Men often experience acne on the penis. Regardless of whether this phenomenon is harmless or is a sign of dangerous pathological processes in the body, in any case, pimples on the penis cause discomfort both due to their unaesthetic appearance and due to physiological inconvenience.
A urologist, andrologist or venereologist can identify the exact cause of formations on the skin after conducting an examination and receiving all the necessary tests and studies.
The following are possible causes of acne:
● Inflammation of the sebaceous glands or folliculitis, dermatitis and other non-infectious diseases;
● Allergies;
● Failure to comply with intimate hygiene rules;
● Ingrown hair. A fairly common cause, especially in people who remove hair from the genitals. At the junction of the skin of the penis and the skin of the pubis, a certain angle is formed, the hair bends, grows into the skin, redness and itching appear.
● Sexually transmitted infections;
● Changes in a man's hormonal levels;
● Fungus (mycosis) on the penis;
● Ticks and pubic lice. Infection with these parasites is not always associated with sexual contact; they can also be acquired in public places such as a sauna, swimming pool, locker room.
Types of rashes
Depending on the cause that caused the appearance of this pathology, the rashes have different sizes, shapes, colors and are accompanied by various symptoms.
White pimples
Most often, men encounter white rashes. In most cases they are safe. White pimples on the penis can appear due to neglect of intimate hygiene, under stress, or due to excessive sweating in hot weather.
Puberty boys often notice white pimples on the shaft and under the head of the penis. These formations are called Fordyce granules, are the absolute norm and go away on their own over time.
When using certain hygiene products, lubricants or contraceptives, an allergic reaction is possible, which is also accompanied by a frequent white rash and itching.
Red pimples
The appearance of a sick red pimple on the penis may be associated with banal irritation. You should not try to remove it yourself, as squeezing it out will create an open wound, where infection can easily get in and cause even greater complications.
However, if, in addition to red pimples, there is burning, itching and swelling, it can be assumed that this manifestation is caused by the presence of a sexually transmitted infection or fungal infection.
● Human papillomavirus (HPV). With this disease, the formation may outwardly look like a pimple, but in fact it is a small red or flesh-colored wart, which is a consequence of infection with the human papillomavirus.
● Gonorrhea. This disease is accompanied not only by changes in the skin of the penis, but also by the presence of discharge with an unpleasant odor and painful urination.
● Syphilis. The appearance of small and very painful ulcers on the genitals, low-grade fever and general malaise may indicate infection with syphilis.
● Thrush (candidiasis). A small scattering of red pimples on the head of the penis occurs with candidiasis. Men also note the presence of white, cheesy discharge.
Purulent acne
Acne can occur not only on the face or back, but also on the genitals. This is due to blockage of the pores, due to which the natural sebum produced by the sebaceous glands cannot be released onto the surface of the epidermis, the pores become inflamed and suppurate, and a purulent pimple forms on the penis.
A purulent red rash can be caused by balanitis. This disease is provoked by sexually transmitted infections, aggressive effects of components of hygiene products, dermatological diseases, including skin cancer.
Watery rashes
A large number of small pimples with colorless or yellowish contents indicate the presence of the herpes virus. These formations do not cause pain, but after some time they burst, the fluid comes out and small open sores remain in their place. These wounds cause severe discomfort, pain and itching.
Also, in this way, an allergic reaction to contraceptives and lubricants appears on the skin of the penis. This condition does not require special treatment; it is enough to remove the allergen and the symptom will go away on its own.
A white blister can also appear when wearing uncomfortable, chafing underwear or when the skin is injured by a trouser zipper.
Single pimple
One pimple may appear due to inflammation of the hair follicle at the site of an ingrown hair or as a result of trauma to the skin during depilation. Also, in adolescence, single pimples often appear. With sufficient hygiene, after 1-2 weeks this formation goes away on its own, without special treatment.
Symptoms
Photos of malignant neoplasms of the male gonads can be found on the Internet. The fundamental manifestation of a malignant tumor process is the appearance in the tissues of the scrotum of a dense formation, which increases the size of the gonad. Patients present the following complaints:
- Pain in the abdomen and scrotum;
- Swelling of the testicle;
- Excessive fatigue and weakness;
- Dramatic weight loss;
- Frequent low-grade hyperthermia with a rise in body temperature to 37.5°C.
In this case, the scrotum swells greatly and increases in size. With further development of the tumor process, breathing difficulties and shortness of breath, enlarged lymph nodes, weakness, pain in the back and spine occur.
The patient notes the appearance of the following symptoms:
- A noticeable decrease or absence of libido (sexual desire);
- Pain and enlargement of the mammary glands;
- Intensive hair growth on the face and body.
- Long before the onset of puberty.
When the tumor metastasizes to the liver, patients report pain in the right hypochondrium, jaundice, and an increase in abdominal volume.
The following stages of testicular cancer are distinguished, determined on the basis of international criteria according to the TNM system (tumor, lymph node, metastases):
- T1 – the tumor does not cross the boundaries of the tunica albuginea;
- T-2 – the neoplasm is also limited, but there is already deformation of the scrotum and enlargement of the testicle;
- T-3 – the tumor penetrates the tunica albuginea, growing into the surrounding tissue;
- T-4 – the cancer process spreads beyond the boundaries of the testicle, the tumor grows into the spermatic cord or scrotum.
In the case of stage N-1, X-ray and radioisotope diagnostics reveal regional metastases to the lymph nodes. In stage N-2 of the disease, enlarged regional lymph nodes with metastases are easily identified upon examination and palpation. Stage M1 is spoken of when, with the help of diagnostic studies, distant metastases are detected in the liver, kidneys, brain, and lungs.
Clinicians often use the following classification of testicular cancer:
- I – neoplasm is localized within the testicle;
- II – the tumor process spreads to the lymph nodes located around the aorta;
- IIa – the size of lymph nodes with metastases does not exceed 2 cm;
- IIb – the size of the lymph nodes varies from 2 to 5 cm;
- IIc – the size of the lymph nodes exceeds 5 cm;
- III -0 the thoracic and cervical lymph nodes are involved in the tumor process;
- IV – metastases spread to distant organs.
Based on the histological structure, seminoma and non-seminoma testicular tumors are distinguished.
Pimples on the penis in a child
This alarming symptom in a child may indicate simple heat rash. During the hot season, due to increased sweating, children's delicate skin becomes irritated, causing small pimples to appear.
A more dangerous cause is intestinal mycosis. This manifestation is also characteristic of a very contagious disease - frequency. Only a doctor can identify the specific cause, so first of all the child must be shown to a specialist.
Preventing rashes
In order to protect yourself from the occurrence of rashes on the penis, you should adhere to a number of rules:
● it is very important to observe the rules of personal hygiene, take a shower periodically, use exclusively personal hygiene items, and change your underwear frequently;
● avoid diaper rash and sweat accumulation in the groin;
● select suitable underwear;
● use special moisturizing creams, avoid dryness of the groin area;
● when visiting public saunas, baths, swimming pools, gyms, try to minimize contact with common objects and go only to places where a sufficient level of sanitation is maintained;
● exclude promiscuity and use barrier contraception;
● lead a healthy lifestyle, eliminate bad habits, eat a balanced diet;
● regularly undergo preventive examinations for diseases and infections.
Tumor of the epididymis
Tumors of the epididymis are rare cancers. The disease occurs and progresses in young men under the age of 35. For a long time, the disease may be asymptomatic. The Yusupov Hospital has created all the conditions for the treatment of patients suffering from epididymal cancer;
- Comfortable living conditions in the wards;
- Early diagnosis of the disease using equipment from leading global manufacturers;
- Use of the latest antitumor drugs and radiation therapy techniques for cancer therapy;
- Attentive attitude of the staff.
The exact cause of epididymal cancer has not been established. Scientists suggest that the tumor process develops under the influence of the following provoking factors:
- Compounded heredity;
- Chronic diseases of the endocrine system;
- Cryptorchidism;
- Bad habits;
- Radiation radiation;
- Injuries and microtraumas of the male gonads.
Most epididymal neoplasms develop from germ cells and are called germ cell tumors. They are divided into 2 main types: seminoma and non-seminoma tumors. These neoplasms have different characteristics and differ in their ability to spread and the treatment methods used.
Treatment methods
You should not try to treat rashes on the penis on your own. If this is caused by an infection or disease, there is a risk that incorrectly selected medications will give a blurred clinical picture and, subsequently, lead to chronicity of the disease. Therefore, when this pathology is detected, the only correct decision is to contact a specialist.
Before drawing up a treatment plan, the doctor will prescribe the patient to undergo the necessary laboratory tests - blood test, smear, scraping. Based on the results obtained, the doctor will be able to choose an effective treatment method - medication or surgery.
Drug therapy includes:
● taking antibiotics for infectious diseases;
● local use of antifungal ointments and taking appropriate tablets for fungal infections;
● if there is a virus, use antiviral drugs and ointments;
● in case of an allergic reaction, avoid contact with the allergen and take antihistamines;
● disruption of the sebaceous glands can be corrected with special ointments.
It is often recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse during the treatment period. If itching and burning are present, taking a warm bath twice a day will help relieve symptoms. When swimming, you should use antibacterial hygiene products.
If it is not possible to solve the problem conservatively, surgical methods are used. Most often this concerns genital warts. In this case, surgical resection is supplemented by taking immunomodulatory drugs.
Causes
Testicular cancer is a malignant neoplasm that originates from the glandular or epithelial tissue of the testicle (less commonly from the epididymis). This tumor is characterized by rapid growth and early metastasis to regional lymph nodes and distant organs. Oncologists know the following risk factors for developing testicular cancer:
- Cryptorchidism - detected in 22% of patients suffering from a malignant testicular tumor;
- Trauma to the scrotal organs in the past – occurred in 20% of patients with testicular cancer;
- Orchitis (inflammation of the male reproductive glands);
- Klinefelter syndrome (a genetic disease characterized by an additional female sex X chromosome;
- Contralateral tumor or intratubular (intraductal) germ cell neoplasm.
Testicular cancer can be caused by hormonal imbalance. Most patients with germ cell tumors showed a decrease in the concentration of sex hormones and an increase in the concentration of gonadotropins. Due to genetic predisposition, there is a high probability of developing testicular cancer in close relatives.
