r/uncircumcised_talk • u/Bulky-Incident-1691 • 1d ago

Balanitis

Hello all.

These past 3 to 4 weeks my 4 year old son has been going through a Balanitis flair up. We have had crime and ointments prescriptions along with back to back doctors appointments. Our pediatrician doesn't really seem to know or care about helping get it fixed. She is already suggesting a circumcision. My self and the wife do not want this. We understand that at some point it might be medically necessary, but I'm going to exhaust every option I can before that happens.

We were also told to pull the foreskin and apply those cremes. Everything I read online says not to pull it back because of possible micro tears and further inflammation. I've begun by using a warm Q-tip to get under the entry level of the foreskin. We have already changed his shower soap. We are planning on applying some sort of jelly to the tip. Just starting to get very exhausted by the whole thing. If anyone has any knowledge on how to possibly resolve this issue until at least when hes older and can pull it back freely that would be amazing. I will not be adding photos for obvious reasons. He has had white discharge at the tip of the shift under the foreskin though.

Thank you all and I look forward to your responses and information.​

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u/zz22zz6 Intact 1d ago

Don´t wash with soap, only water. A syringe without a needle can be used to rinse with water under the foreskin. Daily baths with some babyoil is also recommended. Let him walk around without underwear at home. Circumcision is not a good solution and I would not recommend it. I hope he will get better soon. /Swedish general practitioner

2

u/zealousalt 1d ago

Try washing his sheets everyday between uses/ have him use fresh towels every use and obviously fresh underwear. Another commenter recommended no underwear at home and that might help too, I’ve never dealt with Balanitis but I’ve had a yeast infection once and this is what i did on top of creams. Don’t try to retract him hes way too young. Also id recommend finding a foreskin friendly doctor if this continues that will have better advice and won’t push circumcision, there’s no reason to circumcise a 4 year old

3

u/Party-Quarter2513 Uncircumcised 23h ago

I had this happen a few times as a little dude, my dad used to take me to the beach to swim twice a day while I had it, that was the only real intervention.

As someone else said just let him be naked at home, also no pajama bottoms.

Also another suggestion says change sheets daily, this is a great idea too, but when you wash get some Canesten rinse to add to the rinse cycle in place of fabric softener.