Bumps on Penis

[harryhood]

Hello Doctor,

I am a 23 year old male that posted a question a couple weeks ago. Thank you for your response, it helped me to stop tripping out so much. It was in regards to a small group of bumps on the right side of my penis that appeared about two weeks after unprotected intercourse with a girl. I have been diagnosed with HSV, and have had symptoms at least within the course of a year previous to meeting her. They were never visual though, just pains in the legs and complications urinating which occurred for about a week ever 4 or 5 months. All other tests were negative (hiv, syphilis). My original question was about the possibility of Herpes scarring. You emphasized that Herpes scarring is very unlikely, and that I may have just had a more severe break out lasting longer do to truama I caused. My concern was that the marks had been there for 3 weeks and were not changing. It has now been about a month and a half. They still look like tiny, flesh colored bumps. There is one group, about a centimeter in size with about 4 or 5 little white bumps. It kind of resembles a cauliflower. About a centimeter away from this group, there is another bump which is a perfect circle, and flesh colored that sits by itself.  It’s about a millimeter and is also slightly raised. These are all on the lower right side of the head of my penis. My dermatologist can't seem to figure out what it is. He gave me Valtrex, and treated me for scabies. Neither treatment was effective. The bumps never opened like they say herpes does, but they did scab after I caused trauma to the area. At my request, he gave me some Aldera for warts. I guess you could say I am somewhat of a "cybercondriac," and considered the possibility of HPV. The doc I saw agrees they could be "warty," but is hesitant because I mislead him in our first meeting explaining I had Lymph and fatigue symptoms prior the lesions appearing." The bumps still have not changed at all. They don't hurt or itch and when the skin is pulled apart you can't really tell they are there. However, when erect it looks horrible, very visible, and more red, which as you can imagine is causing me a lot of mental anguish. I am in a state of social isolation. I know you can't diagnose without seeing the area, but what do you think? Could they be warts? A cyst? Herpes Scars? Staph Infection? Most importantly do you think they will ever go away!

I am really glad I found this site, and am happy to donate to this cause. Thank you so much for your help. After two un-successful sessions over the course of three weeks I am starting to lose faith in my dermatologist. How do I make an appointment with you? haha j/k, unless you live in Vegas!
-Harry

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Warts don't go away when you pull the skin taut.  The rest of your description really doesn't conjure up much of a mental picture of any conditions in particular, sexually-transmitted or otherwise.  They certainly don't sound anything like herpes.

Marks left over from herpes generally don't scar, but they often last weeks to months.  Leave the redness alone, and I'm confident it will go away.  The redness should hardly be a cause of anguish.  

Maybe you should see a different dermatologist in a few weeks, just for another pair of eyes.  But I still don't think you have anything to worry about.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[harryhood]

Thanks Doc,

I will stop messing with them, and I think I will see a new doctor in a couple of weeks. Should I stop using the Aldera cream?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yup.

Dr. Rockoff

[SoNervous]

Several months ago I noticed some small bumps that looked like pimples in my pubic hair. They are smooth and whitish and sometimes seem to have a visible "head" to them. When I break one, I'm left with a small, white, firm ball-like core. I looked at the core closely and it looked whitish and glossy. When I brake the skin, removing the core, it starts bleeding (a good drop of blood would form), then it just stopped bleeding about 1-2 min later.

I have probably broken about 15 of these lumps out from my pubic region. Every one has looked exactly the same and every time they have blead substantially (enough to form a large drop, but not enough to run) and stopped. THEY DO NOT OCCUR ON/IN HAIR FOLLICLES. They have all healed, but every time I think they will no longer return, I find one or two again. They do not itch or cause any pain (I only know they are there by feeling a bump or visually recognising them) I am very concerned that i may have an STD. I know its not herpes but fear it may be HPV/warts.  But they don't really fit the description of warts.

Any idea what this may be?  I'm really freaking out.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[harryhood]

It sounds like Molluscum Contagiosum. Your lucky if thats all it is. I'm not a doctor, but I did have this disease for a while. It cures itself and is completly harmless. That is a fact. Check this site out. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000826.htm

[AndyRRT]

What you have is actually extremely common and 100% benign. They're called "Sebaceous cysts".

These are simply swollen, blocked grease glands. Just just look like yellowish pimples. They often occur on the skin of the scrotum, and like you say, several appear. As amny as a dozen or more can occur. The skin contains millions of glands that make grease to keep the skin waterproof and in good condition. The openings of these glands easily become blocked, so they become distended with grease. For some reason, the skin of the scrotum seems particularly susceptible to this problem. They are harmless like I said, but if they become infected (red and sore) or you don't like the look of them, a genitourinary clinic will be able to treat them.

-Andy

[harryhood]

Hey Dr,

You mention herpes marks can last a while. I have stopped using the warts medication and come to terms with the fact that this marks should eventually go away even though they are not changing.

I cuased these bumps to bleed when they first appeared, could this have scarred them?