Penis Discoloration

[LolaJolee]

I've noticed that my boyfriend who is caucasian has dark coloring on the shaft of his penis. He also has small bumps on that area that I worry are warts or possibly herpes. They look like acne almost. I've been with him for 4 months, but have known him for a long time. So it seems that talking to him about this would be easy. But I'm just scared to embarrass him. I brought it up once and he seemed mad that I had asked. And then I also asked him if he would get tested for STDs...and he acted offended. I don't know what to do...Help, please?

[LolaJolee]

Thank you both VERY much. So, I have good news! And bad news...my boyfriend ended up having to go to the ER, for pain in his kidney and left testicle. We found out that he has 1 mm sized kidney stones, and that's where the pain was coming from. It runs in his family, but we caught it early when the stones were small. While we were at the Uerologist finding this out, the doctor mentioned the bumps...lucky for me, right!? haha. Anyways, he says he thinks he knows what it is, but we have to go back in a few days for his appointment to have a biopsy of some sort to diagnose the bumps! He said it doesn't look like an STD, but it still could effect me without wearing condoms...sooo, I'll write back when we find out what it is!!! Thank you sooo much. This site makes me feel so much more at ease <3

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Without examination I cannot confirm a diagnosis but there are a few possibilities for your symptoms. It can be due to Fordyce spots which are ectopic sebaceous glands which are pale colored and that may appear on the shaft of the penis. They are non-infectious and a natural occurrence on the body. Their treatment spots includes CO2 laser or electro desiccation, TCA chemical peels (temporary treatment), diathermy or laser vaporization.

The second possibility is of syringomas which are benign bumps caused by overgrowth of cells. Treatment of syringoma is by electrocautery , cryotherapy, laser or surgical excision. The third possibility is of Bowenoid papulosis which presents as pigmented (red, brown, or flesh-colored) papules with a flat-to-verrucous surface and may be linked to HPV. Treatment is by local excision, electrodesiccation, cryosurgery, laser surgery, and use of topical retinoic acid, podophyllum resin, and topical 5-fluorouracil. The fourth possibility is of angiokeratoma which are blue-to-red papules with a scaly surface located on the shaft of penis. The fifth possibility is of genital warts, skin tags or any mole being turning into a melanoma.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[martikadragoon]

You need to talk to him again and request he get tested for STDS, there are  things like genital warts that can cause those bumps.  

Does the dark coloring affect part of his shaft and the head?  is he circumcised because if so then the coloring would be from the circumcision. Guys tend to have a darkish band for the last inch or two of their penis that's just due to being circumcised.