Red Spots on Penis

[david912]

Painless unelevated red spots on penis. Sometimes the areas have white flaky skin that peels off. Have been STD tested and nothing comes up. There are about 4 spots some 1/3 inch circular that appear near the head and on lip of the head. Any ideas?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The other possibilities are of discoid eczema or pityriasis rosea. Pityriasis rosea is a common human skin disease which presents as numerous patches of pink or red oval rash. The rash may be accompanied by low-grade headache, fever, nausea and fatigue and sometimes by itching.

No treatment is usually required. In most patients, the condition lasts only a matter of weeks or months(upto six months)

I suggest you to get it evaluated from a dermatologist.Other possibilities have to be ruled out then.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Warm regards.

[david912]

it's similar to psoriosis.. if it's not psoriosis, what else is very similar. Like i said, not painful or itchy.

[david912]

Not a raised lump. It almost looks like a rash, and after it starts to peel is turns in to a soft scab or something. I couldnt pop it or anything lol.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Without examination,confirmation of a diagnosis is tough but it can be folliculitis,contact dermatitis,rash due to friction rub with clothes,eczema, dermatitis (atopic, contact, allergic),excessive sweating causing sweat dermatitis or balanitis(due to an underlying infection (bacterial and fungal as well as other organisms) .

You may try calamine lotion on the rash.You should also maintain hygiene and try to keep the area clean and dry, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Also use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove.Avoid any kind of cosmetics.You can also use a barrier cream with zinc oxide paste or a mild steroid cream like dermacort on the rash. If the bumps are itchy,you  can take some antihistaminic like benadryl or Claritin.

If the lumps persist then it will be best to get it evaluated from a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Warm regards.

[omh44]

Not sure much about red dots or the white flaky skins that peels off (ask a dermatologist and Google about that)...but check out these links too....

Balanitis:
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/404/main.html#SymptomsofBalanitis

Phimosis:
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/360/main.html#CausesandRiskFactorsofPhimosis



If it's bumps or white dots, is it any of the following?
May be a
Sebaceous cyst?
Pearly Penile Papule?
any type of wart (example: moluscum), or any other skin infection?

Read up on it, but most of all, seek a dermatologist.


If it is a Sebaceous cyst, don't pop it. This is from wikipedia about Sebaceous cysts...
"Under no circumstances must one try to pop the cyst, as it can lead to infection of the surrounding tissue. The neck is a particularly dangerous region, due to the glands and blood vessels."

Also, this link is pretty informative if you want to find out more about the causes of Sebaceous cysts and whether you may have an infection or not.
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/dermatology/a/sebaceouscyst.htm

One shouldn't pop a Pearly Penile Papule themselves I don't think....one should seek a physician about that.


Your best bet is to see a dermatologist about this.  I'm not sure if it would be a Molluscum contagiosum or any kind of skin infection in terms of the peeling skin, but I am not an expertise with this and am not the best person to ask