, and pustules. Thick, hard, honey-colored scabs. Urticaria; measle-like eruption. Balanitis. Dry skin. Dry gangrene. Scaly, pustular eruption with burning and itching, worse at night. Chilly even in warm room. Intermittent with disgust, nausea, vomiting, eructation, coated tongue, diarrhea. Hot sweat. Pimples, pustules, and boils.
Ledum Palustre
Bites. Stings. Boils. Bruises. Deafness. Ear inflammation. Eczema. Erythema nodosum. Balanitis. Pediculosis. Priapism. Prickly heat. Puncture wounds. Skin eruptions. Stings. Tuberculosis. Varicella. Whitlow. Wounds.
Anthracinum
This nosode has proven a great medicine in epidemic spleen diseases and in septic inflammation, carbuncles and malignant ulcers. Boils and boil-like eruptions, acne. Eczema any type. Terrible burning. Induration of cellular tissue, abscess, balanitis, bubo, and all inflammation of connective tissue in which there exists a purulent focus.
Hemorrhages from penis, black, thick, tar-like, rapidly decomposing. Septicemia. Ulceration, sloughing and intolerable burning. Erysipelas. Black and blue blisters. Dissecting wounds. Insect stings. Bad effects from inhaling foul odors. Gangrenous parotitis. Succession of boils. Gangrene. Foul secretions.
Tarentula Cubensis for balanitis
Penis red spots and pimples. Feels puffed all over. Carbuncles, burning, stinging pains. Purplish hue. Gangrene. Abscesses, where pain and inflammation predominate. Eczema. Adapted to the most severe types of inflammation and pain, early and persistent prostration. Various forms of malignant suppuration. Purplish hue and burning, stinging pains. Balanitis. Bubo. Pain of death – Sever pain; soothes the last struggles. Pruritus, especially about genitals. Restless feet. Intermittent septic chills. Bubonic plague. As a curative and preventive remedy especially during the period of invasion. Stomach feels hard, sore. 
Crotalus Horridus
Itching stinging all over; urticaria. Penis skin dry, stiff like thin parchment; usually cold. Balanitis. Petechiae. Vesicles; herpes; pimples; boils; burns; stings; pemphigus; ulcers; gangrene; felons; anthrax. Bilious fever. Boils. Cancers. Carbuncles. Chancre. Ecchymosis. Eczema. Erysipelas. Hemorrhagic diathesis. Psoriasis palmaris. Purpura. Pyemia. Smallpox. Stings.
Hippozinum
Consumption, cancer, syphilis, etc and promises useful service in the treatment of ozaena, scrofulous swellings, pyemia, erysipelas. Tubercles on penis. Papules and ulceration in frontal sinus and pharynx. Eczema all types. Tuberculosis. Lymphatic swellings. Articular non-fluctuating swellings. Nodules in arm. Malignant erysipelas. Pustules and abscesses. Ulcers. Rupia. Balanitis.
Echinacea Angustifolia
Recurring boils. Carbuncles. Irritations from insect bites and poisonous plants. Balanitis. Old tibial ulcers. Gangrene. Remarkable medicine as a “corrector of blood dyscrasia”. Acute autoinfection. Blood poisoning, septic conditions. Eczema. Gonorrhea. Boils. Erysipelas and foul ulcers. Gangrene.
Antim Crudum
Eczema with gastric derangements. Pimples, vesicles, and pustules. Thick, hard, honey-colored scabs. Urticaria; measle-like eruption. Balanitis. Dry penis skin. Warts. Dry gangrene. Scaly, pustular eruption with burning and itching, worse at night.
Silica Tera
Felons, abscesses, boils, old fistulous ulcers. Delicate, pale, waxy. Cracks at penis. Painless swelling. Rose-colored blotches. Scars suddenly become painful. Pus offensive. Promotes expulsion of foreign bodies from tissues. Every little injury suppurates. Long lasting suppuration and fistulous tracts. Balanitis. Eruptions itch only in daytime and evening. Crippled nails. Eczema.
Asafetida
Itching, better by scratching; pricking, burning in penis. Ulcers with high, hard edges, sensitive to touch, easily bleeding; old ulcers on forearm, wrist, hand; ulcers, especially when affecting the bones; pus profuse, greenish, thin, offensive, even ichorous. Eczema. Balanitis. Ulcers, very painful to contact, esp. in the circumference, gangrenous. 
Possible complications with balanitis
Left untreated, balanitis can cause chronic inflammation and lead to complications, such as:
- Lichen sclerosus: Also called balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO), lichen sclerosus occurs when white, hard patches form on the skin. This can interfere with the flow of urine and semen through the urethra.
- Scar tissue: Long-term balanitis can lead to scarring around the glans and make the foreskin too tight to retract back over the glans.
- Ulcerative lesions: Balanitis can cause painful sores and blisters that ulcerate and bleed and eventually cause scarring. Open sores increase the risk of introducing other bacteria and viruses into the body.
- Increased risk of cancer: Chronic inflammation increases the risk of several types of cancers. According to research, balanitis, posthitis, BXO, and phimosis are associated with a higher risk of penile cancer.
Prompt treatment of balanitis and any underlying causes can significantly reduce the risk of complications and improve outlook.
PS: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
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This really answered my downside, thanks!