Bumps on glans are not a STI or balanitis, any idea what it could be?

nh_user_1151839 · August 22, 2019, 6:26am

Hi, I am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to what might be happening or if anyone has come across something similar to the problem that I've been having. The skin on the glans of my penis has a bumpy surface as shown below. . erect

. not erect

I do not feel the bumps when I move over them with my finger; it feels smooth. It does not hurt but feels faintly sore after masturbation/sex. . I noticed that if I get erect while my penis is pointing down (like getting erect while sitting on the toilet bowl), the surface will actually appear smooth again. . I am in my mid-20's and I have had this condition for about 1.5 years now. I am sexually active with a long-term partner but I was tested for all STI's and came back clear. I know it is not yeast/thrush/balanitis because I have used various creams and pills. I even had a urologist take a cotton swab of my glans and sent to the lab to check for yeast. It came back negative. I did have a yeast infection before this started. At the time I used a steroid clotrimazole cream. I am thinking it's possible to be eczema or related to dry/damaged skin. . Any ideas/suggestions or links are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

nh_user_1205735 · August 22, 2019, 7:35pm

Glad to hear you are std’s free. I started to notice this after getting genital herpes though. Did you also test for that? (hsv2)
thanks

nh_user_1241593 · August 22, 2019, 10:17pm

I have same problem now I am waiting for results for all viruses because there is no STI all negative also I have enlarged lymph nodes in groin area, do you have it ? When I know what is wrong I will post here.
Regards

nh_user_1138679 · August 23, 2019, 4:52am

So, what you need to know is that the bumps are naturally present on the glans of the penis, only, until they become irritated we do not notice them most of the time.
What you need to look at is everything that is in regular contact with the skin of the glans and foreskin of your penis. The skin of glans in particular is very sensitive and only the skin of the eyelids have similar sensitive skin.
In terms of regular contact you need to consider things like soap, stuff you use regularly in the shower and whether the glans is exposed or covered when you take a shower. Then you need to consider what else the penis skin is exposed to during sex and masturbation: do you use a lube of some kind - or even just baby oil or skin cream for masturbation for example. If you are regularly sexually active it can be a reaction to what is on the inside of a condom if you regularly use them, or if not, again, do you use a particular lube?
The main problematical situation that can eventually develop is that the skin of the glans having been exposed to a number of things for a period of years simply becomes intolerant to anything that is placed on it.
The only thing you can do when the skin has an intolerance like this is to not expose it to anything that is chemical based - this includes soap and shower gel. You should wash the glans and foreskin with water only, then make sure it is completely dry with a clean dry towel that only you use.
I am going to post my main guide for the things you need to put in place, read through it carefully and put in place as much as you can. ONLY by doing these things for 5, 6 months or longer will you start to see a positive change - if you have any further questions simply update your Forum Post here …
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Penile Hygiene Regime to Combat Specific Skin Problems
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The best approach is not to use ANY SOAP on the Glans / Head of your penis - wash with water only EVERY time you have urinated, after sexual arousal, and ejaculation. If you are not circumcised, protect the Glans of your penis every time you take a shower by drawing the foreskin as far forward as you can, then wash everywhere else, thoroughly rinse off all the gels / shampoo and suchlike, then expose your glans wash it with the water only using the inside of your hand, then each time you have washed it you must make sure to 100% pat dry immediately afterwards with a clean towel.
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After you have put this in place and you still have the situation going on you need to look at what else your penis is coming into contact with on a fairly regular basis. The likely suspects are:-

any chemical compounds such as skin cream / lotions, baby oil, oil based lubes, chemicals inside condoms (e.g. easy-on and spermicides) you need to exclude these one by one to discover the culprit, the easiest approach is to exclude everything to start with, then once things are on the mend, introduce each individual item to discover what has caused this in the first place.
if non of these make any difference you need to look to things such as washing powder in which you wash your clothes, and underwear in, in particular. The simple alternative to washing powder is Liquid Soap Flakes, most sizeable supermarkets stock this in their own brand names - and you use this in your washing machine instead of powders or ANY fabric conditioner type additives.