Phimosis is a condition of the penis that occurs in some adults and children who aren’t circumcised. It is defined as the inability to retract the skin (foreskin or prepuce) covering the head (glans) of the penis. There are two types of phimosis: physiologic and pathologic. The physiologic type is associated with childhood and usually resolves as you age. The pathologic type is associated with a condition called balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO). If you have phimosis, your foreskin can’t be pulled back, and it may look like your penis has rings around the tip. Having phimosis isn’t necessarily a problem. It only becomes a problem when it causes symptoms, such as pain with erections or with sexual activity. Phimosis can occur naturally, and in boys younger than age 4, it is normally hard to pull back the foreskin. However, in older boys and men, phimosis often is triggered by an infection under the foreskin (balanitis) or by other medical conditions such as diabetes. Phimosis is usually painless, but a very tight foreskin may interfere with urination or sexual function. In addition, phimosis may make it difficult for a man to clean under the foreskin, which can make infection of the skin more likely. Treatment for phimosis depends on the severity of the condition. In most cases, a course of prescription topical steroid cream applied to the tight foreskin along with gradual manual retraction of the foreskin over the course of weeks to a few months can be very effective for medical treatment of phimosis. Surgical circumcision is another option for the treatment of phimosis.