How to Clean Your Penis

Failure to maintain proper hygiene can lead to irritation, infections, and unpleasant odors, among other health issues. Cleaning your penis after intercourse helps reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While cleaning methods differ slightly for circumcised and uncircumcised men, the differences are minimal. To maintain optimal hygiene and personal health, it's important to learn how to clean your private area properly.

Choose a gentle soap. Many soaps contain fragrances that can irritate sensitive skin, and some have harsh detergents that are unsuitable for cleaning the genital area. For the best results, choose a mild, fragrance-free body soap (in other words, avoid using hand soap).

• If you have sensitive skin, it's a good idea to consult with your doctor or dermatologist to choose the right soap for your skin.

Shower. Use warm water instead of hot to avoid burning or irritating your genital area and the rest of your body. Shower as usual, rinse with warm water, and use a mild, fragrance-free soap.

Clean your penis. Use your hands to apply a mild, fragrance-free soap, then gently wash your scrotum and the shaft of your penis. For uncircumcised men, it’s important to clean underneath the foreskin.

• Gently pull the foreskin back as far as it will comfortably go. Do not force it past its natural point as it could cause injury or scarring.
• Apply soap under the foreskin, then rinse thoroughly to remove soap and any residue.
• Return the foreskin to its original position.

Maintain genital hygiene. Personal care is crucial, but doctors recommend against over-washing your penis. Excessive cleaning, especially with soap or body wash, can lead to irritation and discomfort. After showering, make sure to dry your penis thoroughly. If you use talcum powder or baby powder on your scrotum, avoid applying it to your penis. Talcum powder can accumulate under the foreskin and cause irritation and discomfort.

• If using talcum powder, switch to cornstarch-based powder instead. Talcum powder has been linked to ovarian cancer in women — so if you engage in sexual activity with a woman while your penis has talcum powder on it, you may be putting her at risk.

Learn how to care for the foreskin. When properly maintained, an uncircumcised penis doesn’t cause serious health problems. However, poor hygiene under the foreskin can lead to a buildup of smegma. Other foreskin-related issues include:

• Swelling or inflammation, usually caused by strong contraction or irritation from harsh soaps or scented products.
• Infections, such as balanitis and posthitis, often due to poor hygiene and smegma buildup.

Use a gentle soap. Even if you are circumcised, it's still important to use a soap that won't irritate your penis. Choose a mild, fragrance-free soap or body wash.

• Consult with a doctor or dermatologist to select a soap that is gentle on your skin.

Shower. As mentioned earlier, it's crucial to adjust the water temperature to avoid burning or irritating your skin. You should shower with warm (not hot) water and apply soap to your body as usual.

Clean your penis. Apply a mild, fragrance-free soap to your hands and gently wash your scrotum, shaft of your penis, and beneath the head of your penis. Even if you are circumcised, it's important to clean the area under the head of the penis, as sweat, bacteria, and residue can accumulate there.

• If you're circumcised, simply rinse your penis with water under the shower or in a bath to remove soap.
• Be sure to dry your penis thoroughly after showering. For circumcised men, using talcum powder is relatively safe, but be cautious not to let powder come in contact with the urethra or cause skin irritation.

• Avoid cleaning under the foreskin of young children or newborns who have not yet had a circumcision. In many cases, the foreskin may not be fully retractable because it is still attached to the head of the penis. Forcing the foreskin down to clean the area can cause pain and injury to the child's sensitive parts.