As with any sign or blemish on the genitals, noticing the presence of one or more bubbles (or blisters ) on the penis can be a source of great concern and stress, which are associated with important psychological implications, such as anxiety and shame that often lead to being late. the moment you go to the doctor.
The presence of a bubble on the penisin most cases it is not a factor that should cause particular concern, most of the time it is a benign skin lesion, resulting from a state of inflammation due to rubbing with clothing made with irritating fabrics, poor hygiene or even contact with allergens contained in personal hygiene products.
In other cases, however, it can be one of the manifestations of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) , therefore in the event of a blister on the penis it is always good to talk to your doctor, who, having read the condition, can refer you to more in-depth visits.
The blisters on the penis can appear as a single skin formation, or as numerous widespread formations including the glans , on the scrotum, on the testicles, in the perianal area, on the pubis, or on the thighs.
It can cause severe itching, or manifest itself without itching, and numerous symptoms such as pain , burning, swelling , damaged and flaking skin, pain during erection and therefore during sexual intercourse, difficulty in urination, fever, chills and muscle aches can be associated. -articulars.
Given the symptoms associated with the presence of a blister on the penis, its manifestations and the mode of onset, we can investigate the pathological and non-pathological causes in which this disorder can most commonly occur.
Blister on the penis: what are the most common causes.
Boil
This is the result of an inflammation affecting a hair follicle, very similar to what happens for the appearance of a pimple on the face, neck, back or chest.
The hair follicle becomes inflamed mostly due to a colonization of staphylococcal bacteria, resulting in one or more raised and red skin rashes, which can be located on the scrotum, penis shaft, glans or foreskin. causing itching and burning.
Thepustules that form should never be crushed because the possibility of them becoming infected is very high. In these cases, it will be necessary to apply an antibiotic-based ointment that disinfects the area and prevents the proliferation of bacteria.
Pearly papule of the penis (PPP)
They are formed mainly in the area surrounding the glans (crown of the glans), appearing as small, well-circumscribed reliefs at the subcutaneous level, which can take on a white or red color .
They are benign lesions and the symptoms with which they occur are very nuanced, in fact they generally do not cause itching, burning or pain, and above all they do not constitute a danger to the health of the individual or to his sexual partners, as they are not transmitted through unprotected relationships.
Therefore, they are generally not treated, unless the blisters on the penis constitute a blemish that makes the subject uncomfortable.
Genital herpes
It is a sexually transmitted infection (STD) and the infectious agent responsible is the Herpes Simplex virus .
Symptoms of this infection involve the appearance of red spots and ulcers on the glans penis , fever, burning, pain and general malaise.
Herpes generally manifests itself with small bubbles on the penis similar to the cold sores that appears on our face.
Since it is a viral infection, it requires anti-viral treatment and the recommendation to use a condom during sexual intercourse in order not to transmit the virus to or to the partner.
HPV wart
The papilloma virus (HPV), the same infectious agent responsible for cervical cancer in women, causes warts (or boils), red dots and pink pads on the penis in men (especially in men). way on the glans and shaft), and in the area around the anus, which trigger severe itching.
Also in this case it is a sexually transmitted virus, so we are again faced with an STD that must be treated with antivirals and for which the use of condoms is recommended during intercourse, even if with fixed partners, to avoid transmit the virus.
Molluscum contagiosum
Infectious disease that causes red lesions and blisters to appear on the penis , scrotum, glans and even the groin and thighs. These purely red blisters do not itch, and usually resolve on their own, but in some cases they can leave scarring.
Trauma hematoma
In this case, the rupture of a small superficial blood vessel causes the formation of a collection of subcutaneous blood which can result in a dark colored bubble or relief. The cause may be due to a direct shock or violent masturbation.
Syphilis
It is part of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Infection with this pathogen initially leads to the appearance of papules which then degenerate into ulcers.
These injuries cause severe pain but tend to regress over time and then disappear. This does not at all mean that the problem is solved, in fact, having reached this stage, the bacterium spreads systemically, affecting the nervous system.
To learn more about all the characteristics of the disease, I recommend reading this article .
Candida
In this case the infectious agent is neither a virus nor a bacterium, but a yeast, and although it is more closely related to the female gender, candida affects men equally.
The infection by this yeast determines the appearance of vesicles that trigger a strong and persistent itching, pain, burning and in addition release an unpleasant odor .
These local manifestations are also associated with systemic ones such as diarrhea , muscle-joint pain, and a decrease in leukocytes (white blood cells).
Also in this case it is mostly a sexually transmitted infection, but it must be taken into account that candida also occurs following antibiotic therapy, which has the effect of weakening the bacterial flora or an unbalanced diet. .
Lichen planus It
involves the appearance of red-purple dots or bubbles with a shiny appearance that cause severe itching.
It is not a sexually transmitted disease, but an autoimmune manifestation that can be triggered by factors such as drug intake and exposure to viruses such as HBV (hepatitis B virus) and HCV (hepatitis C virus) .
Balanitis and balanoposthitis
Inflammation of the glans penis (balanitis) and foreskin (balanoposthitis) which results in the appearance of blisters and red spots on the shaft of the penis and on the glans, together with severe itching, pain, burning, swelling and pus under the foreskin.
The causes of the disorder are many, in fact it can be triggered by contact with irritants or allergens (contained for example in personal hygiene products or in the fabrics of underwear), or even poor hygiene. In some cases the phenomenon can occur as a consequence of sexual intercourse, but it is good to clarify that it is not a sexually transmitted disease.
Let’s turn the page to learn more about how the diagnosis is made and what are the most effective treatments.
How to diagnose a blister on the penis
What are the most effective treatments
As mentioned, a blister on the penis does not necessarily indicate the presence of a sexually transmitted disease, or a major pathology, however it is good to bring the disorder to the attention of a doctor, and carry out further investigations if the doctor deems them necessary.
In case of blemishes, injuries or alterations of the genitals, you often feel a lot of embarrassment and shame with the consequence that you wait a long time before seeking medical attention, with the risk of worsening your condition.
It is therefore important to reiterate the concept that the presence of blisters and dots on the genitals is a very common condition, that there is no reason to worry and above all that the doctor is not in charge of judging, but that of evaluating the condition and providing a cure.
If you feel uncomfortable talking to your doctor, perhaps because it is shared with the rest of the family, or because you feel excessive embarrassment in the perspective of subsequent visits, you can go directly to a doctor who specializes in dermatology and venereology, or to one of the structures specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) located in the area of ​​residence.
The recommendation is to overcome your fears without wasting time, to expose the problem to a doctor, avoiding unnecessary comparisons based on the images found on the internet and above all to improvise remedies based on your beliefs or advice found on the web.
During the visit, the dermatologist first conducts an accurate interview by asking questions about the symptoms reported by the patient, the modalities of onset and whether itching, pain, burning, secretions , widespread pain, urination disorders, skin lesions and desquamation are associated.
Questions are then asked about sexual activity, the use of condoms and the number of partners; these questions have no judgmental purpose, but serve the doctor to guide the diagnosis, and therefore to prescribe the most adequate therapy.
After the anamnesis, the visit proceeds with the inspection of the genital area and then with the evaluation of the diffusion of the bubbles , their color, and the possible presence of swelling, skin redness, desquamation and lesions.
The doctor may deem it necessary to deepen the investigation by subjecting the patient to a simple blood sample, through which he can verify the presence of an infection (an important index and the increase in leukocyte values), index factors of autoimmune diseases, or immunodeficiency conditions.
Other important investigations are the urinalysis , and the swab on the lesions, essential to determine the bacterial species causing the bubbles on the penis.
The therapies depend on the triggering pathology, therefore they must be indicated only by the doctor after a careful evaluation of the case.
The treatments in case of inflammation can be topical, therefore local, by means of cortisones, or in case of infection by the administration of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals depending on the pathogen responsible.
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