All men are born with a foreskin. Some men have a
circumcision and some do not. If a man has a foreskin that causes problems, he
needs to see a physician.
Infections of the foreskin are called balanitis. Most often
this happens in men with diabetes mellitus. The problem is usually a yeast
infection, much the same as women who get vaginal yeast infections with
diabetes. This is most often treated with a cream and should stay away as long
as no other problems co-exist.
Infections that do not stay away may mean the patient needs a
circumcision.
Phimosis is scarring of the foreskin. Patients complain of
tears in the skin which heal with scarring and therefore, cause more narrowing
of the foreskin. When skin is too tight, the patient may be quite uncomfortable.
The scar must be broken with surgical incision or circumcision.
