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[[Intact ]] adult males who wash their [[penis ]] and [[glans daily ]] periodically with clean water usually do not have smegma between the inner foreskin and glans. In infants and boys whose [[foreskin ]] cannot yet be pulled back (natural [[phimosis]]), smegma doesn't matter, while the [[foreskin ]] protects the glans. The illustration "Smegma on a human penis" is therefore not typical for intact men who wash their genitals regularly.
Excessive washing and the use of soap inside the [[foreskin ]] should be avoided, because soap removes the [[skin]] oil so it can cause non-specific dermatitis that may be mistaken for [[balanitis]].<ref name="birley1933">{{REFjournal
|last=Birley
|init=HDL
}}</ref>
Smegma is usually washed away for cosmetic reasons. Excessive washing and use of soap inside the [[foreskin ]] should be avoided.<ref name="birley1933" />
{{SEEALSO}}