Pulling back foreskin

I am currently 18 years old and have recently (about 5 weeks ago) been able to pull my foreskin back for the first time. The head of my penis was very painful so I quickly rinsed it with water and pushed the foreskin back. I have been pulling my foreskin back once a week ever since. I cleaned off the smegma on the head of the penis, but there is some stuck onto the inner foreskin. The inner foreskin is also red and is very painful. Is there an easy way to clean off the smegma? And will the pain ease after cleaning off the smegma? Thank you in advance.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but from your symptoms it looks like phimosis which is causing these symptoms. Phimosis is a constriction of the opening of the foreskin so that it cannot be drawn back over the tip of the penis. Treatment includes application of a steroid cream to the foreskin up to three times a day for about a month to loosen the adhesive ring. If ballooning during micturition is present, then surgical removal of all or part of the foreskin(circumcision) may be recommended.

I would suggest a urologist’s evaluation for the same.

Hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing. Kind regards.