How to Clean an Uncircumcised Child's Penis

Co-authored by Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH

Last Updated: September 25, 2021 References

An uncircumcised penis requires a slightly different cleansing regimen than a circumcised penis. If your child is uncircumcised, you will need to take special care to cleanse the area and to avoid damaging the foreskin. If your child is older and can wash alone, you may still need to teach them how to properly cleanse their penis.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning an Infant's Uncircumcised Penis

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1
Wash only the visible parts of the baby's penis during bathtime. Do not try to retract the foreskin on a baby's penis! It can take anywhere from 2 to 6 years for the foreskin to separate from the glans (head of the penis).^{[1]
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National Health Service (UK)
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Go to source} Forcing the foreskin back before it has separated from your child's penis may cause tearing, bleeding, pain, and scarring.^{[2]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Even if pulling back the foreskin does not seem to cause a problem now, forcing it back may cause pain or other problems for the child later in life.^{[3]
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2
Use soap and warm water to gently cleanse the baby's penis. For the first few years, you don't need to do anything special to clean your child's penis.^{[4]
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Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
Board Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor

Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.} Use warm water and some non-irritating soap, such as baby bath gel. Lather up the soap by rubbing it together in your hands with a bit of water. Then, gently use your fingertips to clean the surface of your baby's penis from the tip to the base.^{[5]
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Mayo Clinic
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- You may also use a gentle washcloth, such as a soft cotton cloth or microfiber washcloth, to gently cleanse your baby's penis.
- Do not use cotton swabs to clean the crevices of your baby's penis!
3
Call your child's doctor if you see swelling, redness, itching, or signs of pain. If your child develops certain symptoms, it is important to take them to a doctor right away for treatment. These symptoms may include:^{[6]
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- Swelling or ballooning around the foreskin, especially during urination.
- Redness around the foreskin or surrounding areas.
- Itching, as indicated by your child scratching around their penis.^{[7]
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- Signs that your baby may be in pain, such as high pitched crying or flinching when you clean their penis.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Teaching a Child to Clean Their Own Penis

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1
Explain how to pull the foreskin back before cleansing the penis. Once your child's foreskin has separated, they will need to pull back the foreskin to expose the glans (head) of the penis. Teach them to do this gently to avoid injury.^{[8]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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- At around 4 or 5 years, the foreskin should be easily restracted. That means that you'll be able to push the foreskin down fully over the head of the penis, without having to force it.^{[9]
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  Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
  Board Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor
  
  Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}
- Children can practice doing this during bathtime as soon as their foreskin separates from the glans.
- Never force the foreskin down. Only use gentle pressure. If your child is older than 5 and the foreskin won't retract much, speak with your pediatrician.^{[10]
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  Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
  Board Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor
  
  Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}
2
Tell your child to gently cleanse under the foreskin with soap and warm water. Soap and warm water is needed to cleanse the area under the foreskin that is now exposed. Have your child lather up a bit of body wash or a non-irritating soap in their hands, and then use gently rub the glans.^{[11]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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- Your child will need to do this every day, or nearly every day.^{[12]
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  Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
  Board Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor
  
  Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}
- Your child may notice a white cheese-like substance while cleansing the glans. This is called smegma and it is made up of dead skin cells. Let your child know that this is normal and nothing to worry about!^{[13]
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3
Have your child rinse off the penis to remove soap. After they have finished cleansing the glans, rinse the glans off with warm running water to remove all of the soap. Teach your child to check to ensure that the soap is all gone.^{[14]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Your child can also rewash his glans if it still seems dirty after rinsing it off, such as if there is still visible smegma.
4
Have your child gently dry off the glans with a clean dry towel. Before returning the foreskin to its original position, the glans needs to be dry. A clean, dry towel can be used to dry off the glans. Pat the penis dry rather than rubbing it to reduce irritation.^{[15]
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Mayo Clinic
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- It is important to completely dry the glans before covering it with the foreskin again. This will help to prevent infections.
5
Teach your child to return the foreskin to its original position. After your child has washed, rinsed, and dried their penis, they will need to return the foreskin to its original position. This is very important since leaving the skin retracted can cause pain and possible damage by cutting off circulation to the glans.^{[16]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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- If your child's foreskin ever gets stuck in the retracted position, they should let you know because this will require a visit to the doctor.

Expert Q&A

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How can I safely clean my child's uncircumcised penis?

Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH
Board Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor
Dr. Andrea Rudominer is a board certified Pediatrician and Integrative Medicine Doctor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Rudominer has over 15 years of medical care experience and specializes in preventive health care, obesity, adolescent care, ADHD, and culturally competent care. Dr. Rudominer received her MD from the University of California, Davis, and completed a residency at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. Dr. Rudominer also has an MPH in Maternal Child Health from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a Member of the American Board of Pediatrics, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Member and Delegate of the California Medical Association, and a Member of the Santa Clara County Medical Association.

Andrea Rudominer, MD, MPH

Board Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor

Expert Answer

For the first several years, there's no special care needed for an uncircumcised penis. With time, the skin will slowly start to separate from the head of the penis. By 4 or 5 years, you should be able to easily push the foreskin down over the head of the penis. Once this occurs, teach your child how to do it and how to clean under the skin every time he bathes. However, never force the skin down—only use gentle pressure.

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Warnings

Be careful when cleaning an uncircumcised child's penis since the foreskin might not have separated yet. Never try to force it back!

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Call your child's doctor immediately if you suspect an infection, which may present with swelling, redness, drainage, and pain.

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