Penile Papules/Cysts and Warts Questions

Hello Doctor,

A few months ago I had some small pinkish dots (or bumps if you will) form on my penis. They are located on the right almost underside of my penis. Some occur on the right underside of my penis head and some occur off the head a few mm below. There are also two small red dots on my penis head on the right side also.

Because of another bump on the shaft of the penis, I went to a dermatologist to get them all diagnosed. I feared they were warts. I knew they weren't herpes because they were there for a few months without pain. To my relief, he quickly and confidently said they were not genital warts but pearly penile papules.

The questions I have are as follows and hopefully will convince me mentally that there is NOTHING wrong because I am stressin! I'm not gonna have sex again till i'm married it ain't worth all this STD worry!

1.) Do genital warts ever have dead skin form on top at all when forming? There have been multiple times when these bumps have a top layer of dead skin that rubs off if I put moisturizer on them. After the skin rubs off (not torn off) they get extremely bright red. Is this normal for PPP or perhaps the formation of warts?

2.) How (not how long after contact) do warts form? Do you just wake up with them one morning? Or can you tell where the area is that a wart is forming?

3.) Even in flat-topped warts, they are still external and relatively noticable to your skin right?

4.) Do pearly penile papules always occur on the penis head/crown like pictures illustrate? Can they go off your penis head a little like in my situation?

5.) These spots can get realllllllly red sometimes I know I'm probably irritating them so what product do you suggest to use to minimize irritation and to keep it down? Baby powder?

6.) FINALLY, I did the vinegar test and they turned whitish before turning extremely red. This got me worried to the point of posting on this forum now. There's a good chance I burned off the dead skin layer on top probably right? That vinegar test is so stupid...

I know this is obnoxiously long but i'm obnoxiously worried. A thorough response would be extremely appreciated doctor. Your the best Dr. R.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You went to a doctor.  You got a diagnosis that is undoubtedly correct and completely reassuring.  What more do you want?

What you describe does sound like penile papules, not warts.

Asking detailed questions about the nature and character of warts is not a useful thing to do.  Do not diagnose yourself.  If you see something that didn't used to be there, ask a doctor to look.

But you already did that.  And you heard what you needed to hear.  Time to move on.

Good luck.

Dr. Rockoff

[phish1200]

After further examination, one of the bumps (that seems to be four bumps in a circle?) that's off the penis head bleeds a little bit. The dry skin on top cracks open I guess.

Also, there are red dots on my penis head and understide that just kinda appeared.

[ravijadav]

hi,

i just had unprotected sex and i after having it for couple of times i had a burning unrrination. for couple of days and i thaught it was coz of over doing sex. and now like 2 days later i see a bump on my penis on the head it looks like a transperant bump. and i am worried so if any1 could help me out or have any idea abt it..your feedback would be of a great help..i just hope its not anything serious...no more unprotected sex.