Sexually active men - whether active with a partner or with themselves - often benefit from employing some form of lubricant on the penis skin. Since every guy is different, the choice of lubricant is highly individual. But to maintain best penis health, it’s a good idea to spend a little time considering what is right for the penis. The following tips can be helpful in making that decision.

- Sometimes with a partner; always when masturbating. One of the first decisions to make is when a man needs to use lubricant. For many men, a little lubricant makes the initial penetration of partner sex smoother. Others, however, rarely opt for lubricant with a partner. Either natural lubrication from themselves and their partners is sufficient, or the condom they use contains some lubricant that does the trick.

However, when masturbating, lubricant of some kind is almost always necessary. The friction created by rubbing the penis vigorously with the hand over an extended period of time can result in rubbing the penis skin raw unless lubricant is involved. While some men find that they get by with a mixture of the natural lubricant from the penis and their own saliva, others find the use of a lubricant product is necessary.

- When about washing? Another factor for a man to consider is his post-sex routine. Some men keep the penis unwashed after partner sex or masturbation. They may go to sleep happily letting the lingering scent of sex accompany them to dreamland. Others take time to wash and dry the penis soon after sexual activity is complete.

Why does this matter in terms of lubricant? Because some lubricants may not be good for penis skin if left on after sex. This especially applies to some water-based lubricants; remnants of the lubricant dry into a powder. If the powder remains on the penis for an extended period of time, it can dry out the skin.

- How long is the sex likely to last? Different lubricants tend to stay on the penis for different lengths of time - especially during masturbation. Water-based lubricants in general get "worn off" the quickest and may need to be reapplied every 5 or 10 minutes. Oil-based and silicone lubes tend to stay on the penis skin for longer periods of time. Continuing to engage in vigorous sex after the lubricant has diminished can lead to severe skin irritation.

- How sensitive is the penis skin? Men with penis skin prone to dryness or rashing may need to take special care when selecting lubricant. A general rule of thumb is that lubricants with fewer ingredients tend to be less harsh. Also, silicone lubricants, as a class, tend to be easier on the skin.

While this does not relate to the health of the penis skin, when using a latex condom, remember that oil-based lubricants should be avoided, as they can cause the condom to deteriorate. Also, silicone lubricants are not good for use with silicone sex toys.

Used correctly, a lubricant can help maintain the health of the penis skin while providing great pleasure during sex. But lubrication alone is not enough; regular application of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is beneficial in terms of keeping the penis skin in good overall health and maintaining the general health of the manhood itself. Because moisturization of the penis skin is essential, using a crème with potent hydrating qualities is key. Look for one that contains a combination of moisturizers, such as Shea butter (an exceptional high end emollient) and vitamin E (one of nature’s finest hydrators). Moisturization alone is not enough; penis skin also needs to be protected from the oxidative stress associated with free radicals. A crème containing alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant, is ideal for this job.