Phimotic ring: what it is and how it can be treated

To fully understand foreskin stretching and the treatment of phimosis, it is helpful to know some basics about the phimotic ring. 

In the case of a tight foreskin, it means that the foreskin has what is commonly known as a “phimotic ring” or “phimotic band,” which prevents the foreskin from freely retracting back and forth over the glans and crown. The phimotic ring essentially acts as a “choke” and makes it impossible for the foreskin to slide over the glans.

What’s on this page:

1. → What is phimotic ring?
2. → How to treat phimotic tissue
3. → Phimostop: how it acts on the phimotic ring

What is phimotic ring?

The phimotic ring is a thin but narrow nonelastic ring present in the foreskin that, in individuals with phimosis, prevents its complete retraction. 

Phimosis can have two different origins: congenital and acquired. The former is present in youth, when the foreskin tends not to grow as much as the penis and does not allow the glans to be uncovered normally. In congenital phimosis there is no real phimotic ring present, as there is and is clearly visible in acquired phimosis.

In the presence of a phimotic ring, the foreskin can be retracted only up to the surface covered by the phimotic band. If you try to go beyond that, you will experience pain and discomfort. If you try to forcibly retract the foreskin beyond the surface of the phimotic ring, you may cause what is known as paraphimosis – which should be avoided at all costs – or, if you try to forcibly retract, small tears on the phimotic ring, thus proving counterproductive.

Phimotic ring: how does it form?

The phimotic ring is that part of phimotic tissue with inelastic cells that is created around the foreskin after an infection, especially in cases of acquired phimosis. 

In most cases, the onset of phimosis occurs in adulthood as a result of a late or improperly treated infection. As a result of infection, a ring of increasingly inelastic cells begins to form on the foreskin, which can harden over time to create a veritable “noose” around the glans.