Penis care
2-minute read
Maintaining good hygiene and care of your genitals reduces the chances of developing problems like skin irritations and some common infections. Often it is assumed that men know the steps to good penis care, but it never hurts to remind yourself of the best practices. The same basic principles apply whether you have a foreskin or have been circumcised.
There are things you can do to look after yourself.
- 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.
- Make sure you gently pat dry the tip of your penis, the area underneath your foreskin and the rest of your penis. Replace the foreskin over the tip of the penis before putting on your underwear.
- Make sure your underwear has been properly washed, thoroughly rinsed and fully dried before wearing.
- Make sure you wash your hands before you pass urine or touch your penis. This is especially important if you have been handling anything that might irritate your penis, such as chemicals, chilli peppers or heat rub.
You don’t have to forcibly pull back the foreskin on a child’s penis. There is no need to clean underneath the foreskin in young children.
Not sure what to do next?
If you are still concerned about your penis care, why not use healthdirect’s online Symptom Checker to get advice on when to seek medical attention.
The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether it’s self care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero (000).
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: October 2019
