Small Red bump on Penis, comes and goes

Hello.
For about the last month to 6 weeks, I've had a very small red bump on the rim of my penis that comes and goes.  It may be there in the morning, and gone at night type thing.  I've never noticed anything like it before, so obviously everytime I go to the bathroom I check it.  It doesn't hurt, no head, no puss or discharge, doesn't really itch....I just felt it was in a weird area for a pimple or something simple like that.

The only other symptom I could come up with is that my penis has occassionally a very, very faint ache, almost in tune with my heart beat.  I haven't had sex in a couple months as my wife and I are both extremely busy and I travel for work....I've read about clogged pores, yeast infections, and of course STD's.  I realize I should probably go to the doctor, and most likely will, just hoping for a little reassurance as to what this could be?  I've personally checked all my other areas, scrotum, anus, etc. and I see nothing else at all.

I've had no fevers, swelling, or any other obvious symptoms that I have read about concerning some of these other infections and diseases.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  My reply will be brief.

No STD is a possible explanation for this sort of thing.  Beyond that, I really haven't a clue.  I'm not a dermatologist, but I have a hard time understanding a red bump that comes and goes so frequently.  As for the "aching" in your penis in time with your heart beat, it sounds like you might be feeling exactly that -- your pulse in your penis.  It probably is painful ("aching") simply because you are anxious about it.

As you already said, you need to see a health care provider to learn what is going on.  Almost certainly this won't turn out to be anything serious.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[lookingforhelp1954]

Thank you for the quick reply.  The bump like I said may be more prevolent at one point and then fade to more of a reddish skin colored spot later....my be all but gone for a day or two and then back again....it has seemed to get a "little" better since I switched to boxers...less rubbing and occassionally I'll just dab a little vasoline on it as well...but never really goes away.

I understand your not a dermatologist, but I appreciate your reply, my concern was some type of STD that was just now rearing its ugly head that was harboring from past experiences and had never shown a visable OB or I had never recognized one.

Thanks again...any further comments would be appreciated to rest my mind.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

With that more detailed description, it sounds like some sort of vascular (blood vessel) lesion, like a hemangioma -- i.e. a vascular mole.  Hemangiomas are normal anywhere on the body; many (most?) people have at least a few.  A dermatologist probably would know the diagnosis on first glance.