Why should not the skin of the baby's prepuce be forced?

Pediatricians often recommend that the parents lower the skin of the baby's foreskin little by little so that it can be cleaned properly, that it becomes elastic. The recommendation includes doing it very carefully and preferably during or after the bath. However, some pediatricians, especially thos

Pediatricians often recommend that the parents lower the skin of the baby's foreskin little by little so that it can be cleaned properly, that it becomes elastic.

The recommendation includes doing it very carefully and preferably during or after the bath. However, some pediatricians, especially those of the old school, are in favor of forcing the skin and perform this maneuver in consultation, a pull that makes the baby have a hard time, it causes wounds and bleeding and also, it is not enough effective and may even have the opposite effect to the desired one.

Is it necessary to lower the skin of the baby's penis?

As a mother of three sons, I have attended in a horrified consultation on several occasions to that moment when the pediatrician proceeded to hit a pull of the foreskin of the baby producing wounds and unnecessary pain, since some time later the wound closed and all I was back at the beginning . Recently I changed pediatricians and a younger doctor explained that this procedure is in disuse.Babies have what doctors call pre preputial adhesions

, that is, the glans penis is protected by the skin of the foreskin, and this in the newborn is attached to the penis, it is not possible to lower it. It does not mean that the child has phimosis, it is a normal and common characteristic that evolves, as the baby grows the skin separates and leaves the glans in the air, it becomes retractable. Some pediatricians were in favor of forcing that resistance of the foreskin and lowering it sharply, producing pain and injuries to the baby. However, this maneuver is unnecessary and often causes more resistance in the skin after healing. There are many professionals whodiscourage this procedure because it is painful and useless.

It is considered normal that the skin of the foreskin does not go down until 3 years of age, until then there is no need to worry and we should only take good hygiene in the bathroom, making a gentle movement so that a little water can enter and So wash the area

. Always without forcing, without reaching that point where the baby shows pain. Only as far as we can see that the skin no longer falls and we will only use water and soap to clean the area. From that moment, it is recommended to go to the specialist, who may advise you to apply an ointment with corticosteroids after performing that light and gentle maneuver to lower the skin,always avoiding sharp maneuvers

. If finally, the child had phimosis it would be necessary to perform a circumcision operation.