It is a natural reaction for men to worry if they start noticing their penis skin becoming red and irritated. The usual culprits for these skin conditions are frequent masturbation or aggressive sex that can result in red, irritated penis skin. However, an inflammation of the penile glans (often referred to as balanitis) is quite common. It is predominantly a condition seen in young boys under and men who have not been circumcised. Red, irritated penis skin is also less common in men who use a penis health creme on a regular basis to protect their penis from irritation and redness.

What Other Symptoms May Be Noticed?

As well as the penile skin become red and irritated, men with the condition may notice their penis becoming particularly sensitive and sore. The redness may be seen in an isolated area or it may affect the whole glans of the penis. There may also be a thick discharge emanating from the penis, which many men mistakenly take to mean they have contracted an STD, while pain during urination and a loss of the ability to pull back the foreskin may also be experienced.

What Causes These Symptoms?

There may be a number of reasons why the penis skin becomes red and irritated:

- Lack of proper hygiene - irritation of the penis can be exasperated by not properly washing and maintaining care of the penis. Excess smegma can form around the base of the glans if it is not cleaned properly and can cause redness and irritation, particularly if the foreskin is tight

- STDs - although it is possible for conditions like herpes and gonorrhoea to cause balanitis, they are not usually the root cause. Many men often worry needlessly that their symptoms are the result of a contracted STD, when usually it is some other minor reason that is causing the problem

- Infection - aside from STD infection, other fungal diseases can cause problems. Candida is a small bacterium that lives on the skin and can lead to balanitis in men (it is also the same bacteria that causes women to suffer from vaginal thrush). These bacterial infections may often be sped up due to a number of factors - for example, if a man has diabetes or a pre-existing allergy, balanitis may occur quicker

- Bodily and chemical irritants - lack of a proper hygiene regime may cause sweat and other bodily fluids to build up around the glans, leading to it becoming inflamed. Additionally, many men experience the problem when they switch to a new soap, as the chemicals in the product can have an irritating effect on the penile skin. Spermicides and other powerful chemicals found on condoms may exasperate an existing redness or irritation as well.

How Is A Disease Diagnosed?

General practice is for a doctor to use a swab directly under the penis. This swab is then tested for infections while the patient may also be given a diabetes test. Occasionally, referral to a penis specialist may be required.

How Do You Prevent These Symptoms?

As mentioned previously, keeping the penis clean and hygienic is the best way to prevent redness and irritation. Men who are prone to these symptoms should also try using a condom designed for sensitive skin, and condoms should NEVER be used more than once. There are also various penis emollients and creams that can soothe penile redness and irritation. For example, the penis specific vitamins and minerals that make up Man1 Man Oil can help protect the penis from infection and various other diseases, as well as ensure the penis skin does not become red and irritated.

About

John Dugan writes articles on men's health for print and web publications. For additional expert information on penis health visit the website http://www.penishealth101.com/ .