Smegma, although somewhat disgusting, actually plays a biologically significant role in human beings. It’s only when people with poor hygiene allow this “natural lube” to become stagnant that the biofilm becomes problematic. In this article, Dr. Murtaza Ahmed explains the medical side of the not-so-appealing substance known as smegma.
What is Smegma? – A Definition
Smegma is a malodorous, opaque white or yellow substance composed of shed epithelial cells (dead skin) and sebum (oily secretions) produced by the sebaceous glands of male and female genitalia. It is found beneath the foreskin and glans penis in males and the folds of skin surrounding the clitoris in females.
Fact #1: The word smegma was first used in 1819 and is derived from a latin word meaning soap or detergent.
From a medical standpoint, the combination of dead skin cells and oily residue isn’t in of itself problematic. It’s only when a person allows this putrid biological concoction to slowly bake in the warm, moist environment around the labia or under the foreskin that smegma is formed.
As the oils mix with the dead skin cells, they provide an ideal substrate for bacterial consumption. When left unattended, “we” create an ideal breeding ground for the worst-smelling bacteria.
Although the bacteria are generally harmless, they inevitably produce extremely unappetizing byproducts responsible for an undoubtedly horrific odor. Anecdotes from the poor souls unfortunate enough to have encountered smegma in the wild describe it as a sulfur-rich stench resembling sour milk or swiss cheese.
Fact #2: There’s a heavy metal band called “Rectal Smegma” responsible for songs such as “Excremental Lesbophonic Putremageddon”. Biologically speaking, there is no such thing as rectal smegma.
Why Do Humans Produce Smegma?
Believe it or not, smegma production is actually vital to good penile health and satisfactory sexual performance. Fresh smegma is actually smooth and moist and aids in lubricating movement of the foreskin over the glans penis during sexual intercourse. This is very important as without it the resultant friction would result in dermal (skin) abrasion, leading to pain and soreness in some of the most sensitive areas on the body.
As well as aiding in sexual function, smegma protects the penis and clitoris by preventing it from adhering to the adjacent skin and allows for seamless retraction of the foreskin during activities such as urination.
Fact #3: It’s commonly misunderstood that smegma only exists upon the presentation of small pimples or the reek of cheese emanating from the groin area. On the contrary, smegma naturally exists in everyone, i.e. you have smegma. It’s only when poor hygiene creates the unfortunate circumstances we associate with the biofilm that it becomes problematic. A “Go Ask Alice” question and answer explains it best:
“Remember that it is stale and accumulated smegma that is a source of ill health for the penis. Freshly formed smegma, washed away regularly and constantly replenishing itself, is a wholesome lubricant – making for ease in erection and smoothness in sexual intercourse.”
Why Do Humans Produce Smegma?
Believe it or not, smegma production is actually vital to good penile health and satisfactory sexual performance. Fresh smegma is actually smooth and moist and aids in lubricating movement of the foreskin over the glans penis during sexual intercourse. This is very important as without it the resultant friction would result in dermal (skin) abrasion, leading to pain and soreness in some of the most sensitive areas on the body.
As well as aiding in sexual function, smegma protects the penis and clitoris by preventing it from adhering to the adjacent skin and allows for seamless retraction of the foreskin during activities such as urination.
Fact #4: When it comes to men, smegma only becomes problematic for males who are uncircumcised.
When Does Smegma Become a Problem?
Smegma often gets ‘bad press’, but this is the result of an unhealthy accumulation of smegma rather than a direct result of production itself. As explained above, the combination of smegma, a warm moist environment and time result in thriving bacterial colonies and the stinky cheese smell.
Now obviously you can’t do anything about smegma production, and unless you get circumcised, the warm environment is there to stay, but the time aspect is certainly a controllable factor. Be sure to bathe regularly – with attention to your private bits.
Fact #5: The production of smegma occurs in waves. It is most actively produced during adolescence. Then, as humans get older, the production levels decline.
Can It Cause Health Issues?
As well as being malodorous, the accumulation of smegma can actually result in more serious health issues. Balanitis (inflammation of the glans penis) and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the foreskin) can result from smegma build up.
These conditions can be very painful and often require medical treatment. In general they resolve with little long term consequences, but repeated episodes can result in scarring and possibly phimosis. This is a condition whereby the foreskin becomes stuck over the head of the penis and is unable to be retracted. Phimosis can be a distressful condition and may even require surgery for resolution.
Fact #6: People who are prone to oily skin or acne are far more likely to have problems with smegma.
What can I do to reduce the problems caused by smegma?
As mentioned the main factor we can control in the smegma cycle is time. By reducing the time any smegma is allowed to fester, we can directly reduce the intensity of the odor and likelihood of secondary health problems.
The best way to manage smegma is to clean the area under the foreskin once to twice daily with warm soapy water. It is as simple as that. Things to avoid when cleaning smegma are the use of strong soaps/gels or cleaning solutions and forceful or prolonged retraction of the foreskin.
Fact #7: The most severe cases of smegma problems are called hismosis. Hismosis, derived from the Greek word for “muzzle”, occurs when a rigid, hard ring of smegma forms around the foreskin, preventing it from retracting. This condition can be quite painful.
Does smegma cause cancer?
The thought that smegma can lead to a higher incidence of penile cancer is a medical myth that was perpetuated after the publication of an outdated study from 1947 . The results and conclusions of this study have never since been substantiated and more recent evidence suggests there is no link between smegma and penile or cervical cancer.
Fact #8: The texture of dried smegma is most often described as waxy.
When Does Smegma Become a Problem?
Smegma often gets ‘bad press’, but this is the result of an unhealthy accumulation of smegma rather than a direct result of smegma production itself. As explained the combination of smegma, a warm moist environment and time result in thriving bacterial colonies and the distasteful smell that most people know smegma for.
Now obviously you can’t do anything about smegma production, and unless you get circumcised, the warm environment is there to stay, but the time aspect is certainly a controllable factor. In general smegma only causes a problem when it is allowed to accumulate for too long.
Fact #9: The exact chemical composition of smegma remains a scientific and medical mystery. The litle literature that exists suggests it’s made of 3 primary compounds containing a saturated fatty acid, β-cholestanol, and a hydroxy steroid.
Does it Occur at Any Age?
There is always some element of smegma production, but it becomes most prominent in adolescence (aged 14 onwards) when it becomes required for sexual function. Smegma production then remains constant for several years before reducing in middle age and declining to almost nothing later in life.
Fact #10: In 1988 a man released a patent for a product specifically designed to treat problematic smegma. You can see the patent here.
Conclusion
Smegma is a naturally occurring accumulation of dead skin cells and oily secretions around the foreskin in males and clitoris in females. It is beneficial as lubrication during sexual intercourse but if allowed to accumulate can lead to a distasteful odor as well as other health issues. Smegma can be controlled easily by a good hygiene regimen and this should be encouraged to all.
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hello sir,
20 days before i sex with my girl friend .this is is first time i sex with her. i using durex strawberry flavour condoms. 3days before my head of the penies i able to see white colour skin peeling.sometime itchy sometime not.if i wash my penies i feel like pain what about the problem.right now i applying coconut oil on my skin.
what that solution
You may have a skin condition or a socially transmitted disease…I would suggest you have a competent physician check your condition.
Too bad I did not know that females also produce smegma and I am now 82. I had to adjust or sex was not all that great. I am circumcised and have never had any health problems in the groin.
I learned about smegma as I was growing up in Catholic schools. It was not a playground word, nor was it taught to me by my parents. So it must have come from the Baltimore Catechism or some other classroom source. Why? Why was it even talked about? All I know is it furthered my disgust with my adolescent sexuality. For some reason, I encountered the word again just a few years ago, in my late 60s.
Being disgusted with your natural body processes is not only unhealthy, it is unreasonable. You are wonderfully made and accepting your beautiful nature is essential for your emotional and mental health. Please find someone who appreciates you.
Sir,a huge amount of smegma is accumulating around penis every after 2 -4 hours. I’m feeling itchy after cleaning my penis.I’m 38 years old with two children. Is there any medical solution for controlling the smegma.Thank you.
Massaging your genitals with a pleasing scented organic vegetable based oil will alleviate the condition which may be the result of the water quality with which you bathe and perhaps the quality of the soap you use to bathe your skin. The entire body is involved with itself and it knows when there is an unhealthy condition either from the environment or from within. Eating too many oily, greasy animal fats is not healthy.
Hi i am checking out after constant washing my foreskin after i wake up it seems to have the smegma on my foreskin again. What is the reason for it
Switch from soap to scrubbing with water and a soft washcloth. Often times the use of soap can change the ph down there and cause and increase in smegma production. (A little gross, but if you ever pee in the shower, pinch off your foreskin and let fresh urine coat everything inside) contrary to popular belief, fresh urine is sterile due to the ammonia content, and will help rebalance things. If things still get nasty quickly, I’ve found washing with a flavored water based lubricant, rather than soap, to be a good option similar to deodorant. (Btw, I’m interested to try a tube Lume deoderant. Silver spruce seems to be the best scent for guys by review.) Either way, don’t worry too much if there’s a slight odor, even circumcised guys can get a bit of smell if they haven’t been cut so tight that there’s zero wrinkles near the hea,d when soft. Another thing to keep in mind is that the foreskin produces pheromones, which can get your partner ready to go without them even realizing it! 😉
It’s only in the US they think smegma is foul or useless. Every normal penis has it, every vagina has it. Sir you are on point saying that a natural secretion, with natural benefits to both partners. Smegma is the natural lubricant, and if you wash your privates with hand warm water (no need to scrub or anything) – you won’t get ‘cheese’. Never had, nor has my wife. No UTI – no problem, just natural. We all have a scent – which is normal (some women think they don’t have it – the US women – they is and think only a deformed – circumcised penis is ‘good’) We NEVER used any lube – because the human body lubes itself there. (like all mammals) – And to Babu : wash your genitals with mild soap and hand warm water – try it at least.
Doctor I need help I have smegma it is hard it cannot remove while washing because it is dry so I can’t remove how I remove it plz help ?
Hello recently from almost a week white substance is building up on my foreskin and head of my penis.I started cleaning it by retracting the foreskin but it lead to small cuts on the skin and now I can’t even able retract foreskin if I did so cracks are forming on the foreskin what should I do. Please help me.
Sir, I’m 16 years old, I think I have smegma from 2 years. I have really nice hygiene and I shower every day and I clean my penis really precisely. What I should do and should I worried about it?
Hullo Doctor, This Is Caeso. I want to understand xamthing. is smegma always on the foreskin alone? or on the whole private area under pubic hairs inclusive? i’ve been searching abt what was causing the dry scaly deadskins that was ever present on my scrotum and and a bit extensions to the area between my upper thighs that the scrotum touches. cld it be the same smegma? cos it used to give out xam “very bad press” to both me n those near me in school to the extent my girlfriend always told me anytime she finds me to nt dodge bathing. bt i bathe atleast twice aday paying extra attention to it cos it gives me discomfort.i dnt indulge in sex. months later the smell is gone bt the grey colour impression and the dry soft slippery texture is stil left all around my balls n the skins in contact with it. i tried my best explaining. plz help me doctor. mind u am black. jst incase those colours differ. thank you.
I Am 19 Yrs Old
Hi, I am 49 and have not changed my hygeine habbits. However, only recently I noticed brownish thick and smelly substance on my foreskin ( I am black). I washed it off and then noticed a more liquid form around 24 hours afterwards. It gradually went away. I visted a STD clinici and took tests but there was no sign of a sexual infection. I heard that cocunut oil is good so i have used it two times. Today I noticed the same white liquid puss-like smelly subtsance. Not sure what’s happening. Any Advice please?
I had raw on my ovulation but it was pulled out and right on m on my period date with no periods. Shd i wait or just take a test?