Washing the penis

[Mars989]

hi guys I'm nearly 17 and I have only really realized that I need to wash more thoroughly. whenever I try and wash it the head and under the foreskin is very sensitive, is this normal for someone who has just started to check downstairs more?

[Hidden]

Completely normal.

Carry on washing. Nobody likes a smelly penis.

[ermm]

I would say that is normal too, keep washing regularly and you’ll get used to how it feels. 👍

Best to use a soap free cleanser down there too, I made the mistake of using shower gel through my early teens and it made the skin really dry!

CeraVe and Cetaphil work really well

[roddythescot]

How have you managed to reach 17 without being instructed both by parents (from about 8 years old) and in school sex education or health and hygiene lessons that you must fully retract your foreskin daily for washing and also to urinate?

Your glans is overly sensitive to ordinary everyday touch precisely because it has been cooped up in your foreskin for 17 years. It will only lose that excess sensitivity by regulr daily contact with clothing, your hand, washcloths, etc. You just have to fight your way through any temporary discomfort.

You must use a mild soap under the foreskin to remove the smegma since it is oil based and will not all be removed with water alone. DO NOT use shampoo or harsh soaps. Be sure to thoroughly wash off all the soap before drying yourself and re-covering the glans.

[BryceD123 in reply to roddythescot]

In his defence, I went to school in the UK and we were never told about hygiene down there. Also people may have grown up without a dad, or parents who don't teach their children that (myself being one) so please don't assume that everyone should know this.

[Velcro93]

It's completely normal to be sensitive . Don't worry about it. Also do routinely wash and don't allow smegma collection. Use mild soaps and don't irritate the meatus too much . It's completely normal . If you would like to decrease the sensitivity , you may choose to keep your foreskin retracted behind the glans so that the exposure and contact with cloth will desensitize it . All the best !

[Hidden]

Hi mars989 and yes its normal i used to wash mine in warm water in the bath and as all the guys have said wash him everyday also when you have dried him off it does help if you put a little bit of fragrance free moisturiser on him take care of him you only get 1 willy look after him and he will serve you well keep safe and good luck

[Hidden]

Hi Mars. Well done for your post and I'm sure you'll find that the answers already given are very helpful. It's not always easy to admit to not knowing these things, so it's good you felt able to ask the question. Take care, and keep hygienic 'down there'. Regards, Sine

[IanHaines]

Your penis head is supposed to be super-sensitive. The prostate is the most sensitive sex organ in your body. The two places are connected, very efficiently. The penis head is supposed to be very highly sensitive: Nature made it that way so that the male would increase his use of the erection within the female, leading to the ejaculation and, Nature hopes...pregnancy. Expect a lot of sensitivity in the penis head, but it should NOT...be painful to the touch, unless it's inflamed because of the presence of excessive bacteria (the start of balinitis). IMPORTANT POINT: The extreme sensitivity of the penis head occasionally feels like it's BORDERING ON slight pain!

[california1996]

The penis head is sensitive, since the foreskin covers is basically all the time. I always wash mine with water only.. no soap. Best of luck

[jimfromcalif]

Yes, it's normal. Wash with only water. The foreskin cavity should have a good colony of beneficial bacteria to prevent infection of bad bacteria and yeast. Retract frequently to condition your glans to touch. Retracting while peeing helps with conditioning as well as keeping your penis clean.