Penile adhesions are when the skin on the shaft of the penis sticks to the end of the penis. Penile adhesions aren't a serious condition and often go away on their own. If needed, health care providers will prescribe a cream or ointment to help penile adhesions go away.

• If your health care provider prescribed a cream or ointment, use it as directed.
• Bathe your baby as usual. Wash the penis with warm water. It's OK to clean the tip of the penis while gently holding the skin back, but don't try to force the adhesions to break.
• At each diaper change and after bathing, put a small amount of petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline^®) on the tip of the penis. 

What causes penile adhesions in circumcised babies? They may happen if petroleum jelly is not put on the penis in the month after circumcision. Sometimes there is no clear reason why they occur.

What happens if the penile adhesions don't go away? In circumcised males, the adhesions almost always go away as a baby grows and starts to get erections. If needed, a minor surgery can remove penile adhesions.