Phimosis / Tight Fore skin

Phimosis:

Phimosis or tight fore skin is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis cannot be pulled back past the glans. A balloon-like swelling under the foreskin may occur with urination. In teenagers and adults, it may result in pain during an erection, but is otherwise not painful. Those affected are at greater risk of inflammation of the glans, known as balanitis, and other complications.

In young children, it is normal to not be able to pull back the foreskin. In more than 90% of cases, this inability resolves by the age of seven, and in 90 % of cases by age 16.

Occasionally, phimosis may be caused by an underlying condition such as scarring due to balanitis or balanitis xerotica obliterans. This can typically be diagnosed by seeing scarring of the opening of the foreskin.

For those in whom the condition does not improve further time can be given or a steroid cream and lignocaine gel may be used to attempt to loosen the tight skin. 

If this method, combined with stretching exercises, is not effective then other treatments such as circumcision may be recommended. 

A potential complication of phimosis is paraphimosis, where the tight foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans.