Pearly penile papules

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Not to be confused with Fordyce spots.
Pearly penile papules
Other namesHirsuties coronae glandis, hirsutoid papillomas[1]
Hirsuties papillaris coronae glandis enlarged.jpg
Glans penis with pearly penile papules
SpecialtyDermatology
SymptomsNormal painless small bumps on ridge of glans of the human penis[2]
Usual onsetAge 20-30 years[3]
Diagnostic methodVisualisation[3]
Differential diagnosisGenital warts, molluscum contagiosum, sebaceous hyperplasia, lichen nitidus[2]
TreatmentReassurance and generally no treatment necessary[3] cryotherapy, laser therapy,[2] shave excision[3]
PrognosisNot harmful[3]
FrequencyCommon[1]

Pearly penile papules (PPPs) are normal small bumps on the human penis.[2][3] They vary in size from 1 - 4 mm, are pearly or flesh-colored, smooth and dome-topped or filiform, and appear in one or several rows around the corona, the ridge of the head of the penis and sometimes on the penile shaft.[2][4] They are painless, non-cancerous and not harmful.[2]

PPPs are a type of angiofibroma.[3] Their function is not well-understood.[1] They are sometimes described as vestigial remnants of penile spines, sensitive features found in the same location in other primates.[5] PPPs secrete oil that moistens the glans of the penis.[6] They do not spread and often spontaneously regress.[7]

Diagnosis is by visualisation.[3] On dermoscopy, the white-pink papules appear in a cobblestone-like pattern and contain a central dotted or comma-shaped blood vessels. Cryotherapy or laser therapy are options for removal of PPP's.[1][2]

PPPs are common and occur in 14% to 48% of young males.[1][2] They are more common in uncircumcised males.[2] PPPs were first described in 1700 and the term pearly penile papules was coined in 1964.[1]

Some men find PPPs distressing to look at, owing to their resemblance to some sexually transmitted infections.[1][8]

Symptoms and signs[]

PPPs are small bumps on the human penis.[2] They vary in size from 1 - 4 mm, are pearly or flesh-colored, smooth and dome-topped or filiform, and appear in one or several rows around the corona, the ridge of the glans and sometimes on the penile shaft.[2][4] They are painless, non-cancerous and not harmful.[2]

Cause and mechanism[]

Pearly Penile Papules on African male

PPPs are a type of angiofibroma.[3] Their function is not well-understood.[1] They are sometimes described as vestigial remnants of penile spines, sensitive features found in the same location in other primates.[5] PPPs secrete oil that moistens the glans of the penis.[6] They do not spread and often spontaneously regress.[7] Along with Fordyce glands PPPs secrete oils to keep the skin of the head of penis in good condition.[6] Smegma can accumulate if these oils are produced in excess or there is inadequate washing under the foreskin.[6]

Diagnosis[]

Diagnosis is by visualisation.[3] On dermoscopy, the white-pink papules appear in a cobblestone-like pattern and contain a central dotted or comma-shaped blood vessels. There is no scale.[1] PPPs are sometimes mistaken for genital warts due to a perceived similarity in appearance.[9] They can also appear similar to molluscum contagiosum, sebaceous hyperplasia and lichen nitidus.[2] Histopathology shows dense connective tissue, fibroblasts and many blood vessels.[4]

Treatment[]

Before and after treatment to remove pearly penile papules

Generally, reassurance is given and no treatment is needed.[3][10] Laser or cryotherapy may be considered for men who find PPPs distressing to look at or feel excessive embarrassment.[1]

Carbon dioxide laser generally has good outcomes with skin healing within 7 days.[1] The procedure requires anaesthesia, may need to be performed more than once, and has a risk of bleeding, scarring and colour changes.[1] Another procedure involves a hyfrecator.[11]

Epidemiology[]

PPPs are common and occur in around up to 48% of young males.[1][2] They are more common in uncircumcised males.[2]

History[]

PPPs were first described in 1700 and the term pearly penile papules was coined in 1964.[1]

Social and cultural[]

Although it is not related to any disease, PPPs are occasionally mistaken for HPV warts.[12] There are also home remedies for "curing" it, despite the fact that the papules are neither infectious nor detrimental to one's health and may have beneficial functions.[6][8] Some of the "home remedies" found on the Internet and elsewhere use mild ointments or creams to soften the papules, but others are physically dangerous techniques for papule removal which can result in permanent genital mutilation.[13]

Rapini et al. advise that, since dermatologists have safe, effective ways to remove the papules if desired, home remedies involving corrosive substances or self-surgery should be avoided, since they can permanently damage sexual functioning. Rapini et al. further state that removal should only be performed by a physician using proven medical techniques.[13][14]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Aldahan, Adam S.; Brah, Tara K.; Nouri, Keyvan (May 2018). "Diagnosis and Management of Pearly Penile Papules". American Journal of Men's Health. 12 (3): 624–627. doi:10.1177/1557988316654138. ISSN 1557-9883. PMC 5987947. PMID 27316776.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Love, Lauren W.; Badri, Talel; Ramsey, Michael L. (2021). "Pearly Penile Papule". StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. PMID 28723057.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k James, William D.; Elston, Dirk; Treat, James R.; Rosenbach, Misha A.; Neuhaus, Isaac (2020). "28. Dermal and subcutaneous tumors". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (13th ed.). Elsevier. p. 616. ISBN 978-0-323-54753-6.
  4. ^ a b c Johnstone, Ronald B. (2017). "34. Fibrous tumors and tumor-like proliferations". Weedon's Skin Pathology Essentials (2nd ed.). Elsevier. p. 614. ISBN 978-0-7020-6830-0.
  5. ^ a b Kumar P, Das A, Savant SS (2015). "Multiple Shiny Papules on the Shaft of the Penis". Indian Journal of Dermatology. 60 (3): 325. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.156491. PMC 4458986. PMID 26120199.
  6. ^ a b c d e French, Kathy (2009). Sexual Health. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-1-4051-6831-1.
  7. ^ a b Brown, Clarence W (8 July 2020). "Pearly Penile Papules: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology". Medscape. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b Pattman R, Snow M, Handy P, Elawad B. Oxford handbook of genitourinary medicine, HIV, and AIDS. Vol. 13.
  9. ^ Li H (28 August 2015). Radiology of Infectious Diseases. Springer. p. 405. ISBN 9789401798822.
  10. ^ Paller, Amy S.; Mancini, Anthony J. (2020). "9. Cutaneous tumors and tumor syndromes". Clinical Pediatric Dermatology: A Textbook of Skin Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence (6th ed.). St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. p. 251. ISBN 978-0-323-54988-2.
  11. ^ Marwah, Deepak (2019). Final Edge: Image-based Questions (3rd ed.). New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. p. 358. ISBN 978-93-5270-431-6.
  12. ^ Pye, Laura (2009), "Human papillomaviruse and vaccination", InnovAiT, Royal College of General Practitioners
  13. ^ a b Rapini RP, Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
  14. ^ Sonnex C, Dockerty WG (November 1999). "Pearly penile papules: a common cause of concern". International Journal of STD & AIDS. 10 (11): 726–7. doi:10.1258/0956462991913402. PMID 10563558. S2CID 25452350.

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