13yr with pimple on penis

Hello,

My 13yr old son has a large pimple on the shaft of his penis. It's been there a few days. It finally got a white head and popped and now it's red.

Is this normal? I don't remember ever getting a pimple on the shaft of my penis. Any way to prevent this? I told him he must make sure he wash really well down there.  

Thanks in advance for your assistance with this!!

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Welcome to the Dermatology Expert Forum!  Thank you for your question.

A pustule located on the body of penis during puberty is most likely the manifestation of penile acne. It is not recommended to squeeze acne because that can cause irritation, inflammation and infection, and ultimately prolong healing process.

Maintaining the proper genital hygiene is certainly a good advice.  It is very important to dry the area after washing in order to avoid fungal/yeast infection. For example, pustules can appear in candidiasis too.

If new lesions develop, it would be beneficial to see a dermatologist. There are effective topical therapies available.

Wishing You and Your Family Optimal Health and Happy Holidays,
Dr Jasmina Jankicevic