I’m an intact teen. What do I need to know?
Proper Care
As you may already know, your penis is simple to care for: just take a shower!
The prepuce (foreskin) covers the glans (head of the penis) and keeps it moist and smooth. [1] The normal resting position of the foreskin is covering the glans.
If you are able to retract (pull back) your foreskin comfortably, you can do so to reveal and rinse off the glans. [2] Be sure to replace the foreskin over the glans when done.
Natural skin oils and cells can create a white substance called smegma. Smegma is harmless and can be rinsed away in the shower. For the most part, water is all you need for proper hygiene. [2] If you feel the need to use soap, be cautious as it can be irritating and can throw off the natural balance of yeast, bacteria, and pH.
Retraction
If your foreskin does not retract all the way, don’t worry! The average age by which a person can fully retract their foreskin is 10.5 years old [3-6], but there is a wide range. Some people are much older than when their foreskin can fully retract, and this is completely normal. You were born with a membrane fusing your foreskin to your glans. Over time, this membrane gradually releases. For some people, this process completes at a very young age, and for some it occurs much later. Puberty changes our bodies significantly, and tends to complete the separation process for most.
If you are past puberty and you want to be able to retract your foreskin but cannot, a doctor can prescribe a steroid cream [1] and manual stretches to loosen the area. There are rare cases in which people who are much older have never experienced full foreskin retraction, and as long as they aren’t in discomfort or having issues, that’s just fine too!
Yeast/Bacteria/Redness/Swelling
Anyone (regardless of their sex) can get a yeast infection that causes their genitals to be red, swollen, itchy, and smelly. If your foreskin and/or the rest of your penis becomes inflamed, or if you have a smelly white discharge, you probably need an anti-fungal treatment. You can use over-the-counter anti-fungal creams (such as Lotrimin/clotrimazole) and, for some soothing relief, take baths with apple cider vinegar diluted in your bath water. If yeast treatment doesn’t work, you may have a bacterial infection for which a doctor can prescribe medication. There is almost never a medical reason for your foreskin to be removed, so if your doctor tells you that you need to be circumcised, switch to an intact-friendly provider!
Confidence
You were born with foreskin for a reason, and — thanks to the great decision made by your family — you were NOT put through a painful experience that would have changed the function of your penis. Like the majority of people with penises around the world [7], your genitalia are normal and natural. If someone with a misinformed perspective about the foreskin makes a negative comment to you, tell them you are thankful that no one cut off part of your penis when you were a baby! When you become sexually active, know that your foreskin is an important part of sexual function and your experience (and that of your partner) will be optimal because you have your foreskin.
Have questions? Want to get involved in educating others? Contact us at: YourWholeBody.org/contact.
[1] Cold, C.J., & Taylor, J.R. (1999, January). The Prepuce. British Journal of Urology, 83(1), 34-44.
[2] National Health Service. (2018, April 6). How to keep a penis clean.
[3] Oster, J. (1968, April). Further fate of the foreskin. Incidence of preputial adhesions, phimosis, and smegma among Danish schoolboys. Arch Dis Child, 43(228), 200-3.
[4] Thorvaldsen, M.A., & Meyhoff, H. (2005, April 25). Patologisk eller fysiologisk fimose? Ugeskr Læger, 167(17), 1858-62.
[5] Ishikawa, E., & Kawakita, M. (2004, May). Preputial development in Japanese boys. Hinyokika Kiyo, 50(5), 305-8.
[6] Kayaba, H., Tamura, H., Kitajima, S., Fujiwara, Y., Kato, T., & Kato, T. (1996, November). Analysis of shape and retractability of the prepuce in 603 Japanese boys. Journal of Urology, 156(5), 1813-5.
[7] World Health Organization. (2007). Male circumcision Global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety and acceptability.