Smegma is a combination of shed skin cells, skin oils, and moisture.
It occurs in both male and female mammalian genitalia.
In females, it collects around the clitoris and in the folds of the labia minora; in males, smegma collects under the foreskin.
The accumulation of sebum combined with dead skin cells forms smegma.
Smegma clitoridis is defined as the secretion of the apocrine (sweat) and sebaceous (sebum) glands of the clitoris in combination with desquamating epithelial cells.
Glands that are located around the clitoris, the labia minora, and the labia majora secrete sebum.
If smegma is not removed frequently it can lead to clitoral adhesion which can make clitoral stimulation painful.
Human penis with visible smegma behind the glans.
In males, smegma helps keep the glans moist and facilitates sexual intercourse by acting as a lubricant.
Smegma is produced from minute microscopic protrusions of the mucosal surface of the foreskin and that living cells constantly grow towards the surface, undergo fatty degeneration, separate off, and form smegma.
Smegma contains 26.6% fats and 13.3% proteins, which they judged to be consistent with necrotic epithelial debris.
Newly produced smegma has a smooth, and moist texture.
Smegma is rich in squalene and contain prostatic and seminal secretions, desquamated epithelial cells, and the mucin content of urethral glands.
Smegma contains cathepsin B, lysozymes, chymotrypsin, neutrophil elastase and cytokines, all of which aid the immune system.
The production of smegma, which is low in childhood, increases from adolescence until sexual maturity when its function for lubrication assumes its full role.
From middle-age, production of smegma starts to decline and in old age virtually no smegma is produced.
The incidence of smegma increased from 1% among 6- to 9-year-olds to 8% among 14- to 17-year-olds.
The production of smegma, which increases during puberty, is only be of limited significance, as males and females learn to practice good genital hygiene.
Men with smegma can cause irritation and inflammation, which can increase the risk of penile cancer.