Penis corona question

[QuestionMan777]

Hi,

I have a question about the penis corona (hope Its spelled correctly).
See the following image, you can notice the corona skin have some dots, I wanted to understand, is that a normal way it should look? (penis is soft). do I have anything to worry about?


http://i.imgur.com/9KzlKGM.jpg

[QuestionMan777]

Another question,
Is there anything I need to do? put some lotion or something to fight the viral virus?

[QuestionMan777]

Hello Dr,

I am 25 years old and my girlfriend had HPV,
I am not sure which one, she went to the doc and removed it with laser as it suspected to be a cancer ones.

What makes "pearly penile papules" to suddenly grow?
Are you born with them or they grow at some time?
Do you think a dermatologist checkup will be able to determinate if it is a pearly penile papules or HPV or anything else, by looking at it?
Is there any treatment for "pearly penile papules"?

To be honest, I am unsure, it might be something new and might been there all along and I didnt notice (I think it might be something new).

Thanks.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
I can understand your concern for these dot like skin spots on the penis corona. I have seen the photograph and the dot like spots look completely normal. The first possibility that comes to mind when I looked at the photograph is of pearly penile papules. They are a harmless anatomical variation and appear as small, pearly or flesh-colored, smooth, dome-topped bumps situated circumferentially around the corona.

These are more common in young uncircumcised men in their second or third decades of life. Basically they are a form of ectopic sebaceous gland, and are not known to be associated with any disease or illness and are of cosmetic concern only. Hence they are no risk to health or sex life other than being aesthetically displeasing.

However with no sexual history being known, this is the first possibility that comes to my mind when I see the photograph. If there is a history of any unprotected intercourse or intercourse with multiple partners or if there is any growth of these dot like spots as cauliflower shaped or as raised bumps with dimples in the centre then the possibilities of genital warts and molluscum contagiosum should be ruled out respectively.

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection which causes small pearly or flesh-colored bumps. It presents with multiple, small, dome-shaped papules, often with a central depression or plug. The virus commonly spreads through skin-to-skin contact. This includes sexual contact or touching the bumps and then touching the skin.

Having said this, my advice would be to stop worrying about it as from the photograph it looks like normal raised skin spots or pearly penile papules. If they start growing or spreading then get the above mentioned two possibilities ruled out from a dermatologist.

Hope that this information helps in relieving your anxiety.

Wishing you good health.