Is this Balanitis? I'm 21, had it most of my whole life, no treatment has worked

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Hello, I've seen a doctor many times about a mild condition I have on my penis glans, have been prescribed 3 different creams including Betnovate and a Hydrocortisone, a course of antibiotics and a swab which said I was clear and still the condition remains. I used to have a tight foreskin up until last year which is now sorted from stretching, and I think the condition began during my teenage years when I wasn't able to wash the glans. It often feels dry and can sometmes feel slightly painful when the foreskin retracts, almost like its rubbing and the sensitivity everywhere is quite high still, not sure if this is due to the condition. The urethra opening is always red and inflamed and red areas appear frequently around the glans itself. Any advise on what I should do would be much appreciated, have attached a photo too. Many thanks!

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  • Edited

    Are all of you circumsized? Balantis only effects people that arent and i am circumcised with almost all the same symptoms.

    Has anything helped you guys? for me the following notes have been deduced after 4 months.

    I almost never feel it when I wake up.

    It's usually worse when in a sitting position, may be physchological.

    Sitting in a bath, I can hardly ever feel anything. reference sitz bath.

    All paneling has come back clean.

    Occured 2 days after unprotected sex.

    Currently on week 4 of 6 weeks cycle of cipro for prostatitis. Small improvement thus far.

    • Posted

      i am circumsized as well, docs told me prostititus a while back but i dont really buy that. when my penis tip starts hurting i put a bandaid over it and the pain goes away, i feel normal after a few hours

    • Edited

      just a regular bandaid . its the only thing that gives me relief, i know it sounds crazy

    • Posted

      for the meatus lip pain do you mean bro ? sorry I cant picture how you are doing that and how it could be helping ?

    • Edited

      yes... it keeps my pants and anything else from rubbing against the tip

    • Posted

      im not circumsized.... the discomfort is definately worse when sitting however does ease when laying down. doc examined me and i do have an enlarged prostate so am on cipro (1 week in and no change)

    • Posted

      I might have to try this."Bandaid Protections" because I know friction is not nice. This feeling has me shying away for any sexual pleasure I once loved.The urinary meatus, also known as the external urethral orifice, is the opening of the urethra. It is the point where urine exits the urethra in males and in females, and also where semen exits the urethra in males. This is the exact spot that always feels hot/tingle/burn however you say it.Almost like the feeling I would imagine of dragging your knuckles on sandpaper until raw and then touching it. Wouldn't you guys agree?

    • Edited

      Hi Chris,

      My urologist also thinks I have prostatitis. I started antibiotics this week (sulfamethoxozole). She said I could expect to see improvement in the first 48 hours of taking it. I've been taking it for 60 hours so far and cant say i seen any changes so far. Can you tell me if any of the following are true for you (they are for me):

      • Sit a lot during the day?
      • Drink a lot of alcohol
      • Masturbate 3-4 times per week (usually into sock)
      • Vegan diet
      • Swollen testicles
      • Spots/pigmentation changes on glans

      I haven't tried the warm bath idea but my doctor suggested I try it.

    • Posted

      Mike i do the same thing with a band aid. I actually stopped using a band aid and started wrapping it in gauze because the band aid hurt when i peeled it off. Its the only thing that stops it from hurting when it rubs against the underwear.

    • Edited

      I do sit often, mainly driving for work and when sitting it's usually worse.

      Yes slight pigmentation change in the glan (head).

      masterbation and sex do not seem to make it worse for me.

      Yes I drink a lot if alcohol, though ive cut back and it seems to help some (but ive only tested this for a few days).

      I'm on week 5 of a 6 week prescription if cipro and I have a little bit of improvement, but it seems that time may be the only thing to fix this one.

  • Edited

    just going to add to this

    everyone is so concerned about dryness, mine got better without moisture. If you are uncircumcised then dryness will be a problem, because the skin is so sensitive. If you are circumcised, the skin thickens and now I do not experience any symtoms from dryness.

    after my circumcision I genuinely thought it had gone. No symtoms, looked great. But then when the sexual activity resumed, it came back. I think the shock to the head of the penis from being exposed temporarily suppressed the condition.

    When I go on a run, I have so much rubbing, get back and glands look great, almost no redness and swelling of the 'lips'. As I begin to relax at home, the redness begins to comes back

    my dermatologist was obsessed with the theory that I needed anti histamine injections

    do a test for me, scratch your arm with your nail, does it leave a red mark and the skin is slightly raised? this could mean your body is very reactive and you might benefit from antihistamines

    because they build up (histamines), the more constant friction the less reaction

    i dont think this applies to us but it is my doctors theory

    • Posted

      yes I think its worth a shot, didn't work for me but might help others

    • Posted

      Antihistamines are drugs which treat allergic rhinitis and other allergies. --- this is what I'm talking here for the last two weeks. I'm already checking with allergologist and I suggest to you too!

    • Posted

      Hi Timmy

      unfortunately I had to change my appointment so it is now the 8th, I'll post my findings on here after the appointment

      Dan

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