Red, sore and itchy penis
If the head of your penis (glans) is inflamed, you have balanitis. This is a Greek word meaning ‘inflammation of the acorn’. Balanitis usually looks more worrying than it is.
- It may simply be a hygiene problem. If you do not wash under the foreskin, a cheesy material, called smegma, accumulates. This can become infected and cause irritation. The solution is to wash carefully with warm water to which you have added enough kitchen salt to make it taste like seawater.
- A milder form of balanitis can appear soon after intercourse, but disappears within about a day. This is probably caused by allergy to thrush in your partner’s vagina. If she is treated the problem will usually go.
- Balanitis can sometimes be caused by a skin disease, such as psoriasis. Psoriasis can occur on the penis without you having it anywhere else. On the glans, it looks red and shiny (unlike on other parts of the body where it is silvery and scaly). In this situation antifungal treatment will not have any effect, but your doctor can prescribe a steroid cream.
- Check your soaps and shower gels. Balanitis can sometimes be a sensitivity to perfumes in soaps and detergents. Never put disinfectant in the bath, as this can be very irritating.
What to do about balanitis
- Change to a simple, unperfumed soap. Alternatively, buy ‘aqueous cream’ from a pharmacy and use it as body-wash cream (i.e. apply a small amount and rinse off).
- Put two handfuls of salt in the bath, but no other additives (no bubble bath, no bath oils, no disinfectants)
- Do not use ‘biological’ or ‘enzyme’ powders when washing your underpants
- Ask your partner to visit her doctor or a genitourinary medicine clinic to check for thrush (especially if your balanitis occurs after sex)
- See your doctor – if your balanitis is severe, ask for a diabetes check; if anti-thrush treatment does not work, ask your doctor if it could be psoriasis
Thrush
If your penis is swollen, intensely itchy and very red, you probably have thrush (also known as Candida, a yeast). Occasionally this can be the first sign of diabetes, so check with your doctor. It is cured with antifungal cream or tablets.
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Friday, February 26th 2010
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Comments on this article
Posted by frank on 07/03/2010 at 07:27:29 am
I have a small sore on my penis and its not red but I keep pick it on it and I don't know what it is. Is not hurt that much but I need to know what can I do?
Posted by Anonymous on 05/02/2010 at 08:13:00 pm
My penis is swollen, intensely itchy and very red I've used warm salt water and used antifungal cream but still very itchy, please help
Posted by leehaynes on 05/02/2010 at 06:34:00 pm
i have 4 red spots on my foreskin only about 1 cm in diameter....it doesnt burn and only my testicles itch from time to time...i dont have any swollen glands and i dont have flu like symptomes.....after i get done having intercourse the red spots look a dark red but dont burn or anything....no whit heads on them and their not bumps, i can run my finger over them and it feel a lil rough but never raised...could this be herpes or just a irrataion? its been there for about 1 week give or take a couple of days...
Posted by MOHAPI on 28/01/2010 at 07:17:00 am
After having sex without condom i got a small rush
Posted by . on 26/01/2010 at 05:28:00 am
I had unprotected sex three days ago and the fore skin on my penis is red and the head of my penis is red and is dry it dose not really itch but it looks like it is spreading to my testicles. Ive talked to my girlfriend and she came out clean when she was tested.
Posted by Mr anonmous on 19/01/2010 at 10:49:00 pm
I am 15 don't want to shout to parents bout this though I've been getting White stuff under my foreskin hadn't had sex or anything I've had it for like three years now it doesn't itch or anything how do I get it to go away pls hlp me thanks
Posted by Etido on 13/01/2010 at 08:47:00 pm
White substance comes out from the side of my pennis
Posted by jskeet on 13/01/2010 at 02:28:00 am
My Boyfriend, gets these red little bump like things, that can look like tiny calasis, right after we have sex. He says it itches right after,along with mine, but mine soon goes away.After he washes off it just turns into like loose skin he can pull off. What is this??
Posted by biggybie on 10/01/2010 at 04:39:00 am
i had a problem with my penis itbecame red and shiny on the heard .at first i thought it was an std disease but i noticed that there was no pain but only itching sometime .iused to musterbate 3to4 times a week does this affect my health since i am ready for marriage
Posted by cue on 08/01/2010 at 09:28:00 pm
Hi peoples,i have the same sorta thing as my foreskin has a little red lump/spot on it.Its very itchy and im a little worried about it,yes i did stuff up and had a one night stand with no condom.This is the last time im ever doing that without a long term partener.Problem is i hate going to the docs as i dont like to talk to them about this sort of thing.I do feal alot better knowing that im not alone and im also a bit scared.All this worrie is from being drunk and wanting to get my dick wet,now i have learnt.I just dont want it to be some wart or something like that.All i got to say to everyone in the same boat is your not alone and lets just hope we all fix our problems.Best of luck to all,PS:to the young lads that havent had sex before and have thrush like syptoms.I wouldnt worrie to much as all you need to do is make keep it clean everyday and should be all fine.
Posted by cassasafrace on 07/01/2010 at 05:10:00 am
my boyfriends penis is itchy after sex but it ges away usually in an hour or two or the next day. my vagina s itchy and remains itchy for a long time like weeks. i was a virgin b for having sex with him and ive only had sex wth him so i think we have been having to much sex like what can we do to get rid of the itchyness fr the both of us without having to go to the doctors
Posted by harry on 05/01/2010 at 05:27:00 am
their is too much itching on my penis and testies, can anybody tell me what should i do...??
Posted by vishal on 30/12/2009 at 05:16:00 am
my penis has become red from last few days and it has the problem like burning sensation in penis while urinating and its painful everytime you drive a motor cycle... and the size of penis has also become shorter pl help me out
Posted by Anonymous on 28/12/2009 at 02:40:00 am
thank you for your help i never would've known how to treat my condition
Posted by hu on 27/12/2009 at 01:13:00 am
my penis is red itchy sworeits ner the bottom of the penis
Posted by alwajud on 20/12/2009 at 06:35:00 pm
i av iching on the laps close to where both joins,and its causing inflammation which makes that part scally..what should i do?
Posted by JA on 13/12/2009 at 10:13:00 pm
I am worried about my penis. I have not had sex for some considerable time (Years), but over the past six months, my penis has been sore with some spots appearing on it. I can't seem to get rid of it. I have used BETNOVATE on it and it seems to work for the time that I use it, but as soon as I stop using it, the soreness comes back and it seems to be getting worse. Can you help??
Posted by H on 10/12/2009 at 03:57:00 pm
Thrush... I had this problem for about 9 months .. what I have use to stop it is a Q tip cotton swab dip in.. Then wipe around the irritating area ( Tea Tree Oil ) It has been used as a topical agent for the skin and can be found in most drug stores > it is over the counter item ... the Tea Tree oil is 100% pure oilculled from the leaves of a tree from Austallia Hope this works for you as it help me good luck
Posted by joe on 07/12/2009 at 02:29:00 am
i was dignosed with chlymedia and i have psoriasis but iv never seen it on my penis before now i have a patch by my pee hole is it from clap cause i got antibotics will it heal right or will i have a pinkpatch there for ever?
Posted by Carlos on 02/12/2009 at 09:16:00 am
Okay i had sex about 11 days ago. my symptoms are, open cuts underneath the right side of my foreskin (uncircumcised) and one small cut with inflammation on the top of the foreskin. It hurts after i pee only for a little bit,,like a prick or something poking me down there and then it stops...not while i pee or even inside my body. I thought i had herpes, but i have had no headaches or fever, or bumps...more or less its like inflammation and then small cuts. I do have discharge but only once i start washing down there with the soap its when i do notice. It is sensitive but only on that area, not the whole penis. i am confused on if its an std or something else.
Posted by Nobby on 26/11/2009 at 09:27:00 am
Hi, I have an annoying redness on my penis that appears and disappears at will. It can be there when i go to bed and gone when i awake or vice versa. It can last for a few hours or a few days. It is always around the same area of my foreskin and is quite sore at times but feels totally normal at other times. If you look closely, it looks red, quite shiny compared to the rest of the skin and what appear to be tiny lines like stretch marks.If i draw my foreskin back, the area behind the head of the penis is not wet but the skin feels 'tacky' or 'sticky' but looks completely dry The redness is sometimes on the tip of my penis around the opening (about the size of a penny) but in this area it rarely feels sore but makes the area look quite wrinkly sometimes. I have had this complaint for a couple of years now. I have seen 2 doctors at my GP practice, who have given me steroid creams and ointments, but nothing has cured it, please help! Regards Nobby
Posted by charles on 11/11/2009 at 02:54:00 pm
my penis is just itchy and there are some reaches on my laps near my scrotum.yes i do masturbate
Posted by will on 06/11/2009 at 02:43:00 am
I noticed red patches on my penis about 3 or 4 weeks ago, my penis began to each really bad and i couldnt help but scratch it, then it would flare up and i would have more red patchs and theres 1 very small bump now at the top and its red , its a looks like a lession. Also the back of my knees are also extremely itchy. What could this be??
Posted by Haider on 17/10/2009 at 11:15:00 pm
ok the head and top of my penis is very itchy it goes red and moist stuff comes out and the sides of my balls itch intensely at night and morning. its becomes moist and goes hard and scaley its unbelievably itchy and when im sitting still and not moving then teh genitals dont itch please tell me how to cure and what it is because i cant get any sleep. thanks.
Posted by Albie on 16/10/2009 at 01:45:00 am
Having sex with my new girlfriend and the condom burst?? 2 days later i started to get itchy to the rear of the head of my penis. i have tried washing then using caneston but no affect?? still red and itchy
Posted by Mr A. on 26/09/2009 at 11:49:00 am
Basically im 14 years old and, well.... yes i do masturbate quite abit. and only today i noticed a red patch at the top of my penis/bottom of my foreskin, about 7mm tall and 8mm wide. this patch is a quite strong red, quite rough and when touched a little bit sore. (this next bit is really not that nice,youve been warned) I read somewhere that it might be something to do with washing inside your foreskin, infact about 2 days ago i did so because well, there was some sort of subtance when you pulled it back far enough, i washed it under a warm shower and most of it was gone. does this usually happen? and also how can i treat this, i dont want to shout to my parents this problem. thanks
Posted by tsc on 25/09/2009 at 02:14:00 pm
I don't quite know when it started, but I have red patches on my glans, it does not itch A lot but irritating to view, problem its just there, I tried washing it with Detol(local antiseptic) For two days now, but it semms not going away, and when I wash it with Detol, it doesn't hurt I'm not curcumsize man, could it be STD? Please help me out, Cause I'm afraid to have sex before this shamfull thing is Still on my glans... Thanks,
Posted by pete on 12/09/2009 at 11:27:00 am
my penis is realy red and sore and the head is bumpy and sometimes have little blisters and when i have sex it is realy sensitive. What is it?
Posted by john on 10/09/2009 at 06:53:00 pm
i have a red and itchy penis, there is also a spot under the glans that hurts extremely bad when i touch it. it almost feels like a bad splinter.
Posted by carl on 06/09/2009 at 10:31:00 pm
i have shiney red and itchy penis just below the tip which seems to come and go
Posted by Anonymous on 02/09/2009 at 12:00:00 pm
umm well i want to know is is your penis supposed to itch and hair falls of+some times when i urine it feels like imm urinating acid and it really hurts i need solution
Posted by derrick on 28/08/2009 at 01:58:00 pm
My penis itches badly. I have weird bumps that itch and when itched they become small open sore wounds that itch and are very sensative what should I do?
Posted by E on 25/08/2009 at 12:35:00 pm
Im worried and sick about this. My penies ictches and thereafter i see sores on the head. I don't really know what causes this. Does anyone know what could be the problem and how can i treat this?
Posted by billy on 19/08/2009 at 01:41:00 pm
um... just a question iv had sex with other partners unprotected before and im with my partner now for a year and i get red dots on my penis and my foreskin gets tight sometimes... this has never happened with previous partners ....she is a diabetic too if that makes any difference?
Posted by Ron X. on 12/08/2009 at 07:01:00 pm
I am a Diabetic taking Metformin and for months now my penis is very sore and it resembles a look as if I had cut myself with a razor blade. The doctor has given me different creams but nothing seems to clear it up. I am now at my wits end. Has anyone got a cure for this problem.
Posted by ted on 25/07/2009 at 01:11:00 pm
my partner used almond oil with a perfumed oil in it. I had a massage where the oil was also rubbed into my penis this was followed my intercourse. 2 days later i developed a very red and sore penis and it looks like a blister. could it be thrush
Posted by Anonymous on 17/07/2009 at 12:08:00 pm
i have the same symptoms as thrush.. however its is red and has small like blisters..i have no irritation or feeling uncomftable..im using canistan cream. and washing well..is this a worring problem should i get my self to the doctor or let the cream and hygene take its course.
Posted by ryan gibbs on 16/07/2009 at 11:57:00 am
Dear sir my health problem is this, i get a itch around the head of my penis, i see a yellow we mark on my bref weare my penis stay, what is the problem is threr a cream that i can buy are i of to see my gp, thank,
Posted by Anonymous on 14/07/2009 at 10:35:00 pm
i have a small lump inside my penis.whea i having sex its a little sore
Posted by Anonymous on 06/07/2009 at 05:17:00 pm
i was showering an i used lynx click shower gel smells amazing but my penis is wrinkly and looks and feels wierd what cud it be??
Posted by Daniel on 30/06/2009 at 10:40:00 am
I have lumps in my testicles that were diagnosed 8 years ago as scar tissue caused possibly by a bacterial infection. ejaculation is painful & my semen is solid & jelly like.
Posted by Anonymous on 29/06/2009 at 08:53:00 am
Hi, i had unprotected sex the other day and now im getting the symptoms of balanitis my penis is red, sore and itchy with a bad smelling build up of whitey/yellow stuff under the foreskin. Is this definitely balanitis or could it be something else?
Posted by Matt on 09/06/2009 at 03:59:00 pm
I have had these tiny red bumps on the head of my penis for as long as i can remember, at least 16 years. They are only in a certain spot on the head of my penis. It doesn`t hurt or itch. I tried popping them once and blood came out. There is like 25 to 50 tiny bumps . Is there any way you can help me.
Posted by beck on 03/06/2009 at 12:20:00 pm
hi my boyfriend every time we have sex gets sore at the bottom of his willy still on the staft,it gets that bad though and now he hates having sex what could this be? x
Posted by Anonymous on 29/04/2009 at 12:35:00 am
My penis is red and itchy . I am diabectic, and I have been using a itch cream for about a week and a half. Any more suggestions of what I can do or what it maybe?
Posted by jeff on 21/04/2009 at 06:21:00 pm
the end of my penis is very red very itchy and has odd flakey skin on. and suggestions?
Posted by Anonymous on 21/04/2009 at 03:12:00 pm
i would just go and see the doctor. or go to the pharmacist get some thrush cream. if you have bad discharge see the doctor could well be a s.t.d. a couple of wks of tabs and it will be all sorted. allways wear a condom.
Posted by Ann on 16/04/2009 at 07:57:00 am
go a drying on head of my penis.....its paninig and i get a burning feeling.cant go for intercouse ...kindly suggest some medicine....
Posted by Anonymous on 14/04/2009 at 05:50:00 pm
My penis is very sore after intercourse and very sensitives to touch, urinating stings and seems to be blocked (twin jets) I have seen a doctor who perscribed water infection medcine. A week later it has subdued not not resolved, I have now noticed 2 tiny (1mm) spots/ulcers on my shaft also. I have not been playing away and dont believe my wife would either....any suggestions?
Posted by sand man on 12/04/2009 at 09:20:00 pm
my dick is itchy ever since me and my girl had sex. what should I do? i feel like ripping my dick off thats how itchy it is!! i Go crazy at night!! Arghhh! help Solution Noww...
Posted by Peiman on 07/04/2009 at 07:40:00 am
If there are bumps or rashes on the head of the penis and sometimes around the upper-shaft,and if your fingers,toes or both itch,you have caught scabies.
Posted by peter on 04/04/2009 at 01:57:00 am
man my balls itch when i am in class how i make it stop a lot of girls are looking when i have to scratch
Posted by Anonymous on 31/03/2009 at 12:14:00 pm
about 6 months ago i slept with a girl knowing she had thrush (i was drunk) not knowing i could catch it off her. i thought it was something more sinister for a long time. the red spots, stinky, itchy skin peelingish white crap on it etc. until talking to a friend about it and discorvering i had caught thrush. I waited it out and maybe 2 weeks later it was gone. my penis was happy for several months then out of the blue (not even having sex) it came back again. again i waited it out and it was fine. this happened again a few weeks ago, i continued to have sex (and wank) and my dick is seriously torn to shreads. like open wounds on it. its extremely painfull and now reading this im worried about being diabetic. is there a way to know this without actually going to a doctor? and a tip to others reading, go buy the cream, it will come back if you dont do anything bout it
Posted by Anonymous on 19/03/2009 at 06:08:00 pm
have a very itchy red penis, also have these red pussy lumps inbetween fingers, does any one no if there connected, ive been told it could be thrush but didnt no thrush could catch onto your hands
Posted by arnie on 15/03/2009 at 03:03:00 pm
hi after sometime i had intercourse with my partner but this time head of my penis sored and continuesly spills water in white color but not sperms and it smells horrible,what it could be.
Posted by Anonymous on 13/03/2009 at 02:22:00 am
Guys, the key to almost eve y problem you've described is personal hygiene. Washing under the foreskin is something that should be done every day as part of your shower routine, just watch out for irritable shower gels. This is certainly the best way to avoid smegma build up, and is also pleasant for your partner too!
Posted by Anonymous on 10/03/2009 at 04:37:00 pm
l when to my doctor 3 weeks ago for a muscle pull in my groin area, but the problem is still there, my penis has been very sensitive, and l havent had sex in about 2/weeks because of it and is it normal to have veins on the penis
Posted by gshzder on 09/03/2009 at 10:37:00 pm
sometimes my penis gets really really really i mean really itchy and i cant help but just scratch itand sometimes it gets red and stars to bleed
Posted by Anonymous on 05/03/2009 at 04:54:00 pm
hi, i redness around the head of my penis and the foreskin around my penis at the top very tight ,i also have small cracks in the skin which is making it very painful to wash.i havent had sex or masterbated in about a month and this started about a week ago, i tried salvon and germoline,the germaline seemed to work at first but now it wont.any ideas
Posted by zeppelin on 05/03/2009 at 10:00:00 am
Slight burning sensation at tip of penis, inside end looks slightly discoloured. chlamidya test was negative.
Posted by alex on 03/03/2009 at 06:16:00 pm
hi im 16 and ive never had sex and hardly ever masterbate and im getting a bit worried because the muscle has like a sore on it and it dosent hurt that much but some times does and i just need some advice can any1 help?
Posted by chopper on 02/03/2009 at 09:59:00 am
i havent had sex, i have flakey real itchy & sometime red hurts when incontact with urine i cant stop itching and cant sleep
Posted by Andy on 25/02/2009 at 12:51:00 pm
I also am bearing a problem, for no reason the underside of my penis became inflamed over a 2 or 3 minute period, down the middle following the darker line. It's very sore, itchy and is only on the underside of my penis. If anyone could decipher my problems that would be great!
Posted by Simon on 25/02/2009 at 11:40:00 am
I seem to havea certain problem with my Penis. Sometimes when I go to the toilet I can see under my foreskin arounf the head, there is somekind if whitish paste stuff which doesnt look very nice. I clean my head to get rid of it but then it comes back within a couple of days. Alos the back end of the head of my penis gets itchy sometimes and gets slightly sore when its been rubbed to get rid of the iching, and cant tell why this is happening. Also one last thing ometimes a small layer of skin comes off the head of my penis sometimes and cant understand that. Can somebody try to explain to me please so I know what to do in the future.
Posted by Anonymous on 21/02/2009 at 10:26:00 pm
After sex the head of the penis gets in flamed and looks like it has pimples it only lasts a day or 2 this sounds like a case of Thrush but doesn't say anything about the pimples
Posted by hemant on 14/02/2009 at 11:49:00 am
hey iam hemant from india i have some redish on my penis and 2 or 3 henital warts . now iam geeting homopathic treatment . wat is the best treatment for genital warts and redish and itching on my penis
Posted by Marcus on 12/02/2009 at 04:42:00 pm
okay so under my penis, it get really red, scaley & itchy. so itchy that when i stratch it, i have to do so much scratingi can't stop myself and it gets redder and more soreer. do anyone know of any cream that can be used for it?
Posted by Benny08 on 09/02/2009 at 04:27:00 pm
the top of my foreskin is all red and when i go for a wee it stings and feels kinda painfull it is also sorta painfull when i rool my foreskin back what can i do and what is the preblem please help?????
Posted by Joe on 08/02/2009 at 10:22:00 pm
I have been getting thrush regularly for a number of weeks and have used caneston to relieve the iching. My girlfrind is 37 but has no symptoms of the condition. I use the cream until it feels better but it is now causing concern as it seems to return so frequently. Is it serious enough to see a GP or will the cream be sufficient?
Posted by mr.kb on 06/02/2009 at 06:13:00 pm
hi im 16 andmy penis is very sore its ll yellow under the foreskin and when i was it awsy it just returns plus my penis (head) is starting to turn a whitey colour and when i erect the foreskin is very sore and wont go come down properly its all red and greesy please help im verry worryed...
Posted by rocky on 22/01/2009 at 10:07:00 am
inside my penis freaquently become reddish and small spots, after some days it will go, and out side penis towards down icthing. i am using candid ointment ( anti fungal, brad spectrum), but permanent not going.pl any special treatment.
Posted by miss c on 19/01/2009 at 04:49:00 pm
Hello, if anyone can answer this problem i would be so relieved. My boyfriend ejeculated after oral sex and the fluid that came out was yellow, is this normal and What causes it?
Posted by help in need on 04/01/2009 at 04:02:00 pm
help need advice for the last 3 days my penis has srolling up at the top rig off my forskin really dry and itchy so often goes and comes again also red sure and i think its geting worse also peeling slitly what should i do
Posted by Help on 30/12/2008 at 12:57:00 am
Since me and my new partner started having unprotected sex he has had an itchy penis for a while but im ok.. What could it be??
Posted by sahil on 29/12/2008 at 09:33:00 am
i have irritation on my penis tip when i get erected...plz help....
Posted by ramesh on 21/12/2008 at 06:34:00 pm
inside my penis head always too itchy and too much moist dust comes even every hour wash.I tried different typest of antifungal cream but it didn't work.would you have any special treatment for this please?
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