What is the Difference Between Balanitis and Phimosis

Balanitis and phimosis are penis problems in uncircumcised men. Penis health is very important for men. Problems with the penis can cause pain and irritation and affect sexual function. There are many conditions that can cause problems with the penis. Balanitis and phimosis are two of them.

The key difference between balanitis and phimosis is their symptoms. Balanitis results in pain and inflammation of the glans of the penis, while phimosis results in the inability to pull back the foreskin of the penis.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Balanitis
3. What is Phimosis
4. Similarities – Balanitis and Phimosis
5. Balanitis vs Phimosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Balanitis vs Phimosis
7. FAQ – Balanitis and Phimosis

What is Balanitis?

Balanitis is a skin irritation that occurs on the head of the penis. This condition can affect uncircumcised men and boys. Symptoms of balanitis may appear suddenly. These can include pain and irritation on the head of the penis, discolouration patches in the penis, itching under the foreskin, swelling, areas of shiny skin on the penis, white discharge, foul smell, pain while urinating, and sores and lesions on the head of the penis. The most common cause of balanitis is infrequent cleaning of the penis and under the foreskin.

Healthcare providers diagnose balanitis with a physical examination, urinalysis, and biopsy. Furthermore, treatments for balanitis can include applying antifungal creams, prescribed antibiotics, thoroughly cleaning the penis, and circumcision.

What is Phimosis?

Phimosis is the inability to retract the skin that is covering the head of the penis. Phimosis can be seen in uncircumcised men and children. Pathologic phimosis is caused by scar tissue, injury, skin conditions (penile lichen sclerosus or balanitis xerotic obliterans), and medical conditions such as diabetes. Moreover, the symptoms of phimosis include discoloration (red, purple, dark brown, or black) of the penis, swelling in the penis, soreness or pain, pain while urinating, weak urine stream, blood in urine, smegma, and pain when getting an erection or having sexual intercourse.

Figure 02: Phimosis

Phimosis can be diagnosed through medical history and physical examination. Furthermore, treatment options for phimosis may include applying phimosis cream to the foreskin several times a day for several weeks that contains steroids, like betamethasone, fluticasone propionate, hydrocortisone, or triamcinolone, stretching exercises, and phimosis surgery.

Similarities Between Balanitis and Phimosis

1. Balanitis and phimosis are two penis problems in uncircumcised men.
2. Having balanitis can result in phimosis.
3. Both conditions may have similar symptoms, such as swelling in the penis, pain or irritation, etc.
4. Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examinations.
5. They can be treated through prescribed creams, antibiotics, and surgeries.

Difference Between Balanitis and Phimosis

Definition

1. Balanitis is an inflammation of the glans penis.
2. Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin can’t be pulled back from the head of the penis.

Causes

1. Balanitis can be caused by infrequent cleaning of the penis and under the foreskin, genital yeast infection, sexually transmitted infections, scabies, sensitivity or allergy to harsh soaps or chemicals, and skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, and reactive arthritis.
2. Phimosis can be caused by scar tissue, injury, skin conditions (penile lichen sclerosus or balanitis xerotic obliterans), and medical conditions such as diabetes.

Symptoms

1. The symptoms of balanitis include a swollen, itchy, sore penis head, pain when peeing, a thick discharge that comes from under the foreskin, bleeding around the foreskin, an unpleasant smell, and difficulty pulling back the foreskin.
2. The symptoms of phimosis include inability to pull back the foreskin,  swelling and tenderness, pain when peeing or a weak flow of pee, blood in the urine, frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), bleeding or a thick discharge from under the foreskin, an unpleasant foul smell, and painful erection, which can make difficulties in sex.

Diagnosis

1. Balanitis can be diagnosed through a physical examination, urinalysis, and biopsy.
2. Phimosis can be diagnosed through a medical history and physical examination.

Treatment

1. Treatment options for balanitis are applying a mild steroid cream or ointment, an antifungal cream or ointment, taking antibiotics, and circumcision (surgery to remove the foreskin).
2. Treatment options for phimosis are applying steroid creams or gels (topical steroids) to soften the foreskin, taking antibiotics for infections, and surgery (removal of the foreskin or a procedure where small cuts are made in the tip of the foreskin so it can be pulled back more easily).

The following table summarizes the difference between balanitis and phimosis.

Summary – Balanitis vs Phimosis

Balanitis and phimosis are two penis problems in uncircumcised men. Balanitis is a condition of an inflammation or infection of the head of the penis, while phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis is so tight that it cannot be pulled back off the head or glans of the penis. This is the main difference between balanitis and phimosis.

FAQ: Balanitis and Phimosis

1. What is balanitis caused by?

• Balanitis is usually caused by overgrowth of microorganisms, particularly yeast that are normally found on the glans of the penis. The other causes may include scabies, sensitivity or allergy to harsh soaps or chemicals, and skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, and reactive arthritis.

2. What are the symptoms of balanitis?

• The symptoms of balanitis include a sore, itchy, and smelly penis, redness and swelling, pus, small, eroded, itchy spots that may be present with a white cheese-like matter, and pain when urinating.

3. What is the fastest way to cure balanitis?

• The fastest way to cure balanitis is to take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen, apply a mild steroid cream or ointment, an antifungal cream or ointment, take antibiotics, and undergo circumcision surgery.

4. Can phimosis cause damage?

• Pathologic phimosis that does not resolve naturally can cause other complications, which include penile irritation or bleeding, ballooning of the foreskin with urination resulting in forceful urination, urinary retention, dysuria, painful erections, and recurrent infections of the foreskin around the penis.

5. What is the best treatment for phimosis?

• Applying a steroid cream is usually the first treatment for the phimosis. Surgery is then recommended if the cream does not work properly. This surgery is the removal of the foreskin.

Reference:

1. “Balanitis.” Cleveland Clinic.
2.  “Phimosis.” NHS Choices, NHS.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Phimosis treatment 03” by Efstratios Christianakis BMC Urology 22008, 8:6 doi:10.1186/1471-2490-8-6 (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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