Do you have bumps on your penis? Are you nervous about what they may signify? It is obvious to freak out when one gets bump on the penis or any place around the genital area. However, not all penile bumps are harmful but again, those due to infection or STDs may be rude. In this article, we are going to focus on various types, causes and ways to get rid of them
What causes them?
As we mentioned before, there are several causes that can lead to penile bumps. In fact, there are over 40 types of bumps that can occur on a penis. Some are infectious or severe while others are just harmless and may require no treatments. If these bumps are a source of concern then you can discuss the matter with your GP. See the possible types and respective causes of penile bumps listed below.
Pearly penile papules
These are the most common penile bumps occurring on the penile shaft. They usually form one or two rows around the penis head. They are normal bumps that are neither due to STDs or improper hygiene. There are normally harmless and are requires no treatment. They are not infectious. The exact cause is not known and the medical experts term it usual anatomic condition.
Fordyce spots
These small yellowish or white spots that can occur on either penile head or shaft. Actually, these are sebaceous glands with no hair follicles. Dermnetz.org confirms that “Fordyce spots are visible sebaceous glands without hair follicles.” They are commonly seen at birth and can grow bigger and become virtual from puberty onwards. They are harmless and usually needs no medical attention.
Molluscum contagiosum
These small, stable, raised sports that can occur on any skin. They present due to viral skin infections. They are usually small and painless and can be transmitted through sex this is also possible via automatic inoculation from other parts of the body. They can potentially affect the penis or generally groin area. These bumps usually clear of their own after several weeks or months.
Genital warts
According to healthline.com, “Genital warts are soft growths that appear on the genitals.” They are sexually transmitted infections caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). They can be accompanied by itching, bleeding, burning sensation, pain as well as discomfort. They can occur on the penis, groin, around the anus, scrotum or spread to the thighs. They can also develop on the mouth, lip tongue or throat.
Lymphocele
This is a swelling that appears on the penile shaft either vertically or horizontally. It occurs after rough sex or masturbation. This penile bump is very common on sexually active males with an age bracket of 20-40. They are normally harmless and thus no treatment may be required.
Scabies
These are extremely itchy skin lesions that can occur on the genitals, abdomen or even finger webs. An itchy pimple-like bumps are usually noticed on the penis or scrotum. Topical anti-inflammatory treatment may be needed to relieve the itchiness. Many home remedies can also be used to relieve the resultant itching or pain.
Folliculitis
This is a painful, small, red, tender bump that can occur anywhere in the body but less common in glans of penis since the follicles are absent. This is an inflammatory condition affecting the hair follicles. The major causative factors are excessive sweating and heating of the genitals. Other irritants and infectious organisms can also cause it. Topical antibiotics can be used to treat it but first, you have to prevent the factors causing like irritants and poor shaving techniques.
Penile milia
This is a quite uncommon bump on the penis but can occur. They are minute skin-colored or white humble bumps that do not need any treatment. They can be cleared by using a needle to unroof them or extract the white content but you must watch out for infections. Topical medicated creams can also be used to clear such bumps.
Seborrheic keratosis
This is prevalent in non-cancerous skin growths, especially in older adults. It is a harmless growth that is usually confused with melanoma or genital warts. Besides being harmless, they can be unsightly and thus may require removal. It usually runs in family and so you can have if one of your parents had it. It can be removed using three producers, those are electrosurgery, cryosurgery, and curettage.
Skin tags
These are another source of a penile pump. They are soft, harmless and do not reveal significant symptoms either. They are skin-colored or slightly brown bumps that can occur on the penile shaft. They can be easily confused with genital warts. One risk linked to them is friction. Friction may inflame the bumps otherwise they can just be left alone. If the trigger beauty concern then they can be removed through various forms of surgery.
As we had mentioned before, there are several causes which of course is impossible to explain in a single article like this. Having described the most common causes of bumps on the penis, there are more causes that can also result in some bumps:
- Lichen planus
- Solenoid papulosis
- Condylomata lata
- Lichen Nitidus
- Syringoma
- Lymphangioma circumscriptum
- Scrotal calcinosis
- Venous varicosities
- Melanocytic Nevus
- Herpes zoster
- Melanocytic Nevus
- Granuloma annular
- Nevus comedonicus
- xanthogranuloma
- Pseudo-Kaposi sarcoma
- Carcinoma erysipeloids
- Epidermoid Cyst
- Angiokeratomas
- Mucoid cyst
- Primary granuloma inguinale
- Primary lymphogranuloma venereum
- Insect bite and tick bite
- Demodicidosis
- Leiomyoma
- Genital smooth muscle hamartoma
- Neurofibroma
- Lipoid proteinosis
- Leprosy
- Tuberculide
- Mucinous syringometaplasia
- Genital herpes
Causes are several and the list may go beyond this but all that is important is proper diagnosis for better treatment. Instead of attempting to do diagnosis alone at home you would rather see your doctor or dermatologist to do the same for you since the causes are numerous and hence the diagnosis may be challenging to even experts so, what about you?
I have bumps on penis, what is next?
Today you should get this clear, the moment you discover pimples on your penis, first you may leave them at one piece and don’t pop or squeeze them. Squeezing, popping or scrubbing may cause unsympathetic inflammation, secondary infection or ugly scarring. You can then try some home therapies but if all over sudden you get concerned about the bumps, please visit your GP as soon as possible for proper examination and treatment.
One thing to avoid, don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to visit your doctor with bumps on penus. This is a natural concern for over 60% of men all over the globe. Besides, those doctors are well trained and it is their job to treat such situations with a high degree of confidentiality. Again don’t get worried about any bump on the penis as you suspect it may be STD, it is true many men fall into this trap but it is absolutely wrong. They appear due to very different reasons.
Bumps on penile head, shaft or on the scrotum
Bumps can occur on the penile head or penile shaft depending or various factors. There are many factors that can lead to such bumps just as we had said. Straight to the point, there are some similarities and differences between the shaft and head bumps of the penis. Sometimes penile head bumps tend to be very painful or irritated especially during sex.
Bleeding may result out of this. To support this sentiment, you must remember that the skin of the penis head is more delicate and sensitive than the skin on the shaft and thus the difference. Regardless of whether it is mild or severe, any symptom of penile bump must be taken seriously, they can be a symptom of a veiled medical condition.
They may also extend to scrotums or originate from the scrotum and spread to the penile shaft or head. Many factors can lead to such bumps i.e. allergic reactions, contact with irritants, STDs, irritation, sweating, tight clothing, underlying medical conditions among others.
Getting rid of penile bump- treatment and home remedies
Treatments will depend on the causes i.e. whether it is due to infections, irritations, blocked ducts or glands, friction during sex or due to underlying medical conditions. We also consider the age, severity of the symptom and medical history of the patient. Though many penile bumps are harmless, some may be a source of cosmetic worry and thus me=ay require removal.
Some bumps also present serious or dreadful symptoms that have just to be treated or removed through surgical procedures. Here are the common treatments for bumps on penis:
Medical treatments
Medical treatments for penile bumps range from over-the-counter medications to prescribed treatments to home treatments. Over the counter treatments are numerous, they include benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid among topical antibiotics. Many OTC drugs are in the form of creams, lotions, gels or even soaps. More medications in this category include moisturizers with hydroxy acids when they penile bumps become unresponsive to the OTC, you should visit your doctor for a prescription.
Prescribed medicines for bumps on the penis include certain topical antibiotics and oral antibiotics. In cases of infection, bacterial, fungal or viral medications may be prescribed. Injection of cortisone medication may also be required in some cases. In severe cases of bumps on penis, surgeries or liquid nitrogen freezing techniques may be required.
There are more treatments that can be prescribed for bumps on penus depending on the causes, all that is key is an accurate diagnosis.
Home treatments
Many home remedies can help or rather have helped to control the bumps on the penis. They have the potential to relieve itching, inflammation or burning sensation. They are getting rid of existing already existing infections as well as preventing pending infections. Another capability of home ingredients includes shrinking the pores to prevent sebaceous cysts, they also increase the healing process of the bumps and you should try to treat mild and humble bumps at home.
Here are the home ingredients that can help you relieve the headache of suffering penile bumps:
- Aloe Vera
- Coconut oil
- Lavender Oil
- Baking Soda
- Lemon Juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Egg yolk and egg whites
- Washing with warm water
- Jojoba oil and more
The above home products can be used alone but others can also be mixed with effective results. Home remedies will also include a Dos and Dons, see them in the following list:
- Maintain proper penile of genitals hygiene
- Avoid intense sweating and also make sure you bath after extreme sweating
- Avoid the allergen and irritants
- Wear cotton and avoid ill-fitting inner wears
- Consult your nutritionist for a better diet
- Try to know the STD status of your sex partner and if he/she is infected have protected sex until the infection will heal
- Avoid popping or squeezing the bumps, this can lead to secondary infection or worsen the condition
- Attend regular medical check-ups to diagnose other severe conditions
- Don’t continue to OTC or home remedies if the bumps become chronic or aggravate.
My last advice. Many bumps on penus are nothing to worry about and usually need no treatments but some are strange. They may be severe and may need prompt and advanced treatment. There are several cases with several causes and symptoms that make home diagnosis a challenge. Always visit your GP for any bumps that may trigger worry or panic, it may be serious just like you presume.