What should I do if my two-year-old baby has a long foreskin?

The foreskin is a layer of skin wrapped around the outside of the male penis, which plays a role in protecting the glans. Before the child is two years old, the foreskin is generally completely attached to the glans. Because the child is still very young at this time, the glans cannot be exposed by itself. This situation is also called physiological phimosis, which is a relatively normal physiological reaction. Parents can observe and then consider whether to treat it.

After the age of 2, the foreskin and glans are adhered and separated to form a soft outer cover. After the age of 3, the foreskin should be able to be turned over to the coronal sulcus and the glans can be exposed. If the baby's glans cannot be exposed due to narrow foreskin opening or adhesion of foreskin after 3 years old, it is called "phimosis"; if the glans can be fully exposed but the foreskin still covers the glans when the penis is erect, it is called "phimosis".

When bacteria invade between the foreskin and the glans penis, it may cause inflammation of the foreskin, and the penis may become red, swollen, itchy, painful, and even have pus discharge; the foreskin opening may become inflamed repeatedly, and the skin loses its elasticity and ability to expand, and the urethra may become narrow; the secretions in the foreskin cannot be discharged because the foreskin is too tight, and small white bumps may be vaguely visible on the surface of the penis through the foreskin; the foreskin opening may be as narrow as a needle tip, and the baby may have difficulty urinating. The child is prone to crying, dripping urine or having a thin urine stream when urinating, which may be accompanied by urinary tract infection; the narrow ring of the foreskin opening can cause pain in the penis during erection and affect sexual life in adulthood.

A small number of phimosis can be loosened naturally. Those who have the above symptoms or whose glans cannot be exposed at the age of 3 should go to the hospital for treatment and need the help of a doctor to loosen and cure the phimosis. Starting 6 months after birth, the foreskin opening can be expanded through manipulation to help loosen the stenosis ring and adhesions of the foreskin opening, gradually exposing the glans penis.

If the foreskin is too long or phimosis occurs, parents should take their children to the hospital for examination and treatment. If not treated, it may cause some common inflammations, which can cause great harm to the child. It is better to treat it as early as possible, which can reduce his pain and reduce harm.