tissue." clinical significance the foreskin can be involved in balanitis, phimosis, sexually transmitted infection and penile cancer. the american academy of pediatricians' now expired 2012 technical report on circumcision found that the foreskin can harbor micro-organisms that may increase the risk of urinary tract infections in infants and contribute to the transmission of some sexually transmitted infections in adults. in some cases of recurrent pathologies, excessive soap washing may irritate the mucosa, therefore washing of the area should be done gently. frenulum breve is a frenulum that is insufficiently long to allow the foreskin to fully retract, which may lead to discomfort during intercourse. phimosis is a condition where the foreskin of an adult cannot be retracted properly. phimosis can be treated by using topical steroid ointments and using lubricants during sex; for severe cases circumcision may be necessary. posthitis is an inflammation of the foreskin. a condition called paraphimosis may occur if a tight foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans and swells as a restrictive ring. this can cut off the blood supply, resulting in ischemia of the glans penis. lichen sclerosus is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that most commonly occurs in adult women, although it may also be seen in men and children. topical clobetasol propionate and mometasone furoate were proven effective in treating genital lichen sclerosus. some birth defects of the foreskin can occur; all of them are rare. in aposthia there is no foreskin at birth,: 37–39 in micropathia the foreskin does not cover the glans,: 41–45 and in macroposthia, also called and congenital megaprepuce, the foreskin extends well past the end of the glans.: 47–50 it has been found that larger foreskins place men who are not circumcised at an increased risk of hiv infection most likely due to the larger surface area of inner foreskin and the high concentration of langerhans cells. society and culture modifications