Friction Burn on Penis? Here’s What to Do

“Burn” and “penis”: two words no guy wants to see in the same sentence. Most men are lucky enough to never spill boiling water in their lap, but another type of injury — a friction burn on the penis — can still be pretty uncomfortable.

Thankfully, a friction burn on penis skin isn’t typically a severe heat burn. Usually, it’s sore and superficially irritated from excessive use and just needs some rest.

Understanding how the friction burn happened can help you speed up recovery without necessarily needing an awkward penis exam. But there are other potential causes of penile injury you might want to rule out first. Let’s start with the roughest part of the conversation: the friction itself.

A penis friction burn is an irritated, sore area on penis skin, typically resulting from excessive rubbing. A friction burn usually heals on its own within a week. But you can support its recovery by avoiding sexual activity or masturbation, keeping your penis clean, and using a soothing lubricant or moisturizer.

Penis friction burn symptoms include:

• Redness and swelling of penis skin

• Pain or discomfort

• Peeling

• A blister resembling a scab or heat burn on the shaft

You may wince to visualize it, but the skin of your penis is very sensitive and thin. When this sensitive skin becomes irritated or sore from vigorous rubbing, it’s called a penis friction burn.

Friction burns, or chafing on penis, happen when two surfaces (your penis is one, in this case) rub against each other without enough lubrication.

This type of burn is technically both a thermal burn and an abrasion. How so? The tissue builds up heat from the friction and causes damage (abrasion) due to excessive skin contact.

Think: a rug burn.

The issue could arise after doing some very strange cycling stunts while naked. But more realistically, it’s from one of the most common causes of friction burns: prolonged sex or masturbation.

This is especially true if the sex lasts long, if you have particularly dry penis skin, or if you already had a small cut on your genitals.

It can even happen with shorter sexual encounters if you’re not accustomed to regular sexual activity (and the friction is, therefore, a new experience).

Friction burn on your penis isn’t like normal burn injuries. Minor friction burns only last a few days, and there’s no special treatment involved. Those visual signs of a burn — friction scab on shaft, irritable peeling, a blister— they’ll heal on their own.

Unless the burn is severe, you don’t need to seek medical attention for this specific penile health issue. Instead, give it time and keep the area clean and dry to prevent an infection.

And don’t dive right back into bed with your partner until you’re feeling completely better.

If your friction burn is so severe that you develop a friction blister on penis or tear your foreskin, keep it covered with clean, loose-fitting underwear (like briefs or boxers). And contact your healthcare provider for medical advice. 

As the wound heals, you may notice some peeling. That’s a normal friction burn healing stage, so no need to ask, “Why is my penis peeling?” It’s just your skin doing its job.

Everyone heals differently, but most thermal injuries and abrasions affecting the first (superficial skin layer) or second level of skin will probably heal in a week or two.

Friction burn healing stages typically include:

• Redness and swelling

• Blister formation

• Scab on penis

• Peeling

Severe friction burns can take months to heal, and they could require surgery to replace the skin that was burned away entirely. We’re going to guess (hope) that you stopped short of that level of injury.

Worried your skin isn’t doing its job of healing correctly, or fast enough? That’s a great reason to talk to a healthcare provider.

Keep in mind the pain from a friction burn during an erection isn’t the same as a painful erection — a completely different but still concerning medical condition.

Now that you’ve winced your way through most of this article, you’re probably wondering how to prevent a friction burn on your penis. The easiest way to never have to Google “Why does my penis burn?” again is to use lubrication the next time you masturbate or have sexual intercourse.

If things feel dry during sex, using an aloe-based or water-based lubricant will not only feel better on your penis — it’ll feel better for your partner too.

Besides lube, another potential way to prevent these injuries is to address problems that could lead to them. See a healthcare professional if you have difficulty ejaculating (delayed ejaculation) due to stress or certain medications. This condition can lead some guys to prolong sex despite dryness and continued rubbing, which could result in a friction rash.

After all, sex shouldn’t be frustrating. Find out more about what to do if you have problems ejaculating.

Other tips to avoid friction burn on penis:

• Practice good hygiene. Wash your penis regularly with warm water and soap. If you’re uncircumcised, be sure to pull the foreskin back and wash underneath. Don’t forget about your testicles, either.

• Be gentle with your penis. Pat it dry after washing and back off whenever you feel pain or discomfort while having sex or masturbating.

• Wear loose-fitting clothing. You can also get friction burn during another sweat-inducing activity: exercise. If you’re heading to the gym, avoid tight clothing that can cause chafing.

The symptoms of a penis friction burn can resemble the symptoms of other, potentially more serious penis problems, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If you’re unsure of the cause of your irritation, see a healthcare provider to rule out the following: 

• Latex allergy. If you use latex condoms during sex, the material could be causing allergic reactions. A latex allergy can lead to inflammation and itching on the penis.

• Balanitis. Balanitis looks like swelling and tenderness on the head of the penis and may also include discharge, itchiness, or a rash — kinda like the red, raw flesh of a friction burn. But unlike friction burn, it’s caused by bacterial or fungal infections, diabetes, or a latex allergy. Balanitis is also more common in uncircumcised men.

• Sexually transmitted infections. Many STDs and STIs that can result in penis discomfort and inflammation. How do you know if you have friction burn or herpes? Conditions like syphilis, herpes, and human papillomavirus will also result in small lesions — not typical with a simple friction burn.

• Thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection or overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans. It can result in soreness, inflammation, pain while urinating, and sometimes discharge.

So if you’re Googling “friction burn penis,” know it could be something else.

Other potential problems that can make your penis sore include poor hygiene, some types of cancers, skin disorders (like psoriasis or eczema), and other allergies.

If you’re experiencing discomfort and aren’t sure if it’s a friction burn, put your penis health first and talk to a healthcare provider ASAP.

Friction burns anywhere suck, but penile friction burns may be the actual, absolute worst. Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid friction burn, but when it strikes, the best thing you can do is wait it out.

Friction burn on penis? Remember this:

• Penile friction burns can be avoided. Prevention is about moderating the “use” of your penis, using lubrication, and knowing when to give yourself time to heal.

• Healing time will vary. A minor burn may recover in just a few days, but if you’ve been really doing some damage, a week or more of rest could be required.

• Not everything that looks like a friction burn is a friction burn. Allergic reactions, skin infections, STIs, and other things may cause similar symptoms to friction burn. So if you’re not sure what’s making the skin of your penis red or raw, it’s a good idea to seek medical advice.

If the above suggestions don’t get you anywhere in the healing process, contact a urologist or another healthcare provider specializing in men’s health to find out what’s going on down there.