Tight foreskin (phimosis)
Overview
It's normal for babies and young boys to have a tight foreskin (phimosis), but adults can also be affected. See a GP if your or your child's foreskin is sore or swollen.
Symptoms
The foreskin is the thin layer of skin that covers the end of the penis. If you or your child has a tight foreskin, it will be difficult to pull it back from the end of the penis. A tight foreskin is normal in babies and young boys. Most boys' foreskins do not pull back (retract) before the age of 5, but sometimes it's not possible until they're 10 or older. The end of a boy's penis may bulge or balloon when they pee, particularly if their foreskin is tight. A tight foreskin is not usually a problem, unless there are symptoms such as: swelling and tendernesspain when peeing or a weak flow of peeblood in urinefrequenturinary tract infections (UTIs)bleeding or a thick discharge from under the foreskin or an unpleasant smell – these are signs of an infection (balanitis)painful erections, which can make having sex difficult
Treatment
The foreskins of babies and young boys will usually loosen as they get older, so treatment is often not needed. If your or your child's foreskin is causing problems, treatments include: steroid creams or gels (topical steroids) to help soften the foreskinantibioticsif the foreskin or head of the penis is infectedsurgery – removal of the foreskin (circumcision) or a procedure where small cuts are made in the tip of the foreskin so it can be pulled back more easily (usually only suitable for children)