[ ARC forum 2 ]

Suckered!

Written by Paul B. at 01 Apr 2003 13:56:29:

As an answer to: Re: Oils ain't oils. written by sml at 01 Apr 2003 01:40:55:

> Sorry, my condition is a slight case of phimosis. I can pull the foreskin back from the stretching excercises illustrated on this forum (3 months), but it's still tight when it retracts (it never retracts by itself, I have to pull it back over the glan).

Perhaps you should explain whether it is tight when you are flaccid (I presume not), or only when you have an erection. And given that it is only tight when you have an erection, to what extent is it uncomfortable when pulled back?

If it is only mildly uncomfortable, then you are not badly off at all; it would likely improve with practice, slowly. What we have not been able to illustrate here however, when you refer to previous pictures illustrating the "exercises", is the final one simply using two fingertips inside the foreskin (in front of the glans), pulling outward. For the situation I believe you describe, this is the most appropriate, because it will, as it needs to, stretch the foreskin wider than the glans, and all enlargement is based on stretching to a point beyond the target you desire.

> That's why I went to the urlogist for prescription steroid cream.

Cringe! I hate it when I hear this. Urologists basically deal with people with kidney, bladder and prostate problems, and specifically those requiring surgery. They really have by and large, no expertise, or interest, in foreskin problems, other than to cut it off if you seem somehow dissatisfied with it.

> I actually just came back and he prescribed me Cortesine 0.5%... he said that betamethsone is too strong.

Only OTC steroids (hydrocortisone) suggested. Apparently this so-called "specialist" is completely ignorant of the subject, as hydrocortisone is quite unlikely to work. The studies (read them!) really never mention hydrocortisone as it is not expected to do anything. Of course, one might be lucky, but really, the reason hydrocortisone is "OTC" is that it specifically does not have the effect - skin thinning and softening - that is needed in this situation. It's what I have described previously regarding the method.

> I dunno. Is will this "weaker" at a higher concentration give me the same result as betamethsone 0.05%?

Most unlikely, except that (as Jim notes) if you really do the stretching correctly, almost anything - or no cream at all, will work. The ointment only ever makes it happen faster, and with less effort. So don't bother going back (ever?), use the stuff if you have it, according to my instructions, or at least applied specifically to the tight bit, and get those stretches going.


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