Sometimes secretions can build up underneath an intact foreskin. If the area under the foreskin isn’t cleaned well, these secretions build up enough to become a thick, sometimes smelly substance called smegma. Smegma is more common in men with phimosis, but can occur in anyone with a foreskin if the foreskin isn't retracted regularly to clean the head of the penis. In the past some experts were concerned that smegma might contain compounds that can cause cancer.
Most experts now believe that smegma itself probably doesn’t cause penile cancer. But it can irritate and inflame the penis, which can increase the risk of cancer. It might also make it harder to see very early cancers. In India, we find it difficult to get water for bathing especially in cities like Chennai and most of our men in villages take bath in public in water ponds or wells or rivers where it is not possible to clean…
