With folliculitis, the condition usually resolves on its own. Fordyce spots and other benign spots such as pearly penile papules and sebacious prominence stay a little longer. But if with doubt and if it is causing you excessive anxiety :) , you can always have this evaluated further by your doctor for proper diagnosis. Direct clinical examination is important. This is one limitation with diagnosing over the internet. Folliculitis is common in areas with hair and it is not also a thing to be worried about. It is recommended, however, to have the area clean and dry always and to avoid manipulating the spots to prevent secondary infection.
I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other question you need to clarify. Take care and best regards.
Thank you the reply too! :)
I've considered folliculitis, but the symptoms and pictures of folliculitis don't appear to be much at all like my condition. The bumps I see in pictures of folliculitis are much, much more prominent and much redder than my bumps; mine are devoid of any discolouration.
But perhaps it is folliculitis. If that is the case, and I apply a warm compress to it, should I notice any reaction that may further imply that my condition is folliculitis?
Thanks again for the reply, your help is very much appreciated. :)
Thanks for the reply! :)
I looked up pictures and read a little bit about Fordyce's spots, and this seems to be very similar to my problem. The only noticeable differences were that the bumps in these pictures appeared to be maybe slightly larger than my bumps, the bumps in the pictures didn't seem to have pubic hairs growing out of them, and that the bumps in the pictures appeared to be uniformly distributed over almost the entire penis, while mine are located to one specific area. But overall, they seem very similar to my bumps. Thanks again!!
HI,
From your description, this could indeed be folliculitis, which starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction from clothing, blockage of the follicle, or shaving. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with bacteria or sometimes fungus. Common symptoms include a rash, itching, and pimples or pustules near a hair follicle in the neck, groin, or genital area. The pimples may also crust over. Diagnosis is through visual inspection of the lesion. Hot, moist compresses may promote drainage of the affected follicles. Treatment may include antibiotics such as mupirocin applied to the skin. It usually responds well to treatment, but may recur. However, if if it persists, or recurs frequently, have this evaluated further for proper management.
Take care and keep us posted.
They sound like either fordyce spots or something called "sebaceous prominence." Both "conditions" are completely normal and completely harmless. Google some pictures and see if that's what you might have. If that is the case, there's really no treatment--it's just a part of your skin!