An uncircumcised penis has a fold of skin (foreskin) covering the head of the penis. In the first several years, the foreskin will separate from the tip  of the penis. In rare circumstances, the foreskin may separate soon after birth or even before birth. It may take a few weeks , months or years for the foreskin to separate. Every child is different.  Once this happens, the foreskin can be pulled away from the tip of the penis. This is called foreskin retraction.

Most boys will have foreskin retraction by age 5 but some will have to wait until their teens. Foreskin retraction should not be forced.   Until the foreskin separates completely from the tip of the penis, do not try to pull it back.  Doing so  can result in severe pain, bleeding and tears in the skin.

When the foreskin separates from the tip of the penis, skin cells are shed. These  skin cells may look like white, pear-like lumps under the foreskin.  This is called smegma. It is normal and nothing to worry about.

Cleaning an uncircumcised penis

If the child’s foreskin retracts before he reaches puberty, you have to occasionally retract the foreskin and cleanse beneath it. Once the child reaches puberty,cleaning beneath the foreskin should be part of his daily  routine just like  brushing his teeth .

You can teach your child to clean his foreskin by doing the following :

• pull the foreskin gently towards the body
• rinse underneath the foreskin with soap and warm water
• pull the foreskin back over the penis