What Do I Do After Circumcision?
Feel free to bathe your son normally anytime after his circumcision. You can pat the foreskin dry or leave him without his nappy for a little while to aid drying. Kenacomb ointment should be applied 2-3 times daily. Apply it inside the ring around the end of the penis and outside as well. A cotton tip is useful to aid application. The ointment provides lubrication, help prevent infection and reduce swelling. The ring will separate and fall off around day 3-7, just as his umbilical cord does. Continue using the ointment for a few days after the ring falls off. Please ring if you have any concerns. A smear of blood may appear on his nappy but fresh bleeding should not occur after his circumcision. A little redness and swelling can occur in the penis with the normal healing process and quickly settles after the ring separates.
It is important we see your boy around 2-3 weeks after his circumcision. It is often necessary to separate the shaft skin from the head of the penis. If that is not done, sometimes skin can adhere to the head of the penis and smegma can accumulate under the adherent skin. Smegma is a creamy liquid that is a mix of old mucus and dead skin cells. It will always accumulate under the foreskin of uncircumcised boys and it is one of the benefits of circumcision that it will be easier to clean and will not accumulate.
After the adhesions are separated you can give him a bath when you get home, cleaning the newly exposed area by swilling the water around it or by gentle use of a face washer. Gently dry the area and apply some Kenacomb ointment for a few days while it is a little raw looking to prevent infection. After that simply keep the area clean and dry and it will be fine.