15 March 2024 , 15:03
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In case you need reminding, you really should wash your bits every day.
It may be slightly taboo to speak about - but keeping your genitals clean is extremely important and failure to do so can lead to some nasty consequences (not just increase your chances of being ghosted on Tinder). NHS GP Doctor Sooj, from Hertfordshire, has recently warned blokes to keep their 'one-eyed trouser snake' (we'll call it a penis from now on) clean or risk getting balanitis.
The expert says he'd witnessed 'several cases in the last few weeks' of patients with the condition, and says he wants to stress the importance of penile hygiene.
In a recent TikTok video, Dr Sooj recommends cleaning your penis everyday with a 'mild, non-fragranced soap or emollient' to prevent balanitis from occurring. This applies to people both with and without a foreskin.
"If you have a foreskin, gently pull it back and clean under it to prevent the build-up of smegma - then either air dry it or pat it dry with a towel," he added. "If moisture keeps building up under the foreskin, it just increases the risk of you developing bacterial and fungal infections. If you notice irritation, inflammation, or too much smegma book an appointment with your GP surgery."
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Soaps and certain shower gels can irritate the skin and actually increase the risk of balantis. Dr Sooj says this is why it's 'important to dry your penis properly, both after the show and after going to the toilet'.
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According to the NHS, balanitis occurs when the head of the penis is 'swollen, itchy, and sore'. It's usually not serious but you may need to see a GP to see what's causing it, especially if you are sticking to a good hygiene routine.
Other symptoms to look out for include:
- Thick discharge that comes from under your foreskin
- Bleeding around the foreskin
- Pain when peeing
- An unpleasant smell
- Difficulty pulling the foreskin back (though it is normal for young children to have a tight foreskin).