Glans peeling may be the cause of glansitis. Trichomoniasis, which is mostly transmitted by a spouse with vaginal trichomoniasis, has mild symptoms and is mainly characterised by erythematous papules and small blisters on the glans.
Patients often feel itchy and trichomonas can be found in the discharge, and as the disease progresses the glans peels. It can also be caused by Candida glans and plasmacytoid glans prepuce. However, in addition to glansitis, glans desquamation can also be seen in common friction injuries; this is usually only slightly red and swollen with no other significant discomfort; penile cancer is less common but can also lead to glans desquamation.