What is Balanitis or Balanoposthitis
Balanitis is an inflammation of the head and foreskin of penis. Head of penis is also known as glans penis. Basically, there is swelling and redness of glans penis and foreskin.
Causes of Balanitis
There are many reasons inflammation of glans penis and foreskin.
- Infections like STDs, yeast infection, bacterial infection. Common pathogens are candida albicans, HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus), HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), trichomonas vaginalis, chlamydia, trachomatis, neisseria gonorrhoeae, treponema pallidum, streptococcus, staphylococcus and scabies.
- Skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema which cause itchy, dry, scaly skin.
- Balanitis can be due to some other diseases like reactive arthritis and lichen sclerosis atrophicus.
- I have seen in my clinical practice, which I have been doing since 1997, that patients who have uncontrolled diabetes are more prone to balanitis.
- Strong soaps: Soap remains in the penis area after bathing.
- Poor hygiene of genital area.
- Irritation from condoms and clothing.
Symptoms of Balanitis
- Pain, irritation, itching, redness, swelling of the glans penis and foreskin.
- Whitish foul-smelling discharge.
- Painful urination.
- Scaly warts on the head of penis; this is called pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis.
- Sores on the head of penis; this is called circinate balanitis.
Complications of Balanitis
If balanitis is not treated properly then various problems can occur:
- Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans (BXO): In this head of penis becomes hard and white because of which there is difficulty in urine and semen discharge.
- Phimosis: Long term balanitis leads to scarring of penis due to which elasticity of foreskin reduces and it constricts. Later forward and backward movement of foreskin becomes difficult and painful.
Allopathic Treatment
When a patient of balanitis consults a skin specialist, he prescribes antibiotics; oral as well as cream for local application. Sometimes corticosteroids and painkillers are also prescribed.
With this treatment, the symptoms and discomfort of the patient gets better. But as soon as the treatment is stopped all the symptoms reappear. This happens again and again which is very frustrating for the patient.
Gradually the medicines stop working and the patient feels tremendous discomfort. Apart from this, allopathic medicines cause side effects which we all know.
Sometimes surgery is required when phimosis or BXO develops.
Homeopathic Treatment
Now we will discuss about homeopathic treatment.
Most of the patients who come to us have already undergone allopathic treatment for balanitis. But even then, their problem is not resolved. Many of them have already developed complications like phimosis and BXO.
According to my clinical experience, only classical constitutional homeopathic treatment can treat balanitis effectively. This type of prescription not only takes care of the infection but treats the patient as a whole and improves general health as well.
There are no antibiotics in homeopathy. When given in balanitis homeopathic remedies improve the weakness of immune system. This creates such an environment in the body that the bacteria, virus, fungus cannot thrive and sustain in it; thereby curing the infection.
For external application, I prescribe calendula ointment which is a natural antiseptic.
According to my experience, improvement usually starts within 3 to 6 weeks of treatment. Generally, it takes approximately 8 to 10 months for complete betterment of balanitis.
In addition, homeopathy is safe, natural, gentle and without side effects.
Number of Medicines
There are around 78 medicines in homeopathy for balanitis which are very effective.
Now which of these medicines are to be given, in how much potency, how many times in a day – this is a complicated process which only a highly qualified and experienced doctor can do.
A sensible doctor never prescribes on the name of the disease balanitis. He takes complete history of the patient, then studies his symptoms properly.
After this, he selects the medicines keeping in mind the susceptibility of the patient and decides upon the potency and repetition of medicines.
In balanitis, I prescribe for one month and then review the patient after that. Every month the case is studied again thereby finetuning the medicines and their potencies.
Name of Medicines?
In this blog I have not named any medicines, nor I have promoted medicines of any company; because by doing so I will be playing with your health and may harm you. A sane doctor will never do this!