Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPenis Discoloration From VitiligoCauses of Vitiligo on PenisWhy Genital Vitiligo Isn’t ContagiousSelf-Esteem and IntimacyVitiligo on Penis TreatmentsWhere to GoFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Penis Discoloration From Vitiligo
Causes of Vitiligo on Penis
Why Genital Vitiligo Isn’t Contagious
Self-Esteem and Intimacy
Vitiligo on Penis Treatments
Where to Go
Frequently Asked Questions
Vitiligo can affect the skin on any part of the body, including the inside of the mouth, the penis, and the scrotum.While vitiligo on the penis can be embarrassing, it is important to note that it is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and is not contagious or harmful.
Here we will discuss the causes of vitiligo on the penis, how it can affect self-esteem and intimacy, and treatment options.
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If you have vitiligo affecting your penis, you may eventually notice patches of depigmented skin on other parts of your body if you haven’t already.
There are several types of vitiligo:
Location and Appearance
Vitiligo of the penis usually appears on the foreskin and shaft rather than the head of the penis. However, it’s common for the white patches to also show up on the scrotum.Vitiligo may progress over time, resulting in larger areas of skin without pigmentation.
Medical experts don’t know why some people stop producing melanin in certain areas, although it’s believed that a combination of stress and genetic factors are at play.
Vitiligo is thought to be an autoimmune condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. If you have another autoimmune condition, such aslupusorHashimoto’s thyroiditis, you might have a higher risk of developing vitiligo.
You may also be more likely to develop it if you have a family history of vitiligo.
It’s common for people who have vitiligo of the penis to experience self-esteem concerns, especially when it comes to intimacy.You may be embarrassed to bring up your condition with a sexual partner or worry that they’ll think it’s contagious. If your vitiligo affects your self-esteem, a therapist or support group can help you manage your insecurities while offering advice on how best to bring up the subject with a sexual partner.
Vitiligo on the penis doesn’t affect your health and therefore doesn’t require treatment. That being said, some options may help reduce the appearance of vitiligo. Keep in mind that vitiligo on your penis may be more challenging to treat than vitiligo in other areas due to the sensitivity of the genital skin.
Medications
Topical creams and ointments may help reduce the appearance of vitiligo. These include anti-inflammatorycorticosteroid creamsand other topical medications including tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and Opzelura (ruxolitinib) which affect your body’s immune response.
You should only use a topical medication on your penis if your healthcare provider recommends it. Long-term use could cause side effects, such as skin irritation and thinning of the skin.
Light therapy
Light therapyusing ultraviolet A or ultraviolet B or anexcimer lasermay help restore pigment to the skin of your penis.As part of your treatment, you may also be given oral or topicalpsoralen; this medication helps your body absorb more ultraviolet light.
Too much ultraviolet light exposure to the genitals can increase your risk of cancer, so make sure to work with a healthcare provider who has a lot of experience doing this type of treatment.
Surgery
If other treatments are ineffective, surgery may be an option.Your healthcare provider may recommendcircumcisionif you only have vitiligo on your foreskin. In other cases, a surgeon might be able to take a small piece of skin from another area of your body and graft it onto the affected area.
Adermatologistorurologistmay be able to provide further guidance about specific treatments for vitiligo on the penis.
Summary
Vitiligo is a skin condition that results in the loss of melanin, the pigment that gives your skin and hair their color. Vitiligo on the penis usually appears as white patches on the shaft, foreskin, and scrotum.
Vitiligo on the penis is not an STI and is not contagious. While there is no cure, there are treatments that can help bring back some of the original skin tone, such as medications, light therapy, and possibly surgery.
A Word From Verywell
While the appearance of vitiligo on the penis might make you uncomfortable, the most important takeaway is to remember the condition is harmless. It may take a while to get used to it, but with time—and possibly some help from a therapist or support group—you will hopefully get to the point where your genital vitiligo doesn’t bother you.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe short answer is no. Because topical products can irritate the skin of the genitals and cause other problems, they should only be used in consultation with your healthcare provider.Vitiligo, including on the genitals, has no cure and is not reversible. But treatments are available that may help reduce the appearance of vitiligo and return some color to your skin.Vitiligo is not an STI and typically doesn’t cause itching, burning, or other discomfort.
The short answer is no. Because topical products can irritate the skin of the genitals and cause other problems, they should only be used in consultation with your healthcare provider.
Vitiligo, including on the genitals, has no cure and is not reversible. But treatments are available that may help reduce the appearance of vitiligo and return some color to your skin.
Vitiligo is not an STI and typically doesn’t cause itching, burning, or other discomfort.
8 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.Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N.Vitiligo.Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84.MedlinePlus.Vitiligo.Gupta DK, Devendra S.Microskin grafting for stable vitiligo of the penis and vulva: near total uniform pigmentation.J Cutan Med Surg. 2015;19(5):477-483.Alhetheli GI.The impact of vitiligo on patients’ psychological status and sexual function: cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.Open Dermatol J. 2021;15:23-30. doi:10.2174/1874372202115010023Luger T, Paller AS, Irvine AD, et al.Topical therapy of atopic dermatitis with a focus on pimecrolimus.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(7):1505-1518.Stacey SK, McEleney M.Topical corticosteroids: choice and application.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(6):337-343.Zubair R, Hamzavi IH.Phototherapy for vitiligo.Dermatol Clin. 2020;38(1):55-62.American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision.Male circumcision.Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):e756-785.
8 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.Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N.Vitiligo.Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84.MedlinePlus.Vitiligo.Gupta DK, Devendra S.Microskin grafting for stable vitiligo of the penis and vulva: near total uniform pigmentation.J Cutan Med Surg. 2015;19(5):477-483.Alhetheli GI.The impact of vitiligo on patients’ psychological status and sexual function: cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.Open Dermatol J. 2021;15:23-30. doi:10.2174/1874372202115010023Luger T, Paller AS, Irvine AD, et al.Topical therapy of atopic dermatitis with a focus on pimecrolimus.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(7):1505-1518.Stacey SK, McEleney M.Topical corticosteroids: choice and application.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(6):337-343.Zubair R, Hamzavi IH.Phototherapy for vitiligo.Dermatol Clin. 2020;38(1):55-62.American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision.Male circumcision.Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):e756-785.
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.
Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N.Vitiligo.Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84.MedlinePlus.Vitiligo.Gupta DK, Devendra S.Microskin grafting for stable vitiligo of the penis and vulva: near total uniform pigmentation.J Cutan Med Surg. 2015;19(5):477-483.Alhetheli GI.The impact of vitiligo on patients’ psychological status and sexual function: cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.Open Dermatol J. 2021;15:23-30. doi:10.2174/1874372202115010023Luger T, Paller AS, Irvine AD, et al.Topical therapy of atopic dermatitis with a focus on pimecrolimus.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(7):1505-1518.Stacey SK, McEleney M.Topical corticosteroids: choice and application.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(6):337-343.Zubair R, Hamzavi IH.Phototherapy for vitiligo.Dermatol Clin. 2020;38(1):55-62.American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision.Male circumcision.Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):e756-785.
Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N.Vitiligo.Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84.
MedlinePlus.Vitiligo.
Gupta DK, Devendra S.Microskin grafting for stable vitiligo of the penis and vulva: near total uniform pigmentation.J Cutan Med Surg. 2015;19(5):477-483.
Alhetheli GI.The impact of vitiligo on patients’ psychological status and sexual function: cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.Open Dermatol J. 2021;15:23-30. doi:10.2174/1874372202115010023
Luger T, Paller AS, Irvine AD, et al.Topical therapy of atopic dermatitis with a focus on pimecrolimus.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(7):1505-1518.
Stacey SK, McEleney M.Topical corticosteroids: choice and application.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(6):337-343.
Zubair R, Hamzavi IH.Phototherapy for vitiligo.Dermatol Clin. 2020;38(1):55-62.
American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision.Male circumcision.Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):e756-785.
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