What is the cause of the lump in the glans?

Many men, due to not paying attention to daily hygiene, environmental hygiene or dietary stimulation, find small bumps in their glans. At first, there is nothing wrong, but in the end, the bumps become red and swollen. At this time, they will worry about what disease they have. In fact, there is a high possibility that they have balanitis, but different types of treatments are required. So, let me tell you what type of disease this phenomenon may be.

1. Pearly Penile Papules

The clinical manifestations are: the rash is the size of a millet grain, similar in color to the surrounding skin, and is neither painful nor itchy. Although it has no effect on urination or sexual life, it causes great psychological pressure.

This disease is neither a tumor nor a sexually transmitted disease. Medical experts have confirmed through pathological sections that its structure is normal connective tissue hyperplasia. In medicine, it is named pearly penile papulosis.

The cause of pearly penile papulosis is not yet clear, and the diagnosis mainly depends on the location and shape of the rash. There is no specific treatment for this disease, and it does not require treatment. The most important thing for people with this disease is to understand the disease and get rid of fear and worry. This disease has no effect on health and the physiological function of the penis.

2. White spots

Clinical manifestations: white spots of different shapes may appear on the glans penis, some are completely white, some are whiter, painless and itchy, with a smooth surface and no other rashes, and the surrounding pigment is often darker than normal skin color. There is no specific treatment for this disease, but it can often heal itself without treatment.

Since white spots on the glans penis are related to chronic irritation from smegma, and white spots may deteriorate, those with phimosis or prepuce that is too long and have white spots on the glans penis should undergo circumcision as soon as possible.

3. Proliferative erythema

Clinical manifestations: single or multiple erythema on the glans penis, which may be round, annular or irregular, with clear borders, slightly high and hard, and shiny surface. Sometimes there may be erosion, crusting or papillary hyperplasia. The disease may remain unchanged for many years, or it may become cancerous.

The cause of erythema proliferatum is unknown, but it mainly occurs in people with prepuce that is too long, so it is believed to be related to the prepuce being too long and the smegma irritation. The author has performed circumcision on several patients with this disease, and the erythema disappeared naturally in several of them. Therefore, patients with this disease should have their prepuce removed routinely. There is no definite opinion on the treatment of erythema proliferatum. Some scholars advocate forcise the prepuce and close observation; some doctors advocate freezing or irradiating the lesion with X-rays.

In addition, this disease is also called erythematous hyperplasia or erythematous hypertrophy. Patients who find erythema on the glans penis should not avoid seeing a doctor, but should see a urologist in the hospital as soon as possible and undergo circumcision.

4. Skin horn

Clinical manifestations: horn-like protrusions as thick as matchsticks or chopsticks grow on the glans penis, which are brown or brown-gray in color and hard in texture. It is believed that it is a polyp formed by the proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes on the basis of glans inflammation. Cutaneous horns are considered to be a precancerous lesion.

The characteristics of the horn are prominent and it is not difficult to diagnose. The treatment method is local excision. It should be pointed out that patients with glans horns should seek medical treatment as soon as possible, and never be embarrassed or try to remove them by themselves, so as not to aggravate the condition or delay diagnosis and treatment, leading to serious consequences.

5. Vascular edema

Like urticaria, it is an acute allergic reaction of the glans penis to food, medicine or insect bites. This disease can occur only on the glans penis, or it can occur at the same time as urticaria. Children are prone to glans edema, which is manifested by the foreskin at the glans penis being highly swollen and shiny, like a large blister. However, it does not affect urination. This disease often occurs at night, with no obvious itching and no general discomfort, and can disappear on its own after a few days.

The diagnosis and treatment of glans foreskin vascular edema is simple and easy. The local area should be kept clean and dry. If necessary, 1:1000 gentamicin can be used to gently wipe the affected area. Patients with systemic urticaria can be treated with oral pheniramine and diphenhydramine, but the medication must be used under the guidance of a doctor.

6. Fixed drug rash

It often occurs suddenly within a day or even within minutes of taking sulfonamides, barbiturates, or antipyretics.

Clinical manifestations: a round or oval plaque of varying sizes appears on the glans penis, with purple-red swelling in the center and red surroundings, and local itching or burning sensation. In severe cases, the center quickly develops into a blister, which ruptures to form a wet, ulcerated surface that takes more than ten days to heal, and often leaves pigmentation that takes several months to a year to gradually subside. After that, every time the patient takes the allergenic drug, the rash on the affected area will recur, and the area will become larger and larger.

The diagnosis of this disease is not difficult. It is easy to confirm the diagnosis if there is a history of medication and the above symptoms, especially if there is a history of recurrence. It is also easy to distinguish between fixed drug eruption and vascular edema of the glans penis. If there is a history of medication and the symptoms are more severe, it is usually fixed drug eruption.

Prevention of fixed drug rash is more important than treatment. Patients should remember the drugs they are allergic to, tell their doctors when they see them, and never use those drugs again. If the disease occurs, the allergenic drugs should be stopped immediately. For mild cases, antibiotic ointment can be applied externally and diphenhydramine can be taken internally. For severe cases, patients should seek medical attention as soon as possible and ask the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

7. Condyloma acuminatum

It usually occurs 3 weeks to 8 months after sexual contact. The lesions are located on the glans penis, coronal sulcus, frenulum of prepuce, urethral opening, etc. They are soft nipple-like fleshy bumps that are grayish white, light yellow or pink in color and bleed easily when touched. They can be single or densely clustered, a bit like cauliflower. Treatment requires cryotherapy or laser therapy.

Here, the editor needs to remind everyone that the male glans is a genital organ that is very susceptible to bacterial diseases. The skin of the penis is thin and tender. Do not use drugs that are too irritating when treating it. Generally, it is necessary to use drugs under the guidance of a doctor for better results. If there are ringworms in other parts of the body, they should be treated at the same time to avoid recurrence. Local cleaning and hygiene work needs to be done in daily life.