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HPV OR WHAT?!?!
Hello doctor,
I have these really tiny flesh coloured growths which look like skin tags, maybe 1mm in size on my penis (only on the glans portion). I noticed them 13months ago and it appears they are becoming more in number. Originally, I noticed two or three growths 13mths ago that were 1mm in size … a couple months ago there are now more, maybe 10 at 1mm in size. The original ones have not decreased or increased in size. Also, if I spread the skin apart on the glans of my penis there looks to be hundreds of super tiny little bumps forming across the head of my penis now. These little growths are similar to ones growing around the ridge of my penis head … they are not itchy, nor do they get irritated and look like they take a while to grow. I saw a doctor two weeks ago who ruled out HPV and said that these are NOT warts and are likely caused by friction. Just yesterday I saw another doctor who said this could be HPV or it could just be sebaceous glands. I’m now so confused. The last doctor wrote me a prescription for Zyclara and said that I should put it on the affected area once a day for one week and then every second day for two weeks. If the area becomes inflamed it is HPV warts and to continue use for another 3weeks … if nothing happens discontinue usage and go on with your life it is nothing to worry about. In your opinion do my growths sound like a form of HPV, as in genital warts? I have heard of penile papuales … but don’t those only form on the ridge of the penis – I have never come across anything that has them appearing on the glans part of the penis. Please help … I’m truly confused – should I see yet another doctor???
I have these really tiny flesh coloured growths which look like skin tags, maybe 1mm in size on my penis (only on the glans portion). I noticed them 13months ago and it appears they are becoming more in number. Originally, I noticed two or three growths 13mths ago that were 1mm in size … a couple months ago there are now more, maybe 10 at 1mm in size. The original ones have not decreased or increased in size. Also, if I spread the skin apart on the glans of my penis there looks to be hundreds of super tiny little bumps forming across the head of my penis now. These little growths are similar to ones growing around the ridge of my penis head … they are not itchy, nor do they get irritated and look like they take a while to grow. I saw a doctor two weeks ago who ruled out HPV and said that these are NOT warts and are likely caused by friction. Just yesterday I saw another doctor who said this could be HPV or it could just be sebaceous glands. I’m now so confused. The last doctor wrote me a prescription for Zyclara and said that I should put it on the affected area once a day for one week and then every second day for two weeks. If the area becomes inflamed it is HPV warts and to continue use for another 3weeks … if nothing happens discontinue usage and go on with your life it is nothing to worry about. In your opinion do my growths sound like a form of HPV, as in genital warts? I have heard of penile papuales … but don’t those only form on the ridge of the penis – I have never come across anything that has them appearing on the glans part of the penis. Please help … I’m truly confused – should I see yet another doctor???
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
In my opinion it remains unlikely you have genital warts, but that's all I can say. Online advice is always inferior to that from an experienced clinician who has directly examined someone, so I would suggest you ask your dermatologist about any additional questions. Sorry I can help further.
Hi Dr Handsfield,
Thank you for your quick response. So in your opinion you don't believe these to be warts? The second doctor i saw was actually a dermatologist, who could not be conclusive with what he saw. He said "I've seen HPV look like this and I've seen completely normal skin with variations present these characteristics" ... I have been on Zyclera for 5 days now and I haven't noticed anything happening (either with the tiny growths themselves or with the inflammation I am told is supposed to present itself if the drug encounters HPV on my penis). I have taken your advice and reviewed several pictures online of PPP and these are in fact almost identical to what is on my glans, however most pictures show PPP on the ridge of the penis ... one of my original questions was, will / does PPP show up on the glans part of the penis in certain cases? and what causes PPP to occur? I am 32yrs old; if this is PPP like you suggest, why now?
Thank you for your quick response. So in your opinion you don't believe these to be warts? The second doctor i saw was actually a dermatologist, who could not be conclusive with what he saw. He said "I've seen HPV look like this and I've seen completely normal skin with variations present these characteristics" ... I have been on Zyclera for 5 days now and I haven't noticed anything happening (either with the tiny growths themselves or with the inflammation I am told is supposed to present itself if the drug encounters HPV on my penis). I have taken your advice and reviewed several pictures online of PPP and these are in fact almost identical to what is on my glans, however most pictures show PPP on the ridge of the penis ... one of my original questions was, will / does PPP show up on the glans part of the penis in certain cases? and what causes PPP to occur? I am 32yrs old; if this is PPP like you suggest, why now?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
From your description, I am quite certain the various penile skin bumps you describe are not warts. Most likely they are pearly penile papules, regardless of the exact location; if you google that term, you can find lots of pictures to see if yours are similar. PPP are entirely normal on many men, especially non-caucasians (although not rare in whites). If not PPP, perhaps sebaceous glands -- or just normal variations in penile skin texture.
Your anxieties about this have led you to go doctor shopping, apparently unable to accept the good news from the first one you saw. Even the last one probably would not have recommended treatment except to try to help resolve your anxieties about it.
At this point, I would strongly suggest you do not use Zyclara -- or if you have started to do so, stop now. Return to whichever doctor seemed most confident -- or if you have not seen a dermatologist, find one now for a definitive diagnosis. In the meantime, you can be quite certain these are not warts or any other STD. My guess is that nothing is abnormal.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
From your description, I am quite certain the various penile skin bumps you describe are not warts. Most likely they are pearly penile papules, regardless of the exact location; if you google that term, you can find lots of pictures to see if yours are similar. PPP are entirely normal on many men, especially non-caucasians (although not rare in whites). If not PPP, perhaps sebaceous glands -- or just normal variations in penile skin texture.
Your anxieties about this have led you to go doctor shopping, apparently unable to accept the good news from the first one you saw. Even the last one probably would not have recommended treatment except to try to help resolve your anxieties about it.
At this point, I would strongly suggest you do not use Zyclara -- or if you have started to do so, stop now. Return to whichever doctor seemed most confident -- or if you have not seen a dermatologist, find one now for a definitive diagnosis. In the meantime, you can be quite certain these are not warts or any other STD. My guess is that nothing is abnormal.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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