Worried about genital warts

[worriedguy526]

Dr. Rockoff,

Background: 26 y/o male w/ 7 sexual partners. Ex and I both tested neg for STD. Our first 4 encounters unprotected. After the 4th, my gf had viral laryngitis and she performed oral sex. I develop a UTI and my urologist attributed the UTI to the laryngitis (after this, we used condoms).

Problem: After UTI, genital skin changed. Penis head became so irrated I had to switch sheets, underwear, and coat penis w/ aquaphor. After 2 weeks, irritation went away but the skin at the urethral opening became wrinkly; it looks like the skin at the opening had thicken/widen. I also develop small bumps around the crown of my penis. Saw a dermatologist (June. ’08) & she didn’t think much of the wrinkles. She said chemical irritation. She also told me that those bumps along the edge were mild PP Paps. There was one bump in particular I was worried about; tell me what you think?

In August ’08, head of my penis became bumpier. Bumps are very difficult to see <1mm (see pictures). These bumps have not gone away. When I leave the shower, two bumps look to be growing. Family Dr. in Nov ’08 didn’t think they were warts, just irritation. Why would irritation last for half a year? I looked at a Derm site and they show pictures of HPV and I found one that seems similar. What do you think? I have a derm appt in early April ’09. I question whether to post bc I saw three similar cases, but I just wanted my own. I also would like to state that I don’t normally photograph my penis; I just did this for this particular post. Thanks

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29350667@N05/

Dermatology Website Pictures:
http://www.dermnet.com/image.cfm?imageID=8037&moduleID=16&moduleGroupID=486&groupindex=9&passedArrayIndex=116

1. What could have caused the opening to become wrinkly? Irritation from the UTI? Aging?
2. Do these bumps look normal or HPV? If not, what could they be? Friction?
3. If they are not warts, is there any cosmetic procedure to remove them w/o scarring?

[mjl1329]

Dude. Mine looks the exact same way! My Dr. has put me on tons of stuff and says its prostatitis. I go to a urologist on Tuesday of next week. Hopefully, he will check it out and let me know if anything is wrong. I dont have the lumps, but i definately have the wrinkles going on which never were there before all of this!

You get any further info?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

These look like normal penile wrinkiless.  I agree with the dermatologist who examined you that they do not look like warts.  I don't have an explanation for them other than to say that penises soemtimes look like that.  Your anxiety is causing you to look much too hard and to take far too many pictures.  Get another opinion in person if you think you need it, and get counseling if you need that to be aboe to get on with your life, sexual and otherwise, because there is no cosmetic procedure I know of to remove these bumps in a way that wouldn't make them worse.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff