Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLymphoceleFordyce SpotsPearly PapulesSores or UlcersPimplesPenile CystsGenital WartsPeyronie’s DiseaseMolluscum ContagiosumWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lymphocele
Fordyce Spots
Pearly Papules
Sores or Ulcers
Pimples
Penile Cysts
Genital Warts
Peyronie’s Disease
Molluscum Contagiosum
When to See a Provider
Even relatively minor conditions like pimples orcystsmay require treatment if they are unsightly or become infected after you pick at them.
The following are 11 common causes of a lump on the penis.
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What Is That Rash on My Penis?
When a lymphocele develops on the shaft of the penis, it usually doesn’t cause symptoms and will gradually resolve as the fluid is reabsorbed. If a lymphocele is large or there are many of them,fine needle aspirationcan be used to extract the fluid using a small needle and syringe.
Fordyce spots are harmless and generally do not causes symptoms or require treatment. While some people may want to remove them for cosmetic reasons, there is a risk of scarring.
Pearly Penis Papules
Pearly papulesare small white, yellow, or skin-colored bumps that develop around the corona (the rim of the head) of the penis. The bumps are normal, harmless, and not contagious.
Pearly papules affect 14% and 48% of people with penises and tend to occur during late adolescence or early adulthood.Pearly papules do not need treatment and can cause scarring if you try to remove them,
Open Sores or Ulcers
An open sore or ulcer is a common sign of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These include:
Genital herpes cannot be cured but can be managed withantiviral drugs. Syphilis, on the other hand, can be cured withantibiotic drugsand may cause severe and even life-threatening complications if left untreated.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Syphilis?
A pimple (acne vulgaris) on the penis happens for the same reasons as pimples on other body parts. It occurs when a hair follicle becomes plugged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, causing a red, swollen, and sometimes painful bump.
Most pimples will go away on their own in a few days or weeks. Popping them can lead to the infection of deeper tissues as the follicle wall is broken and pus is forced even further down into the skin.
What Type of Pimple Do You Have?
Penile cysts are fluid-filled pockets that typically develop on the base or shaft of the penis. There are two common causes of this:
Genital warts may be unsightly but often go away over time. The warts can also be removed withcryotherapy(using liquid nitrogen), excision (using a scalpel), orelectrocautery(using electricity).
Do Genital Warts Cause Cancer?Genital warts rarely lead to cancer. This is because thetypes of HPVthat cause genital warts differ from those that causepenile cancer,cervical cancer, and other forms of cancer.
Do Genital Warts Cause Cancer?
Genital warts rarely lead to cancer. This is because thetypes of HPVthat cause genital warts differ from those that causepenile cancer,cervical cancer, and other forms of cancer.
Peyronie’s disease(PD)is a disorder usually affecting older males that causes an abnormal curve of the penis. PD occurs when scar tissues form on the inner membrane of the penis shaft, leading to a hardened lesion and an abnormal bend. In some cases, the lesion can appear as a hardened bump.
Peyronie’s disease does not require treatment if it doesn’t cause pain orerectile dysfunction (ED). If needed, an injectable drug called Xiaflex can help dissolve the hardened lesion. Medications likeViagra (sildenafil)orTrimix (alprostadil injection)can be used to treat ED.
Peyronie’s Disease Symptoms
Molluscum contagiosumis a highly contagious virus that can be spread through sexual and non-sexual contact.It appears as a small white or skin-colored bump with an indentation in the center.
Molluscum contagiosum does not always require treatment and may resolve on its own after six to 12 months. If the penis is affected, treatment is usually recommended to prevent the spread of infection. This can be done with cryotherapy, laser therapy, or topical medications.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two topical agents for the treatment of MC. Ycanth (cantharidin) is a topical treatment for people aged 2 and older. It is applied in the office every three weeks until the affected area is cleared. Zelsuvmi (berdazimer) is approved for people ages 1 and older and is applied daily for up to 12 weeks.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
It’s important to see a healthcare provider if you have a new lump or any other sudden changes on your penis. This is especially true if you do not consistently use condoms or have a new sexual partner.
You should also see a healthcare provider if you have symptoms such as:
You should also abstain from sex until you are diagnosed. If you can’t, use a condom and inform your sexual partners about your concern.
Summary
A lump on the penis may be due to relatively harmless causes such as pimples, pearly papules, Fordyce spots, or epidermoid cysts that do not require treatment. Other may require treatment, such as Peyronie’s disease, molluscum contagiosum, or STIs like syphilis or genital herpes
See a healthcare provider if a bump develops suddenly, causes an open sore, or occurs after unprotected sex or sex with a new partner.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service (UK).What is this lump on my penis?Stamm AW, Kobashi KC, Stefanovic KB.Urologic dermatology: A review.Curr Urol Rep. 2017;18(8):62. doi:10.1007/s11934-017-0712-9Honigman AD, Dubin DP, Chu J, Lin MJ.Management of pearly penile papules: A review of the literature.J Cutan Med Surg. 2020 Jan/Feb;24(1):79-85. doi:10.1177/1203475419887730Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Yang CJ, Chang SY, Wu BR, et al.Unexpectedly high prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in the oral cavity of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with early syphilis who had engaged in unprotected sex practices.Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015;21(8):787.e1-787.e7877. doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2015.04.018American Academy of Dermatology.Acne: signs and symptoms.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).About genital HPV infection.Chung PH, Han TM, Rudnik B, Das AK.Peyronie’s disease: what do we know and how do we treat it?.Can J Urol. 2020 Aug;27(S3):11-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of molluscum contagiosum.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service (UK).What is this lump on my penis?Stamm AW, Kobashi KC, Stefanovic KB.Urologic dermatology: A review.Curr Urol Rep. 2017;18(8):62. doi:10.1007/s11934-017-0712-9Honigman AD, Dubin DP, Chu J, Lin MJ.Management of pearly penile papules: A review of the literature.J Cutan Med Surg. 2020 Jan/Feb;24(1):79-85. doi:10.1177/1203475419887730Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Yang CJ, Chang SY, Wu BR, et al.Unexpectedly high prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in the oral cavity of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with early syphilis who had engaged in unprotected sex practices.Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015;21(8):787.e1-787.e7877. doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2015.04.018American Academy of Dermatology.Acne: signs and symptoms.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).About genital HPV infection.Chung PH, Han TM, Rudnik B, Das AK.Peyronie’s disease: what do we know and how do we treat it?.Can J Urol. 2020 Aug;27(S3):11-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of molluscum contagiosum.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Health Service (UK).What is this lump on my penis?Stamm AW, Kobashi KC, Stefanovic KB.Urologic dermatology: A review.Curr Urol Rep. 2017;18(8):62. doi:10.1007/s11934-017-0712-9Honigman AD, Dubin DP, Chu J, Lin MJ.Management of pearly penile papules: A review of the literature.J Cutan Med Surg. 2020 Jan/Feb;24(1):79-85. doi:10.1177/1203475419887730Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Yang CJ, Chang SY, Wu BR, et al.Unexpectedly high prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in the oral cavity of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with early syphilis who had engaged in unprotected sex practices.Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015;21(8):787.e1-787.e7877. doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2015.04.018American Academy of Dermatology.Acne: signs and symptoms.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).About genital HPV infection.Chung PH, Han TM, Rudnik B, Das AK.Peyronie’s disease: what do we know and how do we treat it?.Can J Urol. 2020 Aug;27(S3):11-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of molluscum contagiosum.
National Health Service (UK).What is this lump on my penis?
Stamm AW, Kobashi KC, Stefanovic KB.Urologic dermatology: A review.Curr Urol Rep. 2017;18(8):62. doi:10.1007/s11934-017-0712-9
Honigman AD, Dubin DP, Chu J, Lin MJ.Management of pearly penile papules: A review of the literature.J Cutan Med Surg. 2020 Jan/Feb;24(1):79-85. doi:10.1177/1203475419887730
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.
Yang CJ, Chang SY, Wu BR, et al.Unexpectedly high prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in the oral cavity of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with early syphilis who had engaged in unprotected sex practices.Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015;21(8):787.e1-787.e7877. doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2015.04.018
American Academy of Dermatology.Acne: signs and symptoms.
Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).About genital HPV infection.
Chung PH, Han TM, Rudnik B, Das AK.Peyronie’s disease: what do we know and how do we treat it?.Can J Urol. 2020 Aug;27(S3):11-19.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of molluscum contagiosum.
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