Smegma symptoms: a normal male complaint?
The human body is quite masterful at cleaning itself, isn’t it? Think of all the daily detoxification processes that occur naturally: the kidneys, intestines, sweat glands, lungs, and liver all work together to remove unpleasant or unhealthy waste materials from the body. Sometimes all that cleaning can result in a substance that won’t go away on its own. Smegma is one of those infamous materials found in men. This cheesy substance is a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and other bodily fluids. It is found on the penis, usually under the foreskin. If you don’t clean regularly and thoroughly, the symptoms of smegma can become bothersome or even painful. Fortunately, it can be fixed quite easily at home with a few practical tips.
Symptoms
Smegma is one of those problems that doesn’t really show much variation. There are some common symptoms of smegma, which include the following:
– An unpleasant odor radiating from the penis. It will often have a sour, sweaty fragrance.
– White and thick texture with a consistency similar to cheese. No, it’s not gouda. The texture and smell of the buildup was given the name “cock cheese” for precisely this reason.
Urination becomes burning and throbbing. Some men experience a burning and painful sensation when urinating, and tend to have an increased need to urinate frequently.
– Irritation. When smegma is the culprit, the penis can become red, irritated, and sore.
Men who want to be sure they have smegma should see a medical professional. Once diagnosed, follow doctor’s orders to clean things up.
Causes of smegma
So what causes smegma? When a man doesn’t wash his penis (or body, for that matter) thoroughly, sweat, dead skin cells, and oils can build up around the head, especially in men with an intact foreskin. In simpler terms, the lack of a properly executed hygiene ritual will lead to smegma. Men who do not wash for excessive periods of time are prone to an excessive buildup of this stinky material.
While not a cause of smegma, being uncircumcised puts a man at higher risk of having it, simply because under the foreskin is the most common place for smegma to reside. As a result, some men choose to have their foreskin removed.
smegma treatment
How is smegma treated? Adopt a complete daily hygiene plan. That means properly cleaning the penis, including around and under the foreskin. Believe it or not, cleaning the area is the easiest way to remove smegma.
Here is a quick guide to cleaning the penis to prevent smegma and smegma symptoms:
1) Gently retract the foreskin. If the smegma has hardened, it may not be possible to completely remove it. Do not force it! It can cause pain and break the skin, and that can lead to infection.
2) Use a mild cleanser and warm water to wash the area that is normally covered by the foreskin. Be kind but thorough. If the smegma has hardened, rub it with a little oil first to loosen it up.
3) Rinse well and dry.
4) Moisturize the area with a specially formulated penis health cream (Health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven to be safe and gentle on the skin) daily. Choose a cream that has a natural moisturizing base like shea butter and vitamin E. Then add vitamins A, B, C and D for their skin-soothing and cell-regenerating properties.
5) Repeat daily until the smegma is gone and continue this new process to prevent smegma.
If the smegma does not improve after a full week of deep cleansing, or if it worsens, see a doctor for a clear diagnosis. Otherwise, hit the showers!
