Small bumps on head of penis

[Jay4444]

Back in March, after snorkling off the coast of western australia I immediately (few hours) developed an irritation on the head of my penis. Small bumps appeared over the surface as well as a small lesion near the urethra opening. After approxmately 7 days, the lesion healed and the bumps receded. A month later, I again was in the ocean off the coast of Guam and again developed small bumps covering the head of my penis. There was no lesion this time and there was no irritation as well, but the bumps seemed to have doubled in number. It has been three weeks now and there have been no changes in the size, number or description of the bumps. The bumps are very small, slighlty raised and spread evenly over the top suface of the head of the penis only covering from the base of the head to the urethra opening (nothing on the underside of the head and nothin on the shaft) . There is no pain, no swelling and no redness or discoloration of the skin in the area of the bumps. the bumps themselves are of natural skin color with a slight pink hue.
*Additional info: I was wearing very loose swim shorts and wore them both times in each excursion. No other parts of my body have been affected. I did have unprotected sex back in January which is gives me a cause for concern of an STD. I have been applying a hydrocortisone with no positive results.
I have researched as much as I could online to determine what this is. Of everything I have read, it seems it could be anything from some form of dermatitis, an STD, or even seabather's eruption...but I have yet to see any photos that exactly match the description of my problem, with the key description being no redness or discoloration of the skin and that the bumps seem to be much smaller.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Lichen nitidus is characterized by very small, shiny, flat-topped, pale flesh-colored or reddish-brown papules. Generally it is self limiting but severe cases may need glucocorticoids.

I would suggest you to consult a dermatologist and get it evaluated. 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.

[Jay4444]

Thank you for the response. After reading descriptions and reviewing photos of all the potential diagnoses you provided, my condition very much resembles lichen nitidus. I will of course follow-up with a dermatologist and this will provide me additional info to ask the right questions. I will provide feedback for future reference. Thank you.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be bowenoid papulosis, condyloma acuminata, ectopic sebaceous glands, contact dermatitis or lichen nitidus. Lichen nitidus appears as flat-topped, skin-colored shiny papules that often appear in groups.

I  suggest you to consult a dermatologist and get it examined. Biopsy skin may also be done if needed. 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.