Phimosis Treatment Options: How Can I Cure a Tight Foreskin?

If you’re suffering with a tight foreskin, it’s understandable that you would be looking for phimosis treatment options. The condition can be extremely uncomfortable, but there’s no need to resort to drastic measures. Phimosis is an extremely common problem and there are a number of different ways to cure it. Before we dive in and take a look at what you can do about it, let’s first learn a little about what phimosis is.

What Is Phimosis?

Phimosis is a tightening of the foreskin, which makes it impossible – and often extremely painful – to fully retract. We do not completely understand why some people suffer from Phimosis and others don’t. It can happen naturally or it can develop over time.

In infants, phimosis is especially common. For most young boys, foreskin tightness goes away naturally, usually by around three years old. In some instances it can even last into the teens, but in the majority of cases, the foreskin should be comfortably retractable by 16 or 17 years of age.

Phimosis treatment should only be necessary if urination becomes difficult, or there are other symptoms, such as swelling, rashes or pain.

Symptoms of Phimosis

The most common symptom is simply being unable to pull the foreskin back fully, or even partially. But other symptoms of phimosis include: 

  • Rashes, spots or redness
  • Itchiness
  • Fluid buildup
  • Swollen foreskin, especially while urinating
  • A change in colour around the glans (head) of the penis
  • Pain, particularly when urinating 
  • Bad smell

Phimosis can also cause problems during sexual intercourse. It can often be painful and for some it can lead to a lack of sensation. The foreskin can even split.

In rare and very extreme cases, phimosis can lead to the blood circulation becoming so heavily restricted, that the tissue around the penis dies. If necrosis occurs, the penis may have to be surgically removed. Getting the right phimosis treatment early on is extremely important.

Causes of Phimosis

Phimosis is much more common in younger boys than in adults and only affects uncircumcised males. In newborn babies, the foreskin is still attached to the glans. It only starts to detach between the ages of two and six years old, though in extreme cases, it may not fully detach until around ten years old.

Although in many cases, the cause of phimosis is not fully understood, there are several risk factors which make it more likely to occur. These include:

  • Urinary tract infections
  • Trauma, such as repeated rough handling 
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Sufferers of type 2 diabetes
  • Skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema or lichen sclerosus

Phimosis Treatment Options

So what are the treatment options for phimosis sufferers? First of all, it’s important to seek the diagnosis of a medical professional. There is a worrying trend emerging for DIY, home circumcision. This is incredibly dangerous and can lead to all kinds of complications, including problems with urination and foreskin necrosis, or dead and decomposing tissue on the penis.

Your doctor should first perform a physical check before recommending a phimosis treatment. It’s possible that other conditions may be causing the foreskin tightness, such as balanitis. In these cases, a swab test may be required. This will determine whether or not the condition requires anti-fungal treatment or antibiotics.

If no other condition is identified as the cause of phimosis, your doctor will recommend one of the following treatment options, depending on the severity of the case.

Natural Phimosis Treatment

In terms of natural treatments for phimosis, there are very few options available. With less severe cases, the doctor may opt to wait things out. It’s entirely possible that the foreskin will loosen on its own and just needs a little more time. 

You may come across information on the internet regarding phimosis stretching exercises, but we would not recommend following such advice. Several websites claim that foreskin stretching can be a preventative measure, as well as a natural phimosis treatment. But evidence to support this is lacking. In fact, such stretching exercises can do more harm than good. 

We cannot stress enough the importance of consulting your doctor if you are suffering with phimosis.

Phimostop

A much safer alternative to phimosis stretching exercises, are those products which naturally loosen the foreskin over time. Phimostop, for instance, is an award winning phimosis treatment, earning the gold medal at the Geneva International Invention Exhibition. 

Use of Phimostop enables the following:

  • Loosens the skin around the glans, allowing full retraction of the foreskin without the need for surgery such as circumcision
  • Easier cleaning and improved hygiene
  • Correction of narrow foreskins, allowing them to fully cover the glans
  • Prevents the development of phimosis due to inflammation or infection 

The procedure works by inserting of progressively larger “tuboids” underneath the foreskin. Although Phimostop should not be used by children, it is a proven phimosis cure in adults with various degrees of foreskin tightness. The length of time required for this phimosis treatment to be considered a success varies, but users wear a tuboid for an average of 24 to 48 hours before moving up to the next size.

The tuboids are reusable, simply by washing with soap and water, which makes it an ideal treatment for recurring phimosis. They can also be used as a pre-emptive, preventative measure. If you notice an inflammation around the glans or swelling of the foreskin, Phimostop can help to prevent scar tissue from forming. 

Phimostop is a completely safe phimosis treatment. The Italian Ministry of Health has validated the product, which carries a CE mark. Phimostop users report it to be painless and comfortable. 

You can purchase Phimostop from our online store.

Topical Creams for Phimosis

There are several different kinds of corticosteroid cream available to purchase. They claim to provide effective phimosis treatment by progressively thinning the skin around the glans, to loosen it up. Again, the evidence to support this is lacking.

However, such creams can be used alongside a product such as Phimostop, in order to help smooth the insertion of the tuboids. But as always, make sure to consult a medical professional for advice.

Some of the most common creams for phimosis include:

  • Hydrocortisone 2.5%
  • Betamethasone 0.05%
  • Triamcinolone 0.01%
  • Fluticasone propionate 0.05%

Phimosis Surgery

When it comes to phimosis treatment, the last resort is surgery. There are several possible types of phimosis surgery:

  • Preputioplasty: The foreskin is cut and stretched, widening it. This helps to maintain the look of an uncut penis, but makes it easier to retract the foreskin.
  • Frenuloplasty: A similar procedure to a preputioplasty, this requires a cut on the frenulum, the tag of skin found on the underside of the penis. The frenulum is stretched, loosening the foreskin.
  • Circumcision: A more comprehensive phimosis treatment which involves the removal of the entire foreskin. Usually carried out on infants, it is still possible to have a circumcision in adulthood or as a teen. Particularly if there is a severe case of phimosis, due to recurring infections of the urinary tract, or conditions such as balanitis. 

These phimosis treatment procedures are carried out in a hospital and a scalpel or surgical scissors will be used to make the incisions. Bleeding will be stopped by cauterisation, the process of applying extreme heat to the skin to close the wound. 

It will normally take around ten days to fully recover from a circumcision and your doctor will likely advise you to take some time away from work or school.

Phimosis Treatment Options: Summary

Hopefully, you now fully understand the range of phimosis treatment options which are available to you. We’ve covered everything from phimosis cream, right through to the various types of surgery. 

However, if you are experiencing symptoms of phimosis, please seek the opinion of a trained medical professional to discuss your options fully and never, ever attempt a self-circumcision. This is extremely dangerous and can result in severe damage to the penis.

If your doctor recommends a natural treatment for phimosis, we highly recommend that you try Phimostop. This completely safe and proven phimosis cure is available to order online, with free worldwide shipping.