Myths About Pearly Penile Papules

Pearly penile papules are small skin colored bumps that appear in the crown of the penis. They come in a ring form and look like little pearls in your organ. The tiny skin growths appear in men who are between 20 to 30 years old but they may also come earlier. Usually, they become less noticeable as a person grows older and they can also disappear without the need for any treatment. Since there are many myths surrounding them, it is important that you correct the misconceptions to keep you well informed about your condition.

Some men are too scared upon seeing them and they think that they have been afflicted with a sexually transmitted disease. They fear that they may have acquired them after getting in contact with an “unclean” partner. However, there is no truth to this. The pearly penile papules are harmless and they are definitely not contagious. The main reason for their appearance is still unknown. They come and go without any definite reason. But most of the time, they are seen among uncircumcised males. However, circumcision is also not always the answer to your problem.

Pearly penile papules are not rare skin overgrowths. They affect millions of men worldwide. Statistics shows that around 10 to 50% of males have observed them at least once in their life. They can come and go with no known stimuli. They are not issues about personal hygiene practices because even the cleanest man can still have them. The exact mechanism for their appearance is still being explored and until the medical community finds the answer why they appear, their mystery remains.

You must also remember that the pearly penile papules are different from genital warts which are highly contagious. Genital warts are caused by virus and they are passed on from one person to another. Because the appearance of genital warts may resemble the skin growths, a consultation with a medical expert is important. Your doctor will help you diagnose whether what you have is genital wart or penile papules.

Many men keep their secret on their own because of the feelings of embarrassment. They feel that any problem with the penis ruins their ego. But this should not be the case. There is nothing to be worried about the pearly penile papules. They will not cause any harm and you can live with them without experiencing any problem. What is important is that you make sure that what you have are not genital warts. Otherwise, you will need treatment to prevent the spread of the viral infection.

Because they look like skin overgrowth, some people think that pearly penile papules are cancer forming. Again, this is not true. These are benign and will not lead to cancer. In fact, there are no known complications even when you leave them untreated. If you are bothered with them, you can seek help from your health care provider. A trained dermatologist can help you manage the problem. Although treatment is not necessary, there are still ways on how to get rid of them.

Desired treatment procedures include carbon dioxide vaporization and electrosurgery. The two methods are effective but they may leave scars in the penis. It will only take less than an hour to finish the whole procedure. Local anesthesia may be used to numb the area. Within a day or two, you can be back in your regular activities.

Pearly penile papules are harmless, non-cancer forming, non-contagious and resolve on their own. If you still hear other dreadful stories about them, you should ask your doctor before believing the hearsay.