Patient education: Care of the uncircumcised penis in babies and children (The Basics)

What does an uncircumcised penis look like? — A penis that is uncircumcised (not circumcised) has skin that covers its tip (picture 1). This skin is called the "foreskin." It protects the tip of the penis. Getting "circumcised" means having a procedure to remove the foreskin (picture 2).

After birth, a baby's foreskin is stuck in place and can't be pulled back over the tip of the penis. This is normal. Over time, the foreskin will loosen up. But it can take years until the foreskin can be pulled back completely over the tip of the penis.

How do I take care of my child's uncircumcised penis? — Until your baby is 6 months old, do not try to pull the foreskin back over the penis. Instead, to take care of your baby's penis, you should:

●Wash it during bath time with a gentle, non-irritating soap

●Change your baby's diaper often to lower the risk of diaper rash

After your baby is 6 months old, you can start to gently pull back on the foreskin when you clean the penis. It's important to pull the foreskin back only as far as it goes and not force it any further. As you pull the foreskin back, gently clean and then dry the skin underneath. When you are done, make sure to return the foreskin to its normal place so that it covers the tip of the penis.

When your child is older, you can teach them how to take care of the foreskin and penis. Each time the penis is cleaned, they should pull the foreskin back, clean and dry the skin underneath, and then return it to its normal place.

What problems can happen in an uncircumcised penis? — Different problems can happen. Some are normal and do not usually need to be treated. These include:

●White lumps that collect under the foreskin

●Swelling of the tip of the penis during urination that lasts only for a short time

Other conditions are more serious and usually need treatment. These include:

●Infections of the foreskin or penis

●Infections of the urinary tract

●The foreskin getting stuck so that it can't return to its normal place

When should I call the doctor? — Call your child's doctor or nurse if:

●Your child has pain (or seems to be in pain) when urinating

●The penis is swollen, red, or bleeding

●The stream of urine dribbles or is not straight (goes off to one side)

●The foreskin gets stuck and can't return to its normal place

●You are worried about your child's penis

●You have questions about how to take care of your child's penis

More on this topic

Patient education: Should I have my baby circumcised? (The Basics)
Patient education: Balanitis in children (The Basics)

Patient education: Circumcision in baby boys (Beyond the Basics)