concern

Dr. Rockoff,

I have asked you questions before about issues with the penis and I realize I might be acting paranoid.  I wouldn't do this, however, if I didn't really have concerns about what used to look normal.  Three or so years ago an ex girlfriend told me she had been diagnosed with hpv shortly after we broke up.  Since then I have been to the derm to check some suspicious bumps on the shaft.  He didn't think much of them but zapped a couple just in case thinking they may be mollusca which I had had in the past on my pubic region.  Anyway, I have always noticed kind of a suspicious area there even after my visit.  I have been seeing a new girl for 5 months now and have grown more concerned.  She has not noticed anything on herself.  I know, however, that I have some small bumps that are flesh colored and raised slightly above the skin.  When I stretch it I see that the bumps are still there.  Thery are on the top of the penis under the head where the skin is rough.  A couple are smaller and appear almost as white dots.  They kind of look like flat warts to me.  Anyway, I went to the derm and he looked everywhere and said I appear to be fine and can go about normal sexual activity and to come back in 4 months or call if anything grows.  I felt good, but my gut still tells me that I have something going on there.  Especially when I look in daylight, I can see the bumps much better (they are bumps not spots).  He seemed sure that it was nothing contagious, but I just want to either get rid of them or know for sure its nothing.  I never had anything originally that looked like this though and he didn't really say what it could be.  Could my derm be wrong?  can warts last a long time without really changing much.  I mean how likely could small or flat warts be over looked by a dermatologist?  Do most dermatologists know exactly what to look for?  Any idea what it could be?   Do warts usually grow or can they stay hard to notice for a long time? Just concerned.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sometimes it's best to take yes for an answer.  If your dermatologist can't see any warts, you should let your gut relax.  Dermatologists do know what warts look like.  I do not suggest having them burned off, because that would just leave you with unanswerable doubts  Just forget about them and stop looking.

Thanks.

Dr. Rockoff