What patient education should I provide to prevent recurrence of balanitis in susceptible individuals?

To prevent the recurrence of balanitis, individuals should be provided with education on good daily hygiene practices ¹. This includes advising them to wash daily with lukewarm water and, where possible, to keep the foreskin retracted until the glans penis is dry ¹. It is important to avoid irritants such as soap, bubble bath, or baby wipes ¹. Patients can also be advised to consider using an emollient as a soap substitute ¹.

If irritant or allergic contact dermatitis is suspected, patients should be advised to avoid any suspected triggers, which may include soap, bubble bath, latex condoms, lubricants, or creams ¹. In such cases, the regular use of an emollient to moisturise and as a soap substitute is also recommended ¹. For confirmed recurrent streptococcal balanitis, it may be necessary to consider testing for and treating streptococcal infection in any sexual partner(s) to reduce the potential reservoir of infection ¹. Patients should also be advised on sources of information and support, such as the NHS information leaflet on Balanitis ¹.