skin on penis

[Ron07]

A few months ago I noticed a dry patch on the top of my penis between the corona and the rest of the shaft. I am circumcised. I would put lotion or vaseline on it but it didn't seem to go away. Soon I started to see small (1-2mm) skin colored, flat round bumps, which looked like a clogged pore around the corona. There was no visible center on the bumps. About five of them had appeared over a short time and the dry skin eventually went away but the round lesions are still there. The skin around the lesions became darker. Recently, over the past month, I noticed that my frenulum became very dry (like a scab). I would put vaseline on it but it is still a hard dry patch the next day. Maybe 2 weeks after the dry frenulum i noticed a small bump on the lower portion of the frenulum (like a clogged pore). There has not been any pain or itching associated with any of this. I am a 21 year old male with good hygiene and overall health. I have never been sexually active. I masturbate frequently. I have been and am currently on doxycycline and celexa. I would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Without examination confirming a diagnosis is very tough but the various possibilities are contact dermatitis,sweat dermatitis,eczema,psoriasis and Lichen sclerosis and balanitis xerotica obliterans.

Eczema is a form of chronic dermatitis (rash) and can cause dryness of the skin and rashes.Allergic reaction is one of the important causes of eczema. Lichen sclerosis appears as white,dry plaques on the glans, foreskin or shaft of the penis.Balanitis xerotica is a severe form of lichen sclerosis.Psoraisis (psoriasis) can also cause dry ,itchy skin rashes.

In my opinion a clinical examination by a dermatologist will help in confirming a diagnosis as treatment depends on the same.Pls get it done.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing and ahst the dermatologist says.

[Ron07]

Thanks for the reply. A few months ago I visited the dermatologist for my acne and showed her the skin problem on my penis. She did not seem to know what it was but suggested it may be moluscum (molluscum) contagiosum, even after I told her I was not sexually active. I suggested some of the other things it could be, and she said there is usually itching or pain associated with those conditions and dismissed them. She did not suggest anything else, and said the only way to know is to do a biopsy. So I went along with this suggestion and she tried to scrape a layer of skin off my penis. She was unsuccessful in getting a piece of skin, and I was left in extreme pain from the "scraping". She said to just keep an eye on it, to see if it got worse. I am wondering if there is any other less painful method to diagnose the problem. Thanks.