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Foreskin problem what could it be?

Posted , 4 users are following.

J789
J789

For a while i have experienced a tight foreskin which has led to splits in it during intercourse.

(i think this may have led to some scaring which has resulted in it being tighter and harder to retract)

recently i have noticed the skin underneath to be whiteish and has more recently spread to the head of my penis.

any idea what this could be and how to treat?

looking online was thinking it could be balanitis? image

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • J789
    J789

    Edited

    image

    image

  • Ivank11
    Ivank11 J789

    Edited

    Hi its hard to tell from your photo it's not clear. Yes it could be balanitis but it needs to be checked out with your doctor if it was balanitis it would be quite sore and inflamed. it could also be lichen sclerosus or BXO if you have it a while I would suspect it could be. This would need treatment sooner rather than later.

    • J789
      J789 Ivank11

      Posted

      having read up about it... it looks a lot more like lichen sclerosus.

      I've added a couple more photos which are hopefully clearer (just waiting on moderator to approve)

      got a doctors appointment booked in for tomorrow.

      thanks for your reply

    • Ivank11
      Ivank11 J789

      Posted

      There a little better looking just a bit out of focus 😁 not to worry. Yes it could be LS. it's good you have an appointment tomorrow. Some doctors are not that familiar with LS they usually start you on a fungal cream first but I'd try get a referral to a dermatologist or urologist anyway. You have it a while I'd say and it's difficult to retract your foreskin the frenulum looks different as well. Do let me know how you get on.

  • Fortman
    Fortman J789

    Edited

    Hi, its lichen sclerosus, check up your rectum and oral mucosa too. Its a autoimmune dissorder. treatment is actually with cortisone. A biopsy can be usefull. You have to see a dermatologist for a safe diagnose.

    Best regards

    • J789
      J789 Fortman

      Posted

      thanks for your reply.

      after looking up lichen sclerosus it definitely seems likely have got an appointment with GP tomorrow.

      i have felt extremely fatigued for some time. could this be because of this?

    • Fortman
      Fortman J789

      Posted

      not really, fatigue can have so many causes... you have to have them checked separately.

  • J789
    J789

    Edited

    update:

    doctor was pretty useless he thinks it could have been balantis caused by trauma and resulting in quite a lot of scaring.

    have been prescribed Hydrocortisone 1% cream / apply twice daily for 7-14 days 60 gram.

    has refereed me to urologist as i wasn't convinced the Hydrocortisone will resolve and it could still be LS (he seemed to dismiss this before even looking at it as would be very uncommon for 32yo male)

    • Ivank11
      Ivank11 J789

      Edited

      Hi sorry I didn't see your update until now. Some doctors don't really know much about LS or don't understand it. Scaring is the end result of LS. this is what causes the problems with it. they don't know what causes it to start it could have been balanitis or something else. it is more prevalent in Men in the third decade then any other age group.

      See how the cream goes it will probably help but it's good you have a referral to the urologist I'd definitely go even if it improves with the steroid cream.

  • J789
    J789

    Posted

    Update : finally got to see the urologist (7 months after referral!) he has diagnosed it straight away as BXO at first sight.

    Now got to wait another 3-6 months to have an operation to have it circumcised!

    Over the last 7 months it has gradually got worse, its now very hard/impossible to retract, the white seems to have spread and got thicker. urinating is also sometimes tricky as foreskin has got much tighter.

    Is there anything that might help in the meantime?

    Very annoyed my Dr dismissed it being BXO 7 months ago, would a different type of steroid cream to the Hydrocortisone 1% cream have helped and even prevented the need for surgery on it?

    • 83355
      83355 J789

      Posted

      Possibly, yes. Clobetasol is usually first line treatment for LS. Strongest there is. The success rate is lower than with a circumcision, however, so you might be better off either way. Your GP did a terrible job.

  • 83355
    83355 J789

    Posted

    How fast was disease progression?

    • J789
      J789 83355

      Posted

      its a bit hard to work out when it started... i say perhaps over a year or so ago?

      decided it was time to get it checked out 7 months ago and in that time its progressively got worse and worse

    • 83355
      83355 J789

      Posted

      Best of luck to you. Most are helped by circumcision.

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