small flat fibrous spots near the head of penis

I am 25 year old male with no outstanding medical diagnosis or condition and am on no medication.

I have a couple of small (~1/2 cm x ~ 3 mm respectively), hard, white, scar tissue-like (harder and more fibrous than surrounding skin when I try cutting into them), slightly raised spots right where the head (circumcised) meets the shaft of the penis. One is on the end of the shaft and the other is under the shelf of the glans (glands). It is right where my thumb is when I hold it with my left hand to urinate. The first spot on the shaft started many years ago (circa 2000, perhaps before initiating sexual activity, though not 100% sure of this) as one tiny (few millimeters) dry scale that I would always pick (sometimes causing bleeding when nearby skin was torn). Over the last year or two, it has gotten a little bigger (very slow growth, likely due to me picking at it). It is solid and slightly raised (almost like scar tissue), and is deeper than the epidermis.

There is no discoloration, protrusions, etc that point to skin cancer (or at least the skin cancer that we laypeople are told to look out for). The recent (over the past year or so) slight growth, and the creation of the second spot on the underside of the shelf of the glans (glands), that has occurred has been a result of me creating an open wound by tearing it off resulting is the smaller secondary bump on the underside of the head and when I tried removing it with salicylic acid (I had some left over from a plantar on my foot that I was treating, so I gave it a go). It is rather flat, however, there is a very slight gain in altitude at the bottom of the scar (not equal thickness throughout).

I went in for a checkup last fall and showed the spot to the PA. She said that it was not likely an STD, did not appear cancerous, and possibly some sort of sclerosis. She advised me to stop picking at it.

Everything that I have read about penile warts or cancer makes them seem to progress a lot faster than this. However, I am concerned by the fact that this is advancing, albeit at a crawling pace over many years. The pinkish skin at the end of the shaft is definitely more sensitive than most, making usual assumptions about skin more difficult.

Any insights are greatly appreciated.

[jagesh50]

PPP Pearly Penile Papules.Nothing to worry.

[jfc12]

its PPP... its not dangerous... but if it spreads or becomes many in nuber you need to treat it... don't pick them... they are remove bya laser procedure.. they use Nitrous Ox (im not of this N O)...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it sounds like pearly penile papules. Pearly penile papules are small dome-shaped to filiform skin-colored papules that typically are located on the sulcus or corona of the glans (glands) penis.

Ablation using carbon dioxide laser, electrodesiccation with curettage, and excisional surgery reportedly have successfully eliminated lesions.In my opinion you should talk to a cosmetologist/dermatologist about this.
Hope it helps.Take care and regards.

[IMThatGuyX]

Can penile papules grow ON the shaft near the glans (glands)? Online pictures only show them on the rim of the glans (glands) itself. I do have those as well, however they are very small. The spots that concern me are considerable larger, (~1/2 cm x ~ 3 mm respectively), flatter and white.

That said, is it likely that the tiny bump that was annoying me many years ago turned into a larger scar from me picking, applying salicylic acid, etc over the years?

[jagesh50]

A PIC will be most ideal to give a reply with certainity.However I stand by the impression gathered.