As your child gets older, the skin (foreskin) that folds over his penis will get looser. It will be easier to pull it back from the tip. If your son's foreskin can't be pulled back by the time he reaches puberty, he may have a problem called an adhesion, or phimosis (fi-MO-sis). It needs to be treated.
Most boys' foreskins are tight and don't pull back for the first few years of life. This is normal. But if there is scarring or inflammation under the foreskin, it may stay tight.
A steroid cream may help free the foreskin. Or your child may need a procedure called a lysis. This is a surgical procedure to loosen the foreskin without removing it.
In some cases, a doctor may recommend removing the foreskin (circumcision).
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for any changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if your child has any problems.
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