What you are referring to is physiological phimosis, which many boys are born with, although some are not. At birth, the prepuce is often fused to the glans, making it impossible to expose it even partially. As the child ages, however, the prepuce gradually separates, and exposing the glans becomes possible. In some boys, this may happen within the first few years, or even months. of life, while some pubescent boys are still unable to retract the prepuce completely.
The prepuce should never be retracted forcefully, although parents are often told to gently try retracting it during bathing to see whether it moves easily. If it does, retracting it regularly during bathing should become part of the routine.
Clearing adhesions is generally ineffective because of the high incidence of recurrence, and it can be very painful. Therefore, it is rarely attempted by physicians. Instead, if the prepuce cannot be retracted by the time the child reaches a certain age, is has to be removed surgically. There is no universal consensus regarding the exact age at which the circumcision should be performed. Some suggest circumcising before the age of 3–4, while others recommend waiting until around 6–7. Most agree, however, that circumcision should be performed before the onset of visible signs of puberty.