Our bodies do a good job of cleaning themselves, and sometimes that involves creating unusual substances and scents. Sometimes, a change in the smells or substances could be more serious. This can be the case with smegma. Smegma is a buildup of dead skin cells, oil, and other fluids on the tip of the penis or in the folds of the vagina. The buildup can grow over time, and if it’s not taken care of, it can lead to painful side effects.
Source
Causes
Smegma is caused by shredded skin cells, dead epithelial cells, mixing with skin oil secretions, such as sweat and naturally-produced lubricants. Smegma may build up if it is not washed away properly. This may cause problems, thus good personal hygiene is necessary to avoid such problems.
Symptoms
Smegma is a secretion of the oil glands around the genitals. For men, smegma often appears under the foreskin of the penis. In women, it’s most likely to appear between the folds of the vagina’s labia or around the clitoral hood. Smegma has several distinct characteristics:
- thick, cheese-like consistency
- white in color (can be darker depending on natural skin tone)
- unpleasant smell
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