Unusual Penile Bumps Saga

I developed painless, slightly pinkish bumps about 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter on several places (five at peak) near the corona of my glans (glands) several months ago.  All but one partially resolved with regular application of Locoid Lipocream (hydrocortisone butyrate .1%), and the one that remained was shrunken and possibly just a scar.  Several of these same bumps seemed to have begun to pop up again a couple of weeks after first resolving, but they did not last very long, again, with application of Locoid Lipocream.  The bumps reappeared about a week ago, along with a few new, small ones.  Today, I noticed that these bumps on the glans (glands) had grown and that there were also red patches of smaller bumps on two places on what remains of my inner foreskin.  Both inner foreskin patches were roughly elliptical, and the bumps in them seem to have grown somewhat over a period of ten hours.  A picture showing both types of bumps is attached.  Is this molluscum contagiosum, HSV II, or something else?

I am 22 with no history of sexual activity, except for mutual masturbation with a total of five other males, most recently four months ago (only episode in the past year).  I was pretty careful in those encounters, but I cannot rule out some pre-ejaculate fluid to skin contact.  I think that I have had cold sores two or three times, and I have treated the suspected cold sores with oral acyclovir; however, I have never kissed anyone on the mouth or even shared a glass with anyone deliberately.  I have a history of chronic dermatitis in the skin folds over my metacarpophalangeal joints at the bases of my small (fifth) fingers bilaterally.

Thank you!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it looks like molluscum contagiosum. It presents as presents as multiple, small, dome-shaped papules, often with a central depression or plug .In adults, molluscum infections are often sexually transmitted and can transmit from one site to other skin sites by aoutoinocultaion. Treatment includes physical destruction or manual extrusion of the lesions, cryotherapy, and curettage.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.