Pimple on penis?

[vb12905as]

Ive been browsing the internet for a couple hours now trying to find something that closely resembles what I am going through and haven't so I have decided to post.

I recently (yesterday) noticed a small red area on the top (facing me) side of the shaft of my penis It is not raised or indented in any way it really just appears to be a red area that is about the size of a wound i would expect to have after getting a needle *****.  There is no pain at all and it does not really seem to have a defined border.  I have been std tested and was negative for everything which was march 8.  Ive been trying to get a decent look at it but obviously its hard to look at I did scratch the area  a bit to see if it was scabbed and i squeezed it and got a drop of blood to come out after scratching it.  From what I've been reading this could be anything from irritation (i have to lean across a machine at work and my crotch rubs the from of my pants quite frequently to something severe like syphilis but all the pictures i can find online of syphilis chancres are horrid and it definitely doesn't look anything like them.  I have oral herpes and know what that looks like and feels like so im pretty sure that this isnt that either since there is no itching or pain at all and it doesnt even feel like a bump has formed.  I am looking into making a dr appt but I haven't had a primary care physician for 10+ years so i'm imagining that might take awhile.

I wanted to add quickly that I hadnt been sexually active for around 3 weeks before this and had then masturbated about 5 times one day and 3 times the next so I was hoping it could just be irritation from that as I do not use lube but wasnt sure how I would manage to irritate myself that much.

Last thing I went and got a magnifying glass so i could look at it more carefully..I think all the looking ive been doing has irritated it a bit more but it really is just a reddish patch with a tiny pin ***** hole...Just wanted to be sure this still doesnt sound like any std.  I believe when i masturbate my thumb pinches the exact area where i have this into the area where my index finger would be so i can see how I would rub it raw that way especially if the skin was already dry.

My wife also looked at it and told me she thinks it is a pimple.  I put some cortisone on it and went to bed last night and this morning its either exactly the same or a tad bit smaller.  Any idea what this might be?  Do men get pimples on their penis?!

[vb12905as]

It was actually completely gone after 3 days. Thank you for the reply though.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to folliculitis or a cyst but the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and LGV also need to be ruled out. To confirm the diagnosis, I suggest you to get an evaluation done from a dermatologist and get a complete STD panel test done. Till that time, keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also 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. Please consult a dermatologist in that case.

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.