There are many different types of bumps that can appear on your penis. Ideally, most of them are nothing to sweat about, and they disappear on their own with time. For example, when the oil gland in the skin around the penis area gets blocked, it may cause a pimple on your penis. Such pimples are harmless and can clear out on their own after some days. 

However, bumps on the penis can also be an indication of a more serious condition like a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). Thus, any pimple on your penis with an open sore or that should leak pus or fluid should be examined by a doctor. It will help rule out the possibility of an STI. 

So how do you tell apart the types of penis bumps? Well, you’ll need as much information as possible from the knowledge base that is reliable and this article is one such knowledge base. It’ll provide you with some information about the types of penis bumps and the remedies that work on them. 

1. Lichen Planus 

Lichen planus can occur in any part of your body. And when it occurs on your penis, they appear as red flat-topped bumps. These bumps can be itchy, painless, or sore. They sometimes have white streaks that run through them. Unfortunately, their cause hasn’t been discovered yet. However, some scientists suspect these bumps can occur for various reasons like:

• Intake of foods and medicine that you might be allergic to 
• Infection of viruses such as Hepatitis C 
• An immune disorder 

Some remedies you can use to deal with lichen planus include colloidal oatmeal baths, cool compresses, and hydrocortisone creams. Colloidal oatmeal baths involve using finely grounded oatmeal.  

On the other hand, cold compresses need you to have a plastic bag, ice, water, a towel, and a washcloth. Start by putting your ice in a plastic bag. If it is not available, you can use a frozen bag of vegetables. Next, run your wash cloth through cold water and wrap it around your plastic bag with ice. Place the wrapped washcloth on your penis for around twenty minutes. After you’re done, use your towel to dry the compressed area. 

2. Fordyce Spots 

Fordyce spots are bumps that mainly appear on the shaft or head of your penis. They can be white, yellow, or red. These bumps aren’t big as they vary between 1 and 5 millimeters. Due to their appearance, you might mistake Fordyce spots for Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). On the contrary, these bumps aren’t harmful; they’re just oil glands. 

Despite Fordyce spots being harmless, you might not be comfortable having them. Consider treating these bumps by applying urethane tretinoin gel to them. Additionally, you can also laser them with the help of the professionals.  

3. Genital Warts 

These are white bumps that look like miniature cauliflower heads. You can get infected with genital warts by getting in skin-to-skin contact with a person with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This kind of contact happens during sexual intercourse. It’s why you’re always advised to use protection when having sexual intercourse with a person you aren’t sure about their sexual health status.  

If you, unfortunately, end up getting genital warts, you can use some remedies to treat yourself. One of these remedies you can use is applying tea tree oil. Also, you should ensure that you clean your hands after touching your genitals.   

If possible, you should avoid having sexual intercourse with an active infection. This prevents you from transmitting such infections to other people.   

4. Pearly Penile Papules 

These are flesh bumps that are mainly found at the head of your penis. They surround your penis by forming one or multiple rows. Men that aren’t circumcised have a higher chance of getting pearly penile papules than those that are circumcised.  

At times, these bumps are mistaken for genital warts. However, these are benign lesions that can appear at any age from birth. Further, they occur primarily during adolescence when the body is transitioning.   

Since they’re normal glands, they don’t necessarily require treatment. Moreover, these bumps don’t cause pain that needs pain relievers. However, you might experience a change in your penis appearance due to these bumps. In such a case, it’s best to visit a urologist because there are no home remedies. Urologists mostly recommend cauterization and cryotherapy treatment. On top of that, CO2 laser procedures can also be used to get rid of them permanently.  

5. Molluscum Contagiosum 

It’s a contagious infection that results in bumps forming on your body. It’s easy to differentiate these bumps from others because they have small dimples at the center. Besides, they can be very itchy.  

Your body’s immunity system determines the size of bumps you’ll have. If you have a strong immune system, you’re likely to have it with a diameter of 2 to 5 millimeters. On the other hand, if your body’s immune system is weak, you’ll have bigger bumps. These bumps may be around 15 millimeters in size.   

One remedy you can use is applying imiquimod 5% to tretinoin. You can also use cantharidin. However, cantharidin isn’t preferred because it causes blisters as it gets rid of the bumps. And before doing so, you should consult your doctor to give you proper examination and medication.    

Summary 

The increase in skincare has resulted in more attention being paid to the changes in your skin. With the increased awareness, it’s easy to note the rashes, spots, pimples, or bumps that appear. The penis is one of the delicate parts of your skin that can have these changes. There are various types of penis bumps that can occur. Luckily, not all penis bumps are dangerous; some are a result of the changes due to aging. Thus, reading this article is a good place to start if you’d like to learn about the various types of penis bumps and their remedies.