Physiological phimosis in newborns is characterized by?

Physiological phimosis in newborns is characterized by a nonretractable foreskin. In this condition, the foreskin is often tightly adhered to the glans of the penis, making it impossible to retract in infants and young children. This is a normal developmental stage in newborns as the majority of infants are born with a foreskin that cannot easily be pulled back.

As the child grows, the foreskin typically becomes more elastic and the adhesion between the foreskin and glans naturally separates over time, leading to retractability. Understanding this developmental process is critical in neonatal care, as it reassures parents that this is a common and generally benign situation that usually resolves without intervention as the child matures.