Bumps on the base of Penis

I'm 24 - I've only had sex with one wonderful girl.  I guess my question is two fold.  For as long as I can remember I have had a group of goosebump looking bumps on the skin surface at the base and side of my penis.  It almost looks like the skin on chicken when you get it from the store.  Along with them I have a brownish ring around the shaft maybe .25" behind the head. It goes around the entire circumference of the shaft. Both the goosebumps and the ring are more pronounced when I am erect. I've had these since I was at least 16 or 17...I didn't have sex until I was 21. I've also had at least 5 physicals since I was 16 for various sports, and my doc has never mentioned anything.  

There's never been any pain or spread to anywhere else, and I heard on Love Phones or something that this was normal(?!)...so I've never really thought much about it. But now there seems to be a few darker spots showing up in the "ring."  they are no larger then a needle point (and barely visible), but they are raised and one of them on the bottom side of the shaft is more sensitive and has me worried.

Any ideas?  If this is something I should see a Urologist for, how do I go about finding one?  Should I just check with the family doc first?      

thanks!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Any questionable skin lesions should be seen by a physician - whether its your family physician, urologist or a dermatologist.

Possible causes can include benign skin disease (i.e. birthmark), a fungal infection, folliculitis (infection of the hair follicles), as well as STDs such as genital warts or herpes.  Treatment of the skin condition would depend on the cause.

Your family physician should be able to refer you to a urologist or dermatologist.  

A list of urologists can be found here:
http://www.urologyhealth.org/find_urologist/

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[remy2584]

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