Penile Shaft Pimple----Possible?

[beezon]

Okay, I first asked this question in the STD forums, but it quickly fell to "it's not Herpes" which was not quite what I was originally asking.  I have what appears to me to be a pimple on the upper part of my penile shaft on the shaft skin.  I first noticed it while masterbating, after which it grew from a very small, single lesion (>1mm) to a larger (maybe 2mm) light red lump.  It's not painful really, unless I irritate it.  I have looked at it under a strong magnifying glass and there appears to be a head to the bump which looks either white or clear, it's too small to tell.  I've tried to pop it but haven't been able to.

I'm not thinking it's an STD, I had a risky exposure 9 months ago, after which I've had no STD symptoms and had undergone a large number of tests, all of which came back negative (including a negative HSV IgG test at 18 weeks).  

I've been putting a 10% benzoyl peroxide cream on it for 2 days but haven't noticed any reduction in the spot.

Obviously pimples can happen anywhere on the body, but so high up on the penile shaft, so far from hair seems really weird to me and not normal (especially since I have no history of pimples like this).  I'm also in a situation where I can't go see a provider for the next couple weeks.

So this is where the forum comes in, I'm looking to either here that this is in fact normal and to chill out, or to keep an eye out for these follow on symptoms, or it sounds like this instead of a pimple, or whatever.

Thanks.

[beezon]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm almost positive it's not molluscum, the lesion isn't dome shaped (like in the pictures) and definitely has a red tint to it.  The size of the lesion has gone down considerably in the last week but is still visible.

The bump no longer has a head to it and hasn't for a while.  I think it's probably just the leftover cyst from a pimple that's not 100% healed just yet.  It still exists though, although faint, and is still "hard" although smaller.  To describe, it has the typical "pyramid" shape of a single pimple.

I'm still a bit worried though, I would have hoped it would be gone by now.  I'll try the warm compress and some topical antiseptics to see if that causes it to finally disappear.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it can be folliculitis, small cyst or a molluscum lesion. Keep the area clean and apply warm compresses and some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful. In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be 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.

[beezon]

Okay, well, no opinions from anyone else, so I'm forced to just talk to myself and add updates.

I finally popped it yesterday.  A very small amount of white puss came out, just like a pimple.  This morning, there was no longer a whitehead, but the bump is still definitely there and it's still a hard lump.  I'm sure it's a zit, but I still can't get over the location.

[beezon]

***update***

Well, it's definitely formed a visible, roughly 1mm whitehead.  It still doesn't really hurt, and it still looks exactly like a small pimple, but it's just such a strange place for it to happen, basically on the start of my foreskin.

I still have to believe this is not a common place to suffer a zit.