Penis Sensation Facts – The Important Role of the Foreskin

In the 1960s and 1970s, most parents would define the word "foreskin" as "tiny piece of skin that does nothing at all." Much has changed since then. While some new parents continue to remove a baby's foreskin due to penis health concerns or religious traditions, many are now choosing to leave it intact, as they believe that the foreskin has a key role to play in penis sensation and overall health. It's a debate that's likely to wage on, but in the interim, guys who know a little more about what the foreskin is designed to do can make informed decisions for their sons, and they might pick up a few penis care techniques they can utilize in their own lives.

Take-Along Protection

The very tip of the penis, known as the glans, contains a wide variety of sensory cells that can pick up sensations of pressure, friction and dampness. The foreskin is designed to cover this delicate tissue so it isn't exposed to sensory information on a constant basis. During an erection, however, the skin moves away, and the glans is exposed.

The foreskin is also capable of secreting thick fluids that can keep the skin underneath moist and soft. Without moisture, the skin tends to dry up; a dry glans, without the protection of a foreskin, can become so desensitized that it can be hard for men to feel anything at all unless extreme friction is applied. This additional force can actually exacerbate the problem, triggering further keratinization and dulling sensation even further.

Added Benefits

Studies suggest that the foreskin also contains sensory receptors, meaning that this skin has the ability to transmit even more pleasurable signals to the brain during sex. When the entire tissue cover is removed, all of those connections are severed in the process.

The foreskin might also have the capacity to please a female partner during sex, as the skin tends to move and slide during intercourse, making greater contact and increasing stimulation, as well as acting as a natural lubricant that helps to prevent excessive friction for both partners.

Gaining What's Been Lost

Men who have been circumcised at birth or in childhood may experience a sense of loss, as their tissues were likely removed long before they had an opportunity to express an opinion about the matter. Sometimes, surgical techniques can recreate a replacement covering, but that tissue is likely not quite as responsive and not quite as sensitive as the cells that were removed during the original surgery.

This doesn't mean, however, that men who have been circumcised are doomed to penis sensation loss that can't ever be corrected. Men who have been cut can be just as responsive and just as happy during sex, but they might need to take a few added precautions to ensure that the exposed tissues of the penis don't endure yet more trauma. These men might need to:

• Insist on lubrication during sex and masturbation;
• Avoid contact with rough fabrics and wear soft, fitted underwear to prevent chafing;
• Avoid sexual partners with scratchy, poorly shaved pubic hair ;
• Use a moisturizer after bathing.

A penis health creme (most experts recommend Man1 Man Oil) can be highly beneficial for both circumcised and uncircumcised men. A high-quality nutrient cream should contain softening agents such as shea butter that can keep sensory cells firing as they should, and the vitamins in these products can nourish penis skin and help minor abrasions to heal. A penis moisturizing cream can help to maintain a supple, toned appearance that is pleasant to look at, as well as to touch, and is responsive to tactile stimulation.