Genital warts usually disappear on their own in time but you can pass them on to others,via sexual contact so, guys, be responsible and use a condom to prevent transmission. They look like small fleshy lumps, sometimes with a cauliflower-shaped surface, and appear on their own or in crops. No worries this swelling caused by a temporary blockage of lymph channels that drain away clear lymph fluid (important in immunity) usually goes away in no time at all and won't cause any permanent problems.Ĭhlamydia, warts and gonorrhoea are the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and, of these, genital warts are the most common in the UK. They may appear more alarming, but, again, fret not - up to 95% of adult men have them and they don't generally require any treatment.Ī lymphocele - a hard lump that appears after sex or masturbating - can seem even more worrying, not least because it's usually self-inflicted.
However, be sure to wash your hands after touching them as they could be passed on to other parts of the body or to other people.įordyce Spots are sebaceous glands - they make a thick moisturiser-like substance for the skin but without hairs coming out of them as on other parts of the body - and manifest as small yellowish or white spots on the head or shaft of the penis. Most prevalent in young boys, these are caused by a relative of the wart virus and your body will get rid of them on its own.
Occasionally, similar-looking papules may have a belly button-like dimple in the top and be scattered across the penis - these are more likely to be molluscum contagiosum instead. "Men often worry about spots, pimples, rashes, lumps or bumps, but remember, spots and pimples can be a normal part of a person's anatomy," says Karin O'Sullivan, clinical lead at the sexual health charity fpa.Īmong the most common are the wonderfully alliterative pearly penile papules, small flesh-coloured lumps that tend to circle the head of the penis in one or two rows - these are just a normal part of your penis and can't be caught or passed on. The good news is the majority of lumps that appear on the penis are both normal and harmless.