A small percentage of boys and men have foreskins with an unusually small opening, which can be difficult to retract (phimosis) or become stuck behind the glans and cause swelling (paraphimosis). For paraphimosis, a doctor can compress the glans and let the foreskin return to its normal position. In both cases, the opening of the foreskin can then be increased by twice daily application of a steroid cream for 4-6 weeks (2).

A tight foreskin. Some foreskins can be tight throughout childhood and may not loosen until puberty is fully established.

Plastic Surgeons have a variety of ingenious techniques involving muliple incisions to remodel the foreskin and relieve the phimosis. These are unlikely to be avallable on the N.H.S.