How To Clean A Newborn Uncircumcised Penis

Newborns:
Intendance of the
Uncircumcised Penis

Guidelines for Parents

American University
of Pediatrics

At birth, the penis consists of a cylindrical shaft with a rounded end called the glans. The shaft and glans are separated past a groove chosen the sulcus. The entire penis - shaft and glans - is covered by a continuous layer of skin. The section of the penile skin that covers the glans is called the foreskin or prepuce. The foreskin consists of 2 layers, the outer foreskin and an inner lining similar to a mucous membrane.

Before nascence, the foreskin and glans develop as i tissue. The foreskin is firmly fastened - actually fused - to the glans. Over fourth dimension, this fusion of the inner surface of the prepuce with the glans peel begins to divide past shedding the cells from the surface of each layer. Epithelial layers of the glans and the inner foreskin lining are regularly replaced, not only in infancy but throughout life. The discarded cells accumulate as whitish, cheesy ``pearls'' which gradually work their way out via the tip of the foreskin.

Eventually, sometimes as long as 5, 10, or more than years subsequently birth, full separation occurs and the foreskin may then be pushed back away from the glans toward the abdomen. This is called foreskin retraction. The foreskin may retract spontaneously with erections which occur commonly from birth on and even occur in fetal life. Too, all children ``discover'' their genitals every bit they become more than aware of their bodies and may retract the foreskin themselves. If the foreskin does not seem to retract easily early in life, it is important to realize that this is non abnormal and that it should eventually practice so.

Cartoon reprinted with permission of Edward Wallerstein, writer of Circumcision: An American Health Fallacy. [CIRP note: The drawing is presented only in the older (1984) edition of the pamphlet.]

[The Function of the Foreskin: The glans at nativity is delicate and easily irritated by urine and feces. The foreskin shields the glans; with circumcision this protection is lost. In such cases, the glans and especially the urinary opening (meatus) may become irritated or infected, causing ulcers, meatitis (inflammation of the meatus), and meatal stenosis (a narrowing of the urinary opening). Such problems about never occur in uncircumcised penises. The foreskin protects the glans throughout life.] [CIRP Note: This important paragraph, and the cartoon, were printed in the 1984 edition of this pamphlet; but were removed in the 1990 version!]

Infant Smegma: Skin cells from the glans of the penis and the inner foreskin are shed throughout life. This is peculiarly true in childhood; natural skin shedding serves to separate the foreskin from the glans. Since this shedding takes identify in a relatively closed space - with the foreskin covering the glans - the shed skin cells cannot escape in the usual way. They escape by working their manner to the tip of the foreskin. These escaping discarded skin cells found infant smegma, which may announced equally white ``pearls'' under the pare.

Adult Smegma: Specialized sebaceous glands - Tyson'south Glands - which are located on the glans under the foreskin, are largely inactive in childhood. At puberty, Tyson's Glands produce an oily substance, which, when mixed with shed skin cells, constitute adult smegma. Adult smegma serves a protective, lubricating function for the glans.

Foreskin Hygiene: The foreskin is easy to care for. The infant should be bathed or sponged oft, and all parts should exist washed including the genitals. The uncircumcised penis is easy to keep clean. No special care is required! No attempt should be made to forcibly retract the foreskin. No manipulation is necessary. In that location is no demand for special cleansing with Q-tips, irrigation, or antiseptics; lather and h2o externally will suffice.

Foreskin Retraction: As noted, the foreskin and glans develop as i tissue. Separation will evolve over time. It should not exist forced. When volition separation occur? Each kid is unlike. Separation may occur before birth; this is rare. Information technology may accept a few days, weeks, months, or even years. This is normal. Although many foreskins will retract by age five, there is no need for concern fifty-fifty after a longer menses. [ 1984 version only: No harm will come up in leaving the foreskin alone.] Some boys do not attain total retractability of the foreskin until adolescence.

Hygiene of the Fully Retracted Foreskin: For the first few years, an occasional retraction with cleansing beneath is sufficient.

Penile hygiene will later become a role of a child's full body hygiene, including hair shampooing, cleansing the folds of the ear, and brushing teeth. At puberty, the male should be taught the importance of retracting the foreskin and cleaning below during his daily bath.

Summary: Care of the uncircumcised boy is quite easy. ``Get out information technology alone'' is good advice. External washing and rinsing on a daily ground is all that is required. Do not retract the foreskin in an baby, equally it is almost always fastened to the glans. Forcing the foreskin back may impairment the penis, causing hurting, haemorrhage, and possibly adhesions. The natural separation of the foreskin from the glans may take many years. Subsequently puberty, the adult male learns to retract the foreskin and cleanse under it on a daily basis.