Summer Men's Health: Itch, Odor, Pain — When Washing Isn't Enough

SHANGHAI — For many men, summer brings an uncomfortable problem: itching, redness, swelling, odor, or a burning sensation when urinating. It is easy to dismiss these symptoms as "heat" or poor hygiene and simply wash more. But as adults, we should recognize that summer is a real stress test for foreskin and genital health.

We spoke with Dr. Chen Jun, a urologist at Jiahui Health, about what men should know, when self-care is not enough, and how circumcision decisions are made.

Why Summer Makes Men More Vulnerable

Several factors combine in hot weather:

Sweat + Prolonged Sitting = Bacterial "Fermentation"

Many men sit for long hours at work or during travel. In summer, the groin can become hotter than core body temperature. Sweat trapped under clothing creates a moist, closed space between the inner foreskin and the glans. Smegma breaks down quickly in this environment, producing amines — the unpleasant odor is a sign that bacteria are multiplying.

Post-Intimacy Residue

After sexual activity, semen, vaginal secretions, or lubricants may remain under the foreskin if not cleaned promptly. In summer heat, these residues can degrade within hours. The combination of foreign proteins and smegma can trigger contact dermatitis or acute balanoposthitis, with redness, swelling, and even broken skin.

Blood Sugar Fluctuations

Many middle-aged men have elevated blood sugar without knowing it. Summer often means more fruit and cold drinks, which can cause wider glucose swings. High glucose raises glycogen in the foreskin mucosa, encouraging Candida (yeast) overgrowth. Repeated infections may be a signal to have blood sugar checked.

Late Nights and Alcohol

Sports events, late meals, and extra working hours are common in summer. Alcohol and spicy foods dilate blood vessels, worsening swelling in already irritated tissue. Sleep loss lowers immunoglobulin levels, allowing normally harmless bacteria to cause infection.

Do Not Just "Wash It Away"

Some men feel embarrassed and try to treat symptoms at home with potassium permanganate, feminine wash, or even alcohol. This is risky. Alcohol can burn the mucosa and disrupt the normal bacterial balance, making the condition worse.

Dr. Chen advises men to see a urologist promptly if they notice any of the following:

• Redness, heat, swelling, or pain: The glans or foreskin becomes bright red, tender, or swollen enough to affect walking.
• White or purulent discharge: Cottage-cheese-like material or yellow pus appears under the foreskin.
• Paraphimosis: The foreskin is pulled back and becomes trapped behind the glans, which turns purple. This is an emergency — delayed treatment can cause tissue ischemia.
• Recurrent episodes: More than three infections in a year suggests the local environment is no longer controllable with hygiene alone.

Practical Summer Protection Guide

Clean and Dry Thoroughly

During daily bathing, gently retract the foreskin completely and rinse away smegma with lukewarm water. Dry carefully with a soft towel or tissue before returning the foreskin to its normal position. Keeping the area dry is more important than washing frequently.

Choose the Right Underwear

Wear light-colored, loose, cotton boxer briefs instead of tight synthetic underwear. Light colors make it easier to notice any discharge. Men who sweat heavily may benefit from changing underwear twice a day and washing used pairs in hot water, then drying them in direct sunlight.

Be Mindful Before and After Intimacy

Both partners should wash before and after sex. If a partner has vaginitis, use condoms during treatment to avoid cross-infection. Urinate and rinse after intercourse to flush bacteria from the urethral opening.

Control Blood Sugar and Eat Lightly

Men over 40 with recurrent balanitis should consider an HbA1c test. In summer, prioritize cooling, water-rich foods such as winter melon, barley, and mung-bean soup. Barbecue and beer are fine occasionally, but several days in a row can reduce local resistance.

Do Men Need Circumcision?

Recent news has reported cases of men attempting self-circumcision with devices bought online, leading to wound infection, bleeding, and pain that ultimately required hospital care.

Dr. Chen stresses that circumcision is a common urologic procedure, but it is not a do-it-yourself project. Before surgery, a physician must assess whether there is phimosis, adhesions, active inflammation, or scar narrowing. The procedure itself requires anesthesia, sterile technique, bleeding control, and careful determination of how much tissue to remove. Self-treatment risks bleeding, infection, wound dehiscence, and impaired blood flow.

Men who may benefit from circumcision include those with:

• Phimosis (tight foreskin that cannot be retracted)
• Recurrent balanoposthitis
• Scar narrowing of the foreskin opening
• A prior episode of paraphimosis

If the foreskin is only slightly long but can be retracted easily, hygiene is manageable, and infections are infrequent, surgery may not be necessary.

Dr. Chen's final message: If you need treatment, do not delay because of embarrassment. If you do not need surgery, do not follow trends. Dignity as an adult means seeking professional care when something is wrong — not suffering in silence or trying to operate on yourself.

About the Doctor

Chen Jun, MD, is a full-time urologist at Jiahui Health with nearly ten years of clinical experience. He specializes in common and complex urologic conditions, with particular expertise in men's health, urinary stones, and urinary tract infections.

His practice covers:

• Men's health: Diagnosis and treatment of external genital conditions such as balanoposthitis, including aesthetic and functional circumcision and repair procedures; comprehensive management of chronic prostatitis and sexual dysfunction.
• Minimally invasive stone treatment: Ureteroscopy, cystolitholapaxy, and urethral stone procedures.
• Urinary infection management: Standardized diagnosis and antimicrobial planning for urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis.

Dr. Chen earned his master's degree in medicine from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Before joining Jiahui, he worked in the Department of Urology at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, where he gained broad experience in outpatient care, inpatient management, and minimally invasive urologic oncology surgery. He has published seven academic papers, including four in international SCI-indexed journals, and has presented at multiple urology conferences.

Jiahui Health Urology Department

The urology team at Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital includes experienced clinicians who provide screening, diagnosis, minimally invasive surgery, and multidisciplinary care for benign and malignant conditions of the urinary and male reproductive systems. From kidney stones and urinary incontinence to cancer care and men's sexual health, the department offers internationally benchmarked services to address a wide range of urologic concerns.