What are the effects of having excessive foreskin in children?

Phimosis in children can easily lead to inflammation, excessive smegma production, and irritation of the foreskin and glans, which may affect penile growth and development. If the foreskin can be fully retracted without pain, urination is normal, and smegma inside the foreskin cavity can be cleaned daily, and there are no signs of balanoposthitis, the phimosis is harmless to the child and may not require treatment. However, if there is a narrow foreskin opening that prevents retraction or cleaning of the glans, it may cause foreskin inflammation—treatment should then be considered. First, try manually retracting the foreskin to expose the glans. If you can successfully retract it, cleaning is possible and observation may suffice. If retraction is not possible, and there is significant smegma accumulation with recurrent episodes of balanoposthitis, circumcision should be performed.