genital acne?

[1234567891]

just the other day i noticed a medium sized spot on the shaft of my penis, it looks simliar to a pimple but cannot be popped. im really concerned as to what this is and thanks for the help ahead of time.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

This could be dermatitis, molluscum or even folliculitis.

Molluscum can affect any area of the skin but is most common on the body, arms, legs and private parts . It is spread through direct contact or shared items such as clothing or towels. In adults, molluscum infections are often sexually transmitted In people with normal immune systems, the disorder usually goes away on its own over a period of months to years.

Avoid direct contact with the skin lesions. Do not share towels with other people.

Individuals who are predisposed to folliculitis should be extremely careful about personal hygiene. Application of antiseptic washes may help prevent recurrences. A topical antibiotic cream, mupirocin (Bactroban®), has been effective at reducing bacterial colonization in the nostrils. It is applied twice daily for a week and is repeated every 6 months.

Anti-itch drugs, often antihistamine, may reduce the itch during a flare up of eczema, and the reduced scratching in turn reduces damage and irritation to the skin. For mild-moderate eczema a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone or desonide), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

A visit to your doctor will help confirm the diagnosis.

Let us know if you need any other information.