Penile papules are benign growths that develop around the corona of the glans on the penis. They are very common in the general population and a similar condition can develop in women, where the papules show up on the vulva. Also known as pearly penile papules, the growths are rounded and flesh-colored to whitish. Treatment is usually not required, although some patients may pursue treatment because they feel embarrassed about the papules.
Some people mistake penile papules for genital warts or think that the growths are a type of sexually transmitted infection. This is not the case; they can arise in people who are not sexually active and they are not linked to sexual activities. They appear in men of all races and ages and appear to be slightly more common in men who have not been circumcised. Penile papules should not cause pain or discomfort, although the neat rows of small growths may look unpleasant.
A dermatologist can confirm a diagnosis, although many general practitioners are capable of examining and diagnosing this condition as well. The treatment recommendation is usually to leave the growths alone. If a patient wants to treat them, a dermatologist can remove the penile papules in an outpatient procedure with a laser or other technology. The patient will experience some soreness and tenderness following the procedure, but should make a complete recovery within a few days.
Patients who opt to leave their penile papules as they are may want to alert their sexual partners, as misconceptions about benign skin conditions around the genitals can result in confusion. They should let their partners know that the growths are not dangerous, cannot be passed to other people, and are not the result of infection with a sexually transmitted disease. Women with papules on the vulva may want to make similar assurances to their partners.
Occasionally, penile papules are misdiagnosed as genital warts, usually by a doctor with limited experience. Testing can be used to confirm or eliminate a diagnosis of warts if there are questions about the diagnosis. Generally, these growths are very easy to recognize, as they have a distinctive physical appearance separate from that of genital warts, tending to be smaller and more neatly organized. Rather than being clustered and scaly, they are arranged in rows and tend to be formed in discrete bumps, and they are only found in one location on the penis, rather than being distributed across the genitals.