Recently, I had a male friend message me and ask me what I knew about boner acne.  Of course, I usually ask follow-up questions before jumping into advice.  Still, in this case, I jumped straight into the “pimples on your penis are completely normal and not something you should ever be embarrassed about.” This still holds true despite boner acne not being what I thought it was. 

However, it raised a good point that should be discussed more: you can have “pimples” on your penis just like anywhere else in your body, and it is entirely normal.

Let’s focus on the lumps or bumps that typically require no treatment.

Fordyce Spots

Fordyce spots are typically on the penis, scrotum, and even on your lips or inside your mouth.  They are pale spots, usually 1-5 mm in diameter.  You will often notice them more when the skin is stretched during an erection or when the scrotum skin is warm and relaxed.

These spots are prevalent, with roughly 4 out 5 people having them on their genitals and/or mouth.  They are basically a type of sebaceous gland and a normal part of the body.  Most people are born with them, but they become noticeable after puberty when hormonal changes enlarge them.  They are not contagious, and you can’t spread them from one person to another.

Some people mistake Fordyce spots as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and yes, they can look like early signs of an STI.  However, your healthcare professional will be able to diagnose Fordyce spots, so if you are unsure, it is always worth getting a check-up and an STI check.

Fordyce spots will not cause any harm to you, your body, or your partner during sexual intercourse. However, if you are concerned with their appearance, you can have them removed via surgery, freezing, burning, or laser treatment.  Consult your healthcare professional for further treatment options.

The 3 P’s

Pearly penile papules, which I call the 3 Ps, are tiny lumps usually seen circling the glans of the penis.  There can be a single ring of them or multiple rings of them encircling the corona of the penis.  A common misconception about the 3Ps is they get mistaken for penile warts.  Pearly penile papules occur in roughly 20% of men and are dome-shaped and approximately 1-3 mm in length.  They got the name ‘pearly’ because they look like white, pearl-like spots.

The 3Ps are more common in uncircumcised penises, appearing during late puberty.  Again, they are not contagious and cannot be spread.  However, like any lump on your penis, if you are sexually active, getting a check-up with your healthcare professional is worthwhile to make sure the bumps are the 3 Ps and not an undiagnosed STI.

The 3 Ps don’t require treatment.  However, for some, the sight of them can cause embarrassment; in these cases, freezing, burning, or laser treatment can be used to remove them.  Of course, any therapy risks bleeding, scarring, infection, and skin discoloration, so deciding to remove them will be a personal preference.

Tyson Glands

Tyson glands are another sebaceous gland that can cause a bump to form on your penis, but you will notice them on either side of the frenulum.  The frenulum is the fold of connective tissue on the underside of the penis.  The bumps can look yellow or white and are small.  They are not infectious, nor can they be spread.  Therefore, no treatment is required as well.

Angiokeratomas

Hard red, blue, purple, or black bumps on the scrotum or the penis are known as Angiokeratomas.  They occur when capillaries get bigger or break near the skin surface, and as a result, the skin’s surface thickens.  The condition is more common in people aged 50 or over as the angiokeratomas form when tissues that support the capillary walls lose their elasticity, which is familiar with age.

They are not infectious, nor can they be spread.  However, some angiokeratomas are prone to bleeding or itching.  In this case, your healthcare professional can advise on the appropriate treatment options out of freezing, burning, or laser treatment for your particular situation.

Skin tags

When they think of skin tags, most people see them on the neck’s skin.  However, they can also appear in the skin creases of the groin.  Genital skin tags and genital warts are often confused with one another due to their similarities and where they develop.  So, it is always worthwhile getting them checked out by a healthcare professional. 

Skin tags are soft tissue fibromas that develop on what looks like tiny arms off the surface of your skin.  They feel soft and squishy, and the majority of them are small.  They can develop rapidly and are caused by friction, type 2 diabetes, age, or genetics.

No treatment is required unless they become irritated or cause problems.  Liaise with your healthcare professional about appropriate treatment, i.e., freezing, burning, excision, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), if this does occur for you.

The take-home message

Lumps or bumps on the penis or scrotum, or genital area are common for many individuals, and not all lumps require treatment.  However, to be safe, I advise getting your lumps checked out by a healthcare professional, especially if you are sexually active.  I will follow this post up with one on the types of lumps and bumps that do require treatment.

Once you get the all-clear, embrace those lumps and bumps.  Think about it, Durex created condoms with ribs and bumps for extra pleasure, and now you naturally have the same.  Positive affirmation for you all – I’m naturally ribbed for her pleasure!