3/29/12 Care of Intact Bos

1/4 www.cirp.org/pages/parents/care/
Ansers to Your Questions About
Your Young Son's Intact Penis
Irom the
National Organization
oI
Circumcision InIormation
Resource Centers
The Foreskin
Our bodies are covered with skin. The skin on our noses goes to their tips and the skin on our Iingers and toes
goes to their tips. The penis, too, is covered with skin. The Iold oI skin that covers and protects the glans (head)
oI the penis is sometimes called the prepuce, but is more commonly known as the Ioreskin.
The inside Iold oI the Ioreskin is mucous membrane and keeps the surIace oI the glans soIt, moist and sensitive.
The Ioreskin contains a concentrated number oI blood vessels and nerve endings. The Irenum which secures the
Ioreskin in its Iorward position, is continous with the Irenar band. This band oI specialized tissue encircles the
Ioreskin where the inside and outside Iolds meet (at the mucocutaneous junction) and is extremely sensitive.
Care
The intact penis oI an inIant or child needs no special care.
A child's Ioreskin should never be retracted by Iorce.
During the Iirst Iew years oI liIe, the Ioreskin and glans are connected by a common membrane called the
synechia (just as the Iingernail is attached to the Iinger). This connective tissue dissolves naturally - a process that
should never be hurried.
The Ioreskin can be retracted when its inside surIace separates Irom the glans and the opening widens. This
usually happens by age 18. Even iI the glans and Ioreskin separate naturally in inIancy, the Ioreskin still may not
be retractable because the opening in an inIant's Ioreskin may be just large enough Ior the passage oI urine.
The Iirst person to retract a child's Ioreskin should be the child himselI. Once a boy discovers that his Ioreskin is
retractable (a wondrous discovery Ior an intact child), he can easily learn to care Ior himselI. A simple
explanation oI "how to" may be helpIul:
3/29/12 Care of Intact Bos
2/4 www.cirp.org/pages/parents/care/
Gently slip the Ioreskin back.
Rinse the head oI your penis and the inside Iold oI your Ioreskin with warm water.
Slip your Ioreskin back in place over the glans.
Ansers to Your Questions:
What causes my son's Ioreskin to be red?
Sometimes the tip oI the Ioreskin becomes reddened. This indicates the penis is irritated and the Ioreskin
is doing its job oI protecting the sensitive glans and urinary meatus (the opening Ior the passage oI urine
and semen).
When bacteria in the Ieces react with urine, they produce ammonia, which burns the skin and causes
ammoniacal dermatitis, commonly known as diaper rash.
Common reasons Ior a reddened Ioreskin are:
Too much exposure to soiled diapers
An inbalance oI skin bacteria caused by:
-too many bubble baths
-swimming in highly clorinated water
-soap on the genitals
-laundry soap or detergent on clothing
-antibiotic therapy (microbial Ilora can be restored by eating yogurt with live culture.)
Concentrated urine because the boy is not drinking enough water.
Drinking water, soaking in warm baths, and letting children run around with bare bottoms to air their
genitals helps healing.
What is the white lump under my son's Ioreskin?
The white lump is made up oI the cells that once attached the Ioreskin to the glans. As new cells Iorm on
the glans and the Ioreskin's inside Iold, old cells Iorm pockets that eventually work their way to the tip oI
the Ioreskin, where they are discharged and can eventually be wiped away. The space they occupied
becomes the preputial space between the Ioreskin and the glans. So, iI you see a white lump under the
Ioreskin you know that the separation oI the glans is occurring naturally.
What is phimosis?
The greek word phimosis means muzzled and reIers to a Ioreskin that cannot be retracted because its
opening is too small to expand over the head oI the penis. This is normal during inIancy and childhood.
The Ioreskins oI some males are not retractable until they are in their late teens.
Why does my son's Ioreskin "balloon" when he urinates?
This is another indication that the natural separation oI the glans is occurring. One elderly Irishman tells
how, as a boy he and his Iriends would stand in a row, urinate, then squeeze the balloon to see who could
"shoot the Iarthest. As the preputial opening widens, most boys decrease their chances oI winning the
game, but increase their ability to retract their Ioreskins.
What happens iI someone retracts my son's Ioreskin prematurely?
Forcing the Ioreskin back can cause pain, as well as problems.
3/29/12 Care of Intact Bos
3/4 www.cirp.org/pages/parents/care/
Tearing the Ioreskin Irom the glans leaves an open wound which can lead to inIection.
Raw surIaces touching each other can heal together and Iorm adhesions between the Ioreskin and the
glans.
Small tears in the opening oI the Ioreskin can heal to Iorm non-elastic scar tissue, passibly causing
acquired phimosis.
The Ioreskin can get "stuck" behind the glans (paraphimosis). By squeezing the glans, the Ioreskin can be
brought Iorward again, without circumcision.
How do I teach my son to wash?
When a boy is old enough to bathe himselI, he can wash his penis just as he washes any other part oI his
body.
When a young boy pulls at his Ioreskin, he usually pulls it outward. This is normal and natural and no
cause Ior concern; he won't hurt himselI. One day, he'll pull his Ioreskin back, and you can discuss
retracting, washing, and returning the Ioreskin to its Iorward position over the glans. Telling your son about
retractablility beIorehand will keep him Irom becoming alarmed the Iirst time his Ioreskin retracts.
At puberty, you can let him know what with hormonal activity comes new responsibility, including genital
hygiene.
NOCIRC has inIormation about hygiene written especially Ior intact boys.
Many doctors don't know how to care Ior an intact penis and recommend circumcision Ior any and every
problem. The National Organization oI Circumcision InIormation Resource Centers, which is dedicated to
preserving and protecting children's normal natural wholeness, will be happy to direct you to a doctor who
understands the Ioreskin's Iunctions and importance.
National Organization
oI
Circumcision InIormation Resource Centers
Post OIIice Box 2512 San Anselmo, CA 94979-2512 USA
Phone: 415-488-9883 Fax: 415-488-9660
The inIormation in this pamphlet is not intended to replace the advice and care oI your pediatrician.
REVISED: 2004-01-11
back to the FAQ
back to the Circumcision InIormation Resource homepage
3/29/12 Care of Intact Bos
4/4 www.cirp.org/pages/parents/care/