Changes

'''Balanitis''' is an inflammation of the glans (AKA balanus), but is not necessarily an infection. Balanitis may occur together with posthitis (inflammation of the [[foreskin]]), when it is known as balanoposthitis.<ref name="edwards1996">{{REFjournal

One can’t properly treat balanoposthitis until one knows what is causing it. Different causes require different treatments. When one knows the cause, then an appropriate treatment can be selected.<ref name="edwards1996" />

Diagnosis requires an accurate history, and such tests as biopsy and a swab with a culture.<ref name="edwards1996" />

Birley ''et al''. (1993) report excessive washing, especially with the use of soap, will dry the oils out of tissues and cause a balanitis like inflammation. The use of soap should be avoided.<refname="Birley1991" >{{REFjournal

}}</ref>Although it is commonly believed that the human foreskin is the source of infection so must be constantly washed to prevent infection, that is not true. Fleiss, Hodges and Van Howe (1997) report the foreskin has both protective and immunological functions that help to prevent disease.<ref name="Fleiss1997">{{REFjournal |last=Fleiss |first=P |author-link= |coauthors=Hodges GM, Van Howe RS |title=Immunological functions of the human prepuce |journal=Sex Trans Inf |date=1998-10-01 |volume=74 |issue=5 |pages=364-7 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1758142/pdf/v074p00364.pdf |quote= |pubmedID=10195034 |pubmedCID=1758142 |DOI=10.1136/sti.74.5.364 |accessdate=2019-10-07}}</ref> Washing removes the protective substances and leaves the penis prone to infection, so washing should be limited and soap should not be used.

|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030063437/http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisionbashh.org/for-professionalsguidelines/2002/allegedbalanitis_0901b.pdf |title=2001 National Guideline on the Management of Balanitis |trans-medicaltitle= |language= |last=Clinical Effectiveness Group |first= |publisher= |website=Wayback Machine |date=2001 |accessdate=2019-benefits/phimosis10-balantis/07 |format= |quote=}} * {{REFweb |url=