What is the cause of foreskin edema?

Foreskin edema may be caused by traumatic stimulation, allergic reaction, local infection, foreskin incarceration, obstruction of lymphatic flow, etc. It can be relieved by hot and cold compress treatment, anti-allergic treatment, anti-infective treatment, manual reduction, and surgical treatment. It is recommended to seek medical treatment promptly to determine the cause of the disease and avoid aggravating the condition by self-treatment.

1. Traumatic stimulation

Sexual intercourse or external friction may cause local capillaries in the foreskin to rupture, manifesting as edema and bruises. In the early stage, cold compresses with ice packs can be used to reduce swelling, and after 48 hours, hot compresses can be used to promote absorption. If the skin is damaged, it needs to be disinfected with iodophor and kept dry. Avoid wearing underwear that is too tight to reduce friction.

2. Allergic reaction

Contact with allergens such as condoms and detergents can cause allergic reactions, and edema accompanied by itching and erythema is common. Allergens need to be removed immediately and flushed with saline. You can take loratadine tablets as directed by your doctor to treat allergies, and apply desonide cream topically to reduce inflammation. Authors of recurrent relapses recommend testing for allergens.

3. Local infection

Balanitis is mostly caused by Candida albicans or bacterial infection and manifests as edema with white discharge and burning pain. You can soak it in potassium permanganate solution and apply miconazole nitrate cream externally to fight fungi. In case of bacterial infection, cefaclor capsules should be taken orally to keep the affected area clean and dry. People with diabetes are more likely to relapse.

4. Foreskin incarceration

In patients with phimosis, forcibly turning up the foreskin can lead to incarcerated edema, with the distal end appearing purple-red and accompanied by severe pain. Early attempts at manual reduction: press the glans with the thumb and pull down the foreskin with the index finger. Failure requires emergency surgery to incise the narrow ring, and subsequent circumcision is recommended to prevent recurrence. Delayed treatment may result in tissue necrosis.

5. Lymphatic drainage is blocked

Filariasis or tumor compression can cause lymphatic obstruction, which manifests as painless persistent edema and skin thickening like orange peel. Diagnosis needs to be confirmed by ultrasound or lymphography. In mild cases, elastic underwear may be worn for compression, and in severe cases, lymphatic anastomosis may be required. If combined with filarial infection, diethylcarbamazine tablets should be taken orally to kill microfilariae.

You should choose pure cotton loose underwear every day to reduce friction, and gently cleanse smegma in the bath. Avoid sexual intercourse and spicy food after edema occurs. Patients with phimosis are advised to undergo elective surgery after inflammation is controlled. It is necessary to clean hands before using all topical medicines, and observe whether there are symptoms of skin irritation after use. If edema persists for more than 3 days or is accompanied by fever or ulceration, you must seek immediate medical attention from a urology department.