Information

The condition can be either congenital or acquired. All children are born with a congenital adhesion of the skin of the penis (the foreskin, or prepuce) to the glans. After the routine check-up performed by a pediatric urologist at 6 months of age, the parents are prescribed a cream and shown how to apply it to the foreskin, so that it gradually and naturally separates, painlessly, over a short period of time. In some cases, the foreskin becomes inflamed and reddened, and it must be separated by a doctor in order to be cleaned. This is done after the application of a local anesthetic.

In acquired phimosis resulting from lichen sclerosus or local atopic dermatitis, a fibrous ring is present that does not allow the foreskin to be retracted behind the glans. In these cases, circumcision is performed using a bloodless method.