What is the biggest drawback in Africa? An elephant's foreskin! My late doctor liked that joke. He was about 70, went on vacation, got sick and died soon after coming back. So, it was time to get a new doctor. The new guy is from England (as am I), so he is more familiar with foreskins than most North American GPs. I have an ongoing issue with tightness in my foreskin, which sometimes is painful, and occasionally gets little cuts. The previous doc thought it was a fungal infection, but several rounds of antifungal creams made no difference. The new GP thought it might be an autoimmune disease called BXO.
Here is the AI overview of BXO:
BXO stands for Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans. It is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that affects the male genitalia, specifically the foreskin and the head of the penis (glans). It is essentially the male equivalent of the skin disease lichen sclerosus. Key Details & Symptoms: It presents as dry, thickened, white, or shiny patches. Over time, it causes scarring and tightness that can lead to a painful inability to retract the foreskin (phimosis) or narrowing of the urinary opening.Causes: While the exact cause is unclear, medical professionals believe it may be linked to autoimmune mechanisms, genetic factors, or chronic local irritation. It is far more common in uncircumcised males. Treatment: Mild cases are often treated with topical steroid creams. However, because the condition can lead to urinary issues and has a small risk of developing into skin cancer, surgical interventions like circumcision or urethral reconstruction are frequently required.
My new doc prescribed a steroid cream and it completely healed the problem in a week. Some scarring remains, but the skin is no longer tight, and there is no pain anymore. Note, it is a treatment, not a cure, so I have to keep using the cream. But it is cheap and convenient, and it works. Before this I used Shea butter, which helped, but it was not nearly as effective.
Some thoughts. First off, my experience reinforces the notion that second opinions are important. Even taking that into consideration, I was lucky to find a doctor familiar with BXO. I suspect that many men with foreskins in North America have BXO and do not know it. There is the option to get circumcised, but I am loathe to get unnecessary surgery. I also like having a foreskin. Because it is self-lubricating I rarely need lube to masturbate. And the foreskin sliding over the glans adds to the sensation. But if the condition worsens over time I will get it cut off. Maybe keep it as a souvenir? A little tote bag?
Here is the AI overview of BXO:
BXO stands for Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans. It is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that affects the male genitalia, specifically the foreskin and the head of the penis (glans). It is essentially the male equivalent of the skin disease lichen sclerosus. Key Details & Symptoms: It presents as dry, thickened, white, or shiny patches. Over time, it causes scarring and tightness that can lead to a painful inability to retract the foreskin (phimosis) or narrowing of the urinary opening.Causes: While the exact cause is unclear, medical professionals believe it may be linked to autoimmune mechanisms, genetic factors, or chronic local irritation. It is far more common in uncircumcised males. Treatment: Mild cases are often treated with topical steroid creams. However, because the condition can lead to urinary issues and has a small risk of developing into skin cancer, surgical interventions like circumcision or urethral reconstruction are frequently required.
My new doc prescribed a steroid cream and it completely healed the problem in a week. Some scarring remains, but the skin is no longer tight, and there is no pain anymore. Note, it is a treatment, not a cure, so I have to keep using the cream. But it is cheap and convenient, and it works. Before this I used Shea butter, which helped, but it was not nearly as effective.
Some thoughts. First off, my experience reinforces the notion that second opinions are important. Even taking that into consideration, I was lucky to find a doctor familiar with BXO. I suspect that many men with foreskins in North America have BXO and do not know it. There is the option to get circumcised, but I am loathe to get unnecessary surgery. I also like having a foreskin. Because it is self-lubricating I rarely need lube to masturbate. And the foreskin sliding over the glans adds to the sensation. But if the condition worsens over time I will get it cut off. Maybe keep it as a souvenir? A little tote bag?
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