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Area of white skin on shaft of penis
Hello Doctor,
I notice a an area of white skin, which is slightly elevated all around the edges on the shaft of my penis. It is spherical in shape and it is not rough on the surface. It is not itchy nor painful.
I know that without a picture it is quite difficult to get any idea. But do you have any idea what it could be?
I am just worried that it could be genital warts.
Thank you for your reply.
Ashwin
I notice a an area of white skin, which is slightly elevated all around the edges on the shaft of my penis. It is spherical in shape and it is not rough on the surface. It is not itchy nor painful.
I know that without a picture it is quite difficult to get any idea. But do you have any idea what it could be?
I am just worried that it could be genital warts.
Thank you for your reply.
Ashwin
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm glad you saw a dermatologist. He is by far a better source than this forum (or any other online source) for further qeustions about your penile lesion; dermatologists generally are more expert about diagnosing and treating HPV/warts than STD specialists are.
I don't know whether a flat wart is more likely than other types of warts to be caused by a high risk HPV type; I don't think so, but am not certain. The genital HPV types do not commonly infect the hands, face, or other body parts; and nongenital types don't usually involve the genital area. So I see no reason for concern about having warts elsewhere on your body -- but again, your dermatologist can answer better than I can.
Definitely stop trying to diagnose yourself with vinegar or anything else. The acetic acid/vinegar test is very poor, with misleading results in untrained hands. Some dermatologists use it, but we never do it in my STD clinic and no medically untrained person should be testing himself or herself in the manner.
Genital cancer is very rare in men, even those infected with high risk HPV types. It's not a serious worry in this situation. But again, discuss with the dermatologist.
That will be all for this thread. Take care.
I don't know whether a flat wart is more likely than other types of warts to be caused by a high risk HPV type; I don't think so, but am not certain. The genital HPV types do not commonly infect the hands, face, or other body parts; and nongenital types don't usually involve the genital area. So I see no reason for concern about having warts elsewhere on your body -- but again, your dermatologist can answer better than I can.
Definitely stop trying to diagnose yourself with vinegar or anything else. The acetic acid/vinegar test is very poor, with misleading results in untrained hands. Some dermatologists use it, but we never do it in my STD clinic and no medically untrained person should be testing himself or herself in the manner.
Genital cancer is very rare in men, even those infected with high risk HPV types. It's not a serious worry in this situation. But again, discuss with the dermatologist.
That will be all for this thread. Take care.
I did apply some white vinegar on that area of skin which was white after the nitrogen freezing and there did not seem to be any whitening of the skin around the "flat wart" and the 'flat wart' did not seem to become whiter.
Can any conclusions be made from the vinegar test for my flat wart?
Thank you.
Ashwin
Can any conclusions be made from the vinegar test for my flat wart?
Thank you.
Ashwin
Should I be worried about the flat genital warts being high risk and of the same type that cause cancer on the genitals?
Thank you.
Ashwin
Thank you.
Ashwin
Hello Dr. Hansfield,
I went to see a dermatologist as per your advice. He said it could be a wart (then afterwards he said it was most likely a wart when I asked him what could be the other options if it were not a wart) but said that it was flat on the surface.
The dermatologist carried out nitrogen freezing on the "wart".
But I am still a bit confused because he said it could be a flat wart.. But I understand that flat warts occur on the hands and the face. Is it the same type of HPV virus that causes flat warts on the face and the genitals? Is the "flat" genital warts the same type as the cauliflower type of HPV virus?
Do flat warts that commonly occur on the face and hands also occur on the genitals? I also understand that genital warts can be flat.
Will they appear again on my genitals if indeed it was a wart or will they eventually go away?
Thank you.
Ashwin
I went to see a dermatologist as per your advice. He said it could be a wart (then afterwards he said it was most likely a wart when I asked him what could be the other options if it were not a wart) but said that it was flat on the surface.
The dermatologist carried out nitrogen freezing on the "wart".
But I am still a bit confused because he said it could be a flat wart.. But I understand that flat warts occur on the hands and the face. Is it the same type of HPV virus that causes flat warts on the face and the genitals? Is the "flat" genital warts the same type as the cauliflower type of HPV virus?
Do flat warts that commonly occur on the face and hands also occur on the genitals? I also understand that genital warts can be flat.
Will they appear again on my genitals if indeed it was a wart or will they eventually go away?
Thank you.
Ashwin
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry, we can't help much. This doesn't sound like a wart or any other STD -- and we don't get into guesswork about non-STD problems. Any of the hundreds of causes of skin rash and other skin problems sometimes can involve the penis. The way to know what you have is to visit a doctor or clinic for a professional opinion.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
