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The [[foreskin]], like the eyelid, also serves an important protective and hygienic function. The [[foreskin]] provides physical protection of the delicate [[glans]] of the [[penis]] and puts the [[urethra]] at a distance from its environment, protecting it from foreign pathogens and contaminants of all kinds while simultaneously shielding the [[penis]] from traumatic injury. <ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref> The [[foreskin]] protects the infant [[glans penis]] from ammonia in diapers (nappies) and prevents meatal ulcer and [[meatal stenosis]].<ref>{{GairdnerDM 1949}}</ref> <ref name="vanhowe2006">{{REFjournal |last=Van Howe |init=RS |author-link= |title=Incidence of meatal stenosis following neonatal circumcision in a primary care setting |journal=Clin Pediatr (Phila) |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=49-54 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/000992280604500108?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed |quote= |pubmedID=16429216 |pubmedCID= |DOI=10.1177/000992280604500108 |date=2006-01 |accessdate=2020-01-09 |note=Jan-Feb 2006}}</ref> It is a double fold of [[skin]] which offers two layers of protection to prevent [[keratinization]] and maintain sensitivity.

Together, these properties prevent the entry of pathogens and contaminants.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref> The [[foreskin]] protects the infant [[glans penis]] from ammonia in diapers (nappies) and prevents meatal ulcer and [[meatal stenosis]].<ref>{{GairdnerDM 1949}}</ref> <ref name="vanhowe2006">{{REFjournal |last=Van Howe |init=RS |author-link= |title=Incidence of meatal stenosis following neonatal circumcision in a primary care setting |journal=Clin Pediatr (Phila) |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=49-54 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/000992280604500108?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed |quote= |pubmedID=16429216 |pubmedCID= |DOI=10.1177/000992280604500108 |date=2006-01 |accessdate=2020-01-09 |note=Jan-Feb 2006}}</ref> <ref>{{REFjournal