What is the disease that causes peeling and bleeding of the glans penis?

The glans of a man refers to the front end of the penis. It is called the glans of a man because it looks similar to the head of a tortoise. Don't underestimate this part. It is often closely related to men's reproductive health because many diseases are caused by the glans of a man. So, some male friends said that their glans of a man had peeling skin and bleeding symptoms. What is this disease?

Balanitis is inflammation of the glans penis, which refers to inflammation of the glans penis caused by trauma, irritation or infection. Since glans inflammation often coexists with inflammation of the inner foreskin, glans inflammation and balanoposthitis are usually collectively referred to as balanoposthitis. The main clinical manifestations are local redness, swelling, erosion and ulcer formation. Balanitis can retrogradely infect the urinary system, causing cystitis, pyelonephritis, etc. In addition, if the inflammation is not cured for a long time, it can directly affect sexual life, leading to impotence, premature ejaculation and other phenomena. This disease is more common in summer and autumn, and mostly occurs in young and middle-aged men, especially those with prepuce or phimosis.

1. Acute superficial galactitis

It is mainly seen in young and middle-aged people with active sexual life, and the infecting bacteria are usually the same as the strains of bacterial vaginosis of their sexual partners. At the beginning of the disease, the local skin is flushed, and the glans penis feels burning and itchy. In the acute stage, the foreskin is turned back to reveal edematous erythema, erosion, exudate and bleeding on the glans penis. In severe cases, blisters may appear. If secondary infection occurs, ulcers may form, covered with purulent exudate, and local pain and tenderness are obvious. Some patients may have mild systemic symptoms, such as fatigue and weakness. In the chronic stage, only the inner plate of the foreskin and the coronal sulcus have flaky flushing, or cracks like broken porcelain.

2. Annular ulcerative glansitis

It may be the early mucosal damage of Reites disease, or it may be related to the long-term stimulation of smegma. The clinical manifestation is erythema on the glans penis, which gradually expands and becomes ring-shaped or multi-ring-shaped, and may later form shallow ulcers. The main feature of this disease is one or more round lesions on the glans penis, with a red erosive surface in the middle and a white narrow band on the edge, forming a ring. If secondary infection occurs, the symptoms may be aggravated and lose their ring-shaped characteristics.

3. Candidal balanitis

Caused by Candida infection, most commonly Candida albicans. Clinical manifestations include erythema of the foreskin and glans penis, smooth surface, slight desquamation around, scattered papules or small pustules around, and slowly expanding to the surrounding area. In the acute stage, edema, erythema, erosion, and exudate may occur. In severe cases, it may affect the penis body, scrotum, inner thigh and groin. It is mostly caused by sexual contact infection, but it can also be secondary to diabetes, wasting diseases, and long-term and large-scale antibiotic or hormone treatment.

4. Cytoplasmic balanitis

It is more common in middle-aged patients. Generally, there are no obvious conscious symptoms. Persistent, localized, infiltrative, dark red-brown patches occur on the glans penis, with clear boundaries, smooth surface, many small red spots or erosions, easy bleeding, and no ulcers. Histopathology has diagnostic value, and is characterized by band-like inflammatory cell infiltration in the superficial dermis, mixed with a large number of plasma cells.

5. Amoebic balanitis

When the foreskin and glans become inflamed, the barrier function of the epithelium is lost, which makes it easy for amoeba infection. The clinical manifestations are infiltrated erythema, erosion, shallow ulceration, obvious tissue necrosis and pain.