Dry,Cracking,Red Foreskin

I am a 20 year old male. i have only been with 2 women in my life. so i doubt its an STD. i am uncircumcised and the other day i noticed my foreskin his dry and cracking. sometimes its hard to pull it back when i need to use the restroom. there in no burning feeling unless the skin cracks and there is no bleeding. does anyone have any clue as to why my foreskin did this. when i masturbate i do not use any kind of lube and since the skin started cracking and its hard for my foreskin to come back i havent been masturbating. i have noticed it healing some over teh past 2 days so im sure i'll be fine but i want more info about what could have caused this and what i can do in the future to prevent it.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

This is a condition called balanitis.Balanitis is inflammation of the glans (glands) penis. Lack of aeration and irritation because of smegma and discharge surrounding the glans (glands) penis causes inflammation and edema.More common in uncircumcised males.

It  is usually caused by poor hygiene in uncircumcised men. The inflammation can be due to infection, harsh soaps, or failure to properly rinse soap off while bathing.
One common organism associated with balanitis is a yeast known as Candida albicans.  Balanitis may occur because of excessive growth of Candida, due to moisture and warmth under the foreskin.

It can be treated by applying Miconazole, an anti-fungal medication.Most cases of balanitis can be controlled with medicated creams and good hygiene.

Inflammation has many possible causes, including irritation by environmental substances, physical trauma, and infection by a wide variety of pathogens, including bacteria, virus, or fungus—each of which require a particular treatment.

Retract the foreskin daily and soak in warm water to clean penis and foreskin. Apply bacitracin (not Neosporin) for pediatric patients if bacterial infection is suspected.
Apply topical clotrimazole for adult men with probable candidal balanitis.

If the symptoms persist, you would need to consult your doctor.

Let us know if you need any other information.

Regards.

[bombayslik]

hi,
   i too have the same type of problem . my foreskin has become dry, red, and black. while masturbating it is very painful. i applied Vaseline total moisturizing  . It reduces the pain but when i look at it. it looks torn and red
PLEASE HELP.....

[bombayslik]

hi,
   i too have the same type of problem . my foreskin has become dry, red, and black. while masturbating it is very painful. i applied Vaseline total moisturizing  . It reduces the pain but when i look at it. it looks torn and red
PLEASE HELP.....

[lee121083]

Hi, I was hoping for other possible causes because I get the same symptoms however I clean thoroughly everyday and do wash of all soap from the area (with foreskin pulled back). I find that I only experience the condition over the colder months. I had re-occurring symptoms last winter, it went away over summer and I have just had the dryness, redness, cracking and itching on the tip of the foreskin over the last day, incidentally when the weather has gotten cold again.
Any ideas as to what this is?