Many parents may find phimosis to be a concerning condition, particularly if it affects their young boys. It often occurs in infancy and early childhood and involves the inability to retract the foreskin over the tip of the penis. Even though it may sound scary, the first step in determining whether or not there is cause for concern is understanding what phimosis is and how it spreads.
Well-known pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky frequently discusses phimosis with parents, assuring them that, for the most part, it’s a normal developmental stage. He underlines that waiting it out is frequently the best course of action in phimosis cases and that not all of them call for treatment. However, when should you consult a doctor, and what symptoms point to the possibility of needing intervention?
This article explores Dr. Komarovsky’s observations regarding phimosis in boys and offers helpful guidance for caregivers. You’ll be able to feel more at ease about your child’s health and know when to seek medical advice if you comprehend his point of view.
- About the problem
- What should parents do
- What can not be done
- When you need medical care
- Video on the topic
- When a doctor is needed for phimosis in a boy? – Dr. Komarovsky
- When and how to treat phimosis? – Dr. Komarovsky
- Does a boy need to be circumcised? – Doctor Komarovsky
- How to treat inflammation of the foreskin in a child? – Dr. Komarovsky
- Phimosis in a boy: normal or pathological? – Dr. Komarovsky
- Should the head of a boy"s penis be opened? – Dr. Komarovsky
- How to wash a boy"s genitals? – Dr. Komarovsky
- Hygiene of boys – Dr. Komarovsky"s School
About the problem
According to medical reference books, phimosis is a pathological narrowing of the foreskin that makes it difficult to expose the penis’ head. Considering that practically all recently born boys have this issue, you shouldn’t view this as a disease.
In just 3-4% of newborn males, the foreskin can be moved; in the remaining babies, the penis cannot be seen. As it is a physiological characteristic, there is no risk associated with this.
The child’s physiological phimosis disappears on its own as they grow older and male sex hormone production starts. They are the ones that influence the foreskin’s elasticity; the more hormones there are, the more pliable the skin. Statistics show that 20% of children’s heads open freely at six months, and in every third by one and a half years.
By the time they turn three, 90% of boys have recovered from physiological phimosis. Foreskin narrowing is seen in the remaining 10% of children until the end of puberty; according to Evgeny Olegovich, this will also be an anomaly.
Of these "belated" boys, only one percent actually have pathological phimosis. In order to properly comprehend this issue, Dr. Komarovsky clarifies that, of this 1%, phimosis can be totally cured in 98% of young men whose penis has not opened by the time they are 16 years old with the use of corticosteroid ointments and easy exercises to increase the elasticity of the flesh. As all teenagers masturbate, the doctor says most boys are able to resolve this issue on their own.
For this reason, you shouldn’t rush to the doctor and insist that they cut, trim, and open your head right away because the need for surgery is so minimal. Furthermore, you shouldn’t stress, panic, or worry! According to Komarovsky, medical professionals’ claims regarding the severity of phimosis and their steadfast treatment recommendations are more commercial than medical in nature.
What should parents do
First of all, parents need to know, according to Evgeny Komarovsky, that if a pediatric surgeon diagnoses a child with phimosis, the diagnosis is usually made merely for diagnostic purposes; the physician is merely stating that the child has a physiological narrowing of the foreskin. It is already very natural, as we already know.
Should a 15–16-year-old receive such a distressing diagnosis and non-invasive treatments (corticosteroid creams and stretches) prove ineffective, you should consult a surgeon for straightforward procedures like circumcision. A man’s life will not be made any worse by this; in fact, it may even be improved in certain ways.
According to Dr. Komarovsky, phimosis, a disorder in which boys’ foreskins are immobile, is frequently a typical developmental stage. He notes that while most cases go away on their own as kids get older, it’s still important for parents to keep an eye on things and get help from a doctor if their child exhibits any symptoms, such as pain or infection. To protect the child’s comfort and wellbeing, Dr. Komarovsky suggests being aware of the condition and knowing when to seek medical attention.
What can not be done
Komarovsky does not recommend that parents force their boy to open his penis. Practice demonstrates that these suggestions can benefit not only "omnivorous" friends and grandmothers but also the clinic’s district surgeons. When the child is not in pain, there are no problems urinating, no redness or inflammation, and nothing needs to be touched.
You cannot attempt to rinse anything—especially soap—under the extremely closed flesh when bathing or washing. There is no need to wash because there is enough unique lubricant to distinguish between the penis head and the foreskin. This smagma has strong antibacterial qualities. However, the strongest chemical burn can be caused by soap that can get under the foreskin.
When you need medical care
In the following circumstances, parents ought to seek professional medical assistance as soon as possible:
- Paraphimosis;
- Balanoposthitis;
- Adhesions between the foreskin and the head of the penis.
- Paraphimosis can occur when parents, contrary to common sense, decide to stretch the foreskin with their own hands in case of physiological phimosis. At some point, everything went wrong: the head came out, but was clamped by the foreskin from below, and it cannot be returned back. If this happened, the child must be taken to the surgeon as soon as possible, every minute counts. Otherwise, the head, pinched by a ring of narrowed flesh, deprived of normal blood supply, is at risk of developing gangrene, which, in turn, is fraught with amputation of such an important organ for the future of a man.
It is best to get the child to any nearby medical facility as soon as possible. The physician may be able to get away with manually reducing the penis’ head into position with prompt care. You should never attempt to complete this task by yourself at home! However, what you actually need to do is apply something cold to the penis’s head and give it a quick squeeze, being careful not to cause frostbite.
This may even be sufficient in certain instances to reduce swelling and realign the foreskin. However, you shouldn’t wait to see a doctor and hope for the best.
- Balanoposthitis and other inflammatory diseases of the penis should also not be treated at home with folk remedies. A child who, against the background of physiological phimosis, has pain when urinating (he cries before peeing), reddened and swollen foreskin, must be shown to a pediatric surgeon. These diseases are more common in children than in adult men, which in itself is dictated by physiological age-related narrowing.
Inflammation may start if pathogens that smegma is unable to fight off enter a favorable environment. In this case, there’s no need to open or wash anything, but you and your child should head straight to the hospital. This also holds true for inflammation in infants whose penile heads are already opening. Secondary phimosis and the formation of scars can result from balanoposthitis itself.
- Synechiae (adhesions). The fusion of the foreskin and the head of the penis can be congenital, or it can develop gradually, especially in children who often suffer from inflammatory processes of the foreskin. A doctor should determine the degree and location of the fusion. He will also prescribe treatment, which will not necessarily be surgical. About 40% of synechiae are successfully treated without the use of surgical instruments and manipulations. Extensive adhesions require surgical intervention.
| Topic | Description |
| What is Phimosis? | Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back over the head of the penis. It is common in young boys and often resolves on its own. |
| Dr. Komarovsky"s View | Dr. Komarovsky suggests that phimosis in young boys is usually normal and does not require immediate treatment unless there are symptoms like pain or difficulty urinating. |
| When to See a Doctor | Parents should consult a doctor if the child has pain, swelling, redness, or frequent infections. In most cases, regular hygiene is enough to manage the condition. |
| Treatment Options | Treatment is rarely needed. In some cases, a doctor may recommend gentle stretching exercises or, very rarely, minor surgery if the condition persists or causes problems. |
Phimosis in boys is typically a normal condition that resolves on its own as the child grows, according to Dr. Komarovsky. The foreskin of most boys is tight at birth but gradually loosens. Phimosis rarely necessitates medical intervention. Without a doctor’s advice, parents should exercise patience and refrain from undergoing needless operations or treatments.
It’s critical to monitor your child’s hygiene and to be alert to any symptoms—such as swelling, redness, or pain—that might point to problems. Seek advice from a healthcare provider if you observe any strange symptoms. Avoid making snap decisions based on unreliable or out-of-date information.
Parents can approach the subject of phimosis with confidence and calmness if they know that it’s usually a normal part of development. Maintaining knowledge and having faith in the body’s healing abilities can go a long way toward helping you manage this illness in a supportive and healthful manner.
