What Are the Yellow Things Inside the Foreskin?

The yellow substance found inside the foreskin is generally known as smegma. It is formed when the sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands of the foreskin accumulates in the space between the inner surface of the foreskin and the glans penis due to lack of regular cleaning. When urine penetrates this space and reacts with the sebum, smegma is formed. Mild cases of smegma do not require treatment and can be cleaned by soaking in warm water. However, severe cases require prompt medical attention for cleaning, disinfection, and possible recurrence after treatment. Therefore, patients should regularly clean their genital area to maintain cleanliness and dryness, which can effectively prevent the formation of smegma. Additionally, if the foreskin is excessively long, timely surgical removal can also help prevent the formation of smegma.

Smegma can create a hostile environment for the glans penis and may trigger precancerous lesions that can lead to penile cancer, such as penile horn, papilloma of the penis, condyloma acuminatum, leukoplakia of the penis, and proliferative erythematous plaques of the penis. These lesions are prone to transformation into penile cancer. Long-term accumulation of smegma can also lead to urinary tract infections such as balanitis, balanoposthitis, urethritis, genital warts, and herpes. Furthermore, smegma can decrease sensitivity, leading to male sexual dysfunction such as impotence, premature ejaculation, rapid ejaculation, and anejaculation, which can disrupt marital harmony and reduce the quality of life.