Smegma pearls, also called smegmomas, are a natural secretion composed of epithelial cells, protein, and fat. Smegma pearls are not carcinogenic and do not induce damage or irritation. Despite the frequent occurrence of smegma pearls in uncircumcised children, no case among circumcised patients was reported.
In men, smegma collects between the foreskin and the head of the penis. In women, it can build up between the folds of the vulva and around the clitoris. It's normal to have some smegma. But if you don't wash carefully, it can start to build up under the foreskin and head of the penis, as well as inside the vagina.
Your body produces lubricant to help the foreskin shrink. If you don't wash underneath the foreskin correctly, a cheesy-looking substance called Penile White Matter can start to gather. This lubricant can build up under your foreskin, combining with other natural oils, dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria.
Appearance. An uncircumcised penis retains the foreskin, which covers the head of a nonerect penis. When the penis is erect, the foreskin pulls back to reveal the glans. A circumcised penis has no foreskin, which exposes the glans when the penis is both erect and nonerect.
The present study shows in a large cohort of men, based on self-assessment, that the foreskin has erogenous sensitivity. It is shown that the foreskin is more sensitive than the uncircumcised glans mucosa, which means that after circumcision genital sensitivity is lost.
Back in the 1950s, roughly 80 per cent of Australian men and boys were circumcised. That rate has steadily decreased and now, around 20 per cent of Australian newborns are circumcised. This is largely due to developments in modern medicine.
Smegma pearl is a benign collection of smegma accumulated in the subpreputial space of young uncircumcised boys.
If left to build up, smegma can become smelly or lead to an infection. As a result, people should regularly clean the parts of the body where smegma occurs.
Smegma pearls, also called smegmomas, are a natural secretion composed of epithelial cells, protein, and fat. Smegma pearls are not carcinogenic and do not induce damage or irritation. Despite the frequent occurrence of smegma pearls in uncircumcised children, no case among circumcised patients was reported.
Some people do not like the distinctive smell smegma produces, whereas others find it agreeable and even arousing. Besides personal preferences, one's like or dislike of smells, scents, and aromas can also be culturally related. Read Bathing — how often? for more information on this topic.
Most boys will be able to retract their foreskins by the time they are 5 years old, yet others will not be able to until the teen years. As a boy becomes more aware of his body, he will most likely discover how to retract his own foreskin. But foreskin retraction should never be forced.
Eventually, the foreskin should be retracted far enough during urination to see the meatus (the hole where the urine comes from). This prevents urine from building up beneath the foreskin and possibly causing an infection. As long as the foreskin doesn't easily retract, only the outside needs to be cleaned.
In physiologic phimosis, benign (non-life threatening) conditions may occur that are common in uncircumcised males, including; cysts related to smegma production/trapping and transient painless ballooning of the foreskin during urination.
Etiology. Presence of foreskin, which results in the accumulation of smegma. Therefore, the risk of this disease is three times higher in uncircumcised men than in circumcised men.
About 1 in 10 newborn boys in Australia undergo circumcision in Australia today. Male circumcision has been performed for religious and cultural reasons for thousands of years. In some cultures and religions, it remains an important religious and cultural ritual.
In Australia today, fewer than 20 per cent of boys are circumcised. When considering circumcision for your child, you should be aware of the possible risks and benefits.
The best way to treat smegma is to regularly wash your genitals and the surrounding areas until it goes away. If you have foreskin, gently pull your foreskin as far back as you can toward your body. Use a clean washcloth or your hands to wash the skin under your foreskin with soap and warm, clean water.
During childhood, the foreskin gradually starts to separate from the glans, so children can start to pull it back. But even at 10 years, the foreskin often can't be fully pulled back because the opening at the end is too tight. The foreskin might not fully separate from the glans until after puberty.
The same basic principles apply whether you have a foreskin or have been circumcised. Gently wash your penis each day. Carefully pull back and clean underneath the foreskin, as well as the tip of your penis (the glans) using only water and a very gentle soap. Don't scrub this sensitive area.
Complications. Smegma is not a sign of a sexually transmitted infection. However, if it's allowed to accumulate, it can give off a strong, foul odor and take on a cottage cheese-like consistency. It can also lead to more serious medical issues, such as conditions like phimosis , balanitis , and clitoral adhesion.
Which is better? Either way is normal and healthy — there is no “better” or “worse” option. The foreskin is the retractable tube of skin that covers and protects the head (glans) of the penis. All healthy boys are born with a foreskin.
Some before and after studies of men circumcised as adults have reported decreased penile sensitivity [27,31], while others have reported no change in penile sensitivity and satisfaction [32]. One before and after study found an increased ejaculatory latency time after circumcision, which was deemed an advantage [30].