Possible Wart

[bobbbyjones]

Dr.,

Thanks for your time and reply.  In late August,  I thought I noticed something that looked like a pimple or possibly a wart. Located on the lower shaft towards the base. It was slighty raised, I believe. Flesh to pinkish.  I picked at and it bled a little. This was after a relationship with a woman for 5 months in which on a few occasions we had unprotected vaginal sex.  I was worried about and went to a plant parenthood. The doctor said it was nothing, but part of the normal anatomy as you pull back and see those normal white heads on the shaft and scrotum. I cannot remember the name.  I decided to forget about it and I did for awhile.  Up until a few weeks ago. I check back there was something there. Same type of description.  I went to a dermatologist and he said didn't think it was a wart. 50/50  it was a wart he said, with a tendency towards it not being a wart. I was tested for everything STD wise and came back clean.  He gave me a cream Novacort and told me to come back in two weeks and we would see from there.  It looks like a pimple, but could be a wart as it is not going anywhere ( i do not think at least.)  It could just be a part of the skin but I am not sure. If I picked at it again it would of course irritate it and than bleed. its a single spot and it looks kind of pearly but perhaps it is skin healing. Maybe it is not a wart, but from descriptions it sounds that way.  I am pretty fearful of a wart mainly because I think it is.  Look for any insights doc.  Thanks.  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I would like to help, but really cannot.  No online opinion from verbal description can compete with direct examination by two docs, including a dermatologist.  The only thing I will say is that your description of the initial lesion makes me wonder about molluscum contagiosum, a trivial viral infection that can be acquried sexually.  But a dermatologist would recognize it.  As to whether or not you have warts, prominent sebaceous glands, or something else, I simply cannot speculate.  I suggest you rely on the dermatologist.  If he is uncertain about the diagnosis after a first examination, most likely things will become clear on follow-up.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Grabit1985]

If you post a question like this could you also post a picture or something to go along with it so the doctor can actually see it? Is that allowed?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Not on this forum.  To my thinking, looking at photos and giving advice comes too close to practicing medicine from a distance, which I will not due and is not the goal of this forum.  However, this is permissible on some MedHelp forums, such as dermatology.  Each moderator makes his or her own decision, but most don't do it.