What could be redness on the penis (and what to do)

Redness on the penis is, most of the time, a sign of an allergic reaction that can occur as a result of contact of the genital region with some types of soap or fabrics, or due to poor hygiene of the genital region throughout the day.

However, redness, especially if accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, burning, swelling or discharge, may also indicate infections such as balanitis or candidiasis.

Therefore, whenever the redness lasts more than 2 days or when it is accompanied by other symptoms, it is recommended to consult a urologist to identify the cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Main causes of redness on the penis

The main causes of redness on the penis are:

1. Allergy

Allergy is one of the main causes of redness of the penis and can happen due to direct contact of the organ with some type of soap, tissue or condom, for example. In addition to redness, itching and, in some cases, a burning sensation are common.

What to do: It is important to identify what can cause allergies in the penis and thus avoid contact with this substance. However, in cases where the cause of the allergy cannot be identified, the urologist may recommend the use of corticosteroids or antihistamines.

2. More hygiene

Lack of hygiene in the genital region can encourage the accumulation of dirt on the head of the penis, which can stimulate the proliferation of microorganisms that can lead to local inflammation and the appearance of redness, in addition to itching.

What to do: In this case, it is important to pay attention to hygiene habits, and the penis should be washed at least once a day, and it is recommended to retract the foreskin to expose the glans and thus remove the dirt that may have accumulated.

Read too: How to take care of penis health

3. Balanite

Balanitis corresponds to inflammation of the foreskin, which is the tissue that covers the head of the penis, and occurs mainly due to a fungal infection, which begins to proliferate in the region, leading to the appearance of signs and symptoms such as redness of the penis, itching and swelling. Of region.

What to do: It is important that the urologist is consulted as soon as the first signs and symptoms of balanitis are noted, as this allows the most appropriate treatment to be initiated, which normally includes the use of ointments containing antifungals and/or corticosteroids, to treat the symptoms, in addition to improvement in hygiene habits is indicated. Learn more about treatment for balanitis.

4. Balanoposthitis

Unlike balanitis, in balanoposthitis, in addition to inflammation of the foreskin, there is also inflammation of the glans, which is popularly called the head of the penis, which causes redness of the penis, swelling of the genital region, burning and itching, which can be quite uncomfortable.

What to do: In this case, the urologist may recommend the use of medications according to the cause of the inflammation, and the use of ointments and creams containing antibiotics, antifungals or corticosteroids may be indicated, which should be used according to medical recommendations to alleviate symptoms and cure. balanoposthitis. Understand how balanoposthitis should be treated.

5. Candidiasis

Candidiasis is an infection caused by fungi of the genus Candida sp., which can proliferate in the male genital region and lead to the appearance of signs and symptoms such as redness and pain in the penis, itching, the presence of whitish secretion, a burning sensation when urinating and pain and discomfort during intimate contact. Know how to recognize the symptoms of male candidiasis.

What to do: It is recommended that a urologist be consulted so that the diagnosis can be made and the most appropriate treatment can be indicated, which normally involves the use of ointments and creams with antifungals, such as Miconazole, Fluconazole and Imidazole, which help to alleviate symptoms and fight the infection.

Furthermore, it is important to keep the genital area clean and avoid wearing clothes that are too hot, tight or wet, as this can encourage the development of the fungus.