How to Care for Your Foreskin: a Guide for Uncircumcised Men
Although the rate of circumcision has dropped dramatically over the past few decades, most adult men in the United States do not have a foreskin. Due to the prevalence of circumcision, there is not much information on how to properly care for uncircumcised penises. If your foreskin is intact, here’s what you need to know to keep it happy.
What is the foreskin?
If you’re a foreskin owner, you (hopefully) know what it is, but let’s go over the basics anyway. The foreskin is a flap of skin that covers the glans of the penis and attaches to the base of the glans. Boys are born with the foreskin fully attached to their penis, but this gradually weakened as they age. By the time boys reach puberty, the foreskin can usually be easily pulled back to the base of the glans (glans of the penis). All males are born with a foreskin, but about 60% of boys in the United States are circumcised when the foreskin is removed.
How to keep your foreskin healthy
Possession of the foreskin is usually easy, but requires some basic grooming. When you swim, you will need to cleanse the foreskin underneath. Gently retract the foreskin and rinse with warm water when you shower. Soap is generally not recommended as harsh chemicals can dry out the delicate tissue of the skin (which can even lead to infection or irritation). The foreskin tends to build up smegma , a deliciously named mixture of dead skin cells and body oils, so cleansing is very important.
The tissues of the foreskin are more fragile than other parts of the penis, so you need to exercise caution. Never retract the foreskin forcefully. You can also use masturbation lubricant to avoid pulling on your foreskin. Just be sure to rinse off the lubricant afterward, as you don’t want it to get stuck under your foreskin.
What should the owners of the foreskin look for
There are several diseases common to the owners of the foreskin. Infections are quite common and can often be confused with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Fasting is an infection that causes redness, swelling, and discharge. Balanoposthitis is accompanied by inflammation and irritation. Both tend to be repetitive and can lead to serious complications. TL; DR: Flush your foreskin and see your doctor immediately if you notice redness, irritation, or change in discharge!
The foreskin can also get caught in the zipper a little more easily than a circumcised penis, so be extra careful when closing the barn door, especially if you’re a fan of freebies.
Phimosis is another disease associated with the foreskin. This happens when the foreskin is particularly tight. If you recall from the first section of this article, boys are born with an attached foreskin that cleaves over time, but about 5% eventually develop phimosis. If you are a penile owner and you know for sure that you do not have phimosis, I suggest skipping the rest of this paragraph. We’re going to get really visual, and we don’t want you to cover your trash with the pain of empathy. Phimosis can lead to a variety of problems. If you can’t suck in your foreskin, you won’t be able to peel it off, which means you’re more likely to get infections. You can also get stuck in urine there when you try to free yourself. In severe cases of phimosis, an erection can be painful and even cause lacrimation and bleeding in the foreskin itself.
Fortunately, there are treatments for phimosis. It is important to consult with your doctor, who may prescribe a steroid cream for you to help loosen your skin. He or she may also recommend a manual stretching procedure (don’t try this without medical supervision!), Which should help gradually loosen the skin over time. In the most extreme cases, adult circumcision may be required, but this is rare.
Finally, let’s wrap it up with paraphimosis . This condition occurs when the foreskin gets stuck in a retracted position (you might want to look away from here again), essentially strangling the penis and disrupting circulation. In some cases, emergency intervention may be required. Sometimes men with phimosis (foreskin too tight) may be overly aggressive in their foreskin stretching procedures, resulting in paraphimosis.
How to introduce your partner to the foreskin
There is a good chance you will have at least one sexual partner who has never been with an uncircumcised guy before. Like any other person who sleeps with a new person, you will have to show your partner the ins and outs of what works for your body. In particular, it is important to advise your partner not to forcefully retract the foreskin. Just say something simple, like, “Let me show you how I do this,” and masturbate a little for your partner.
There is no elegant way of expressing this: some uncircumcised guys have problems with foreskin odor (to be honest, some circumcised guys have odor problems too). This is a fold of skin in an area that does not allow much air to pass through, so it makes sense. If you ever notice or worry about your smell, try rinsing yourself off quickly before having sex with your partner. It would be especially helpful if you would like your partner to perform orally . There is nothing to be ashamed of; we’re just talking about taking a few extra seconds to become a thoughtful partner.
If you ever penetrate your partner, you need to take one more step when you put on a condom. Gently pull the foreskin towards the base of the head, then put on the condom. This method should increase the ability of the foreskin to move in the condom. Adding a drop of lubricant to the tip of the condom helps it glide even better. Some men prefer to have the foreskin pulled over the glans of the penis and then apply a condom, usually because they don’t like having the glans bare. I recommend trying the first method first as it holds the condom better. If you are not using a condom, you do not need to tear off your foreskin.
Love your foreskin
Since circumcision is still considered the “norm” in the US, some circumcised men feel a little uneasy about their penises. One shocking demonstration of this dynamic: 5% of adult circumcisions are done purely for cosmetic reasons. In particular, some men are concerned about their partner’s reaction to the foreskin. While some people may say they prefer the “look” of a circumcised penis, this is the same as saying they like big tits or round butts. We all have our preferences, but if someone makes you ashamed of not being circumcised, this is not someone who deserves your time.
While we won’t go into the debate about whether circumcision should be performed in this article, it’s worth noting that some of the roots of the modern popularity of circumcision lie in the anti-masturbation movement . Circumcision was seen as a way to prevent “self-abuse”. If you ever find yourself having a disagreement with your uncircumcised penis, consider yourself a rebel against this anti-pleasure movement! Consider that you have 40% more nerve endings than circumcised men. Some argue that less sensitivity means longer bedtime, but having more nerve endings does not speed up orgasm. Perhaps the best way to improve your relationship with your foreskin is to enjoy the extra sensations you may be experiencing. Try different ways to masturbate with your foreskin. Use a lot of lubricant so that the foreskin can slide back and forth over the glans of the penis. Try to keep the foreskin above the glans and focus only on the glans. Enjoy your foreskin in all its nervous beauty!