Black spots on penis
Black spots on penis
Penile melanosis is usually a harmless or benign illness. The penis is characterized by tiny patches of black skin. Hyperpigmentation is a color shift that happens when melanin or brown pigment builds deposits in the skin's surface layer. Penile lentiginosis is another name for penile melanosis. On the head or shaft of the penis, darker skin patches or lesions can occur. Normally, the condition is innocuous and does not necessitate treatment. It is also not contagious.
Symptoms of penile melanosis
There are no health symptoms linked with penile melanosis other than the black spots also known as macules. The most common symptoms are macules, which are:
- Brown or black is most common.
- Length of less than a centimeter
They're most common between both the ages of 15 and 72, but they can show up at any age.
It's not painful, and it's unlikely to bleed or change with time. This disease might manifest itself as a single dark spot or a cluster of dark spots. It's impossible to say how many macules a man will have, if any at all. Penile melanosis is sometimes linked to lichen sclerosus, which is a skin disorder. It's characterized by thinner penile skin and the appearance of pale patches on the penis head or foreskin. Treatment for lichen sclerosus, which is thought to be caused by a hormonal imbalance or an aberrant immunological response, can sometimes be as simple as applying topical medicines. However, topical steroids and other treatments have little effect on the pigment changes caused by penile melanosis. Uncircumcised males often have lichen sclerosus on their foreskin. It is occasionally necessary to remove the foreskin in order to treat it.
Causes
Doctors are baffled as to why some men acquire penile melanoma. It's basically an accumulation of pigment cells in the skin, which also can happen in other places.However, the following are some possible risk factors which may raise a person's chances of having penile melanosis
- Penile melanosis can afflict people of any age, however it is most common in men between the ages of 15 and 72.
- Genetics: Penile melanosis may have a hereditary component.
- Injury to the penis: Previous trauma to the penis could play a role, as scar tissue production can lead to hyperpigmentation.
- Certain skin treatments, such as anthralin or PUVA therapy, can increase the risk of developing penile melanosis.
Risk factors
It's unknown why some guys get penile melanosis while others don't. The macules are merely clumps of concentrated melanin or even other pigmentary deposits in the skin, such as hemosiderin and lipofuscin. According to one study, a man's race and biological characteristics may influence his likelihood of having the disease. Injury to the penis, psoriasis medicine anthralin, or psoralen and ultraviolet light (PUVA) therapy, that is used to treat psoriasis, eczema, and other skin problems, are all probable causes. Penile melanosis is not a sexually transmitted infection; in fact, it is not an infection at all.
Treatment
Penile melanosis usually does not require or recommend therapy. Simply having confirmation from their doctor regarding the condition's harmless nature is useful for some men and adolescent boys. It's crucial to understand that the illness is innocuous and not contagious, for example. If the look of macules on your penis bothers you, you might be a good candidate for surgical excision of the lesions. The process entails removing the pigment-containing skin layer, performing a skin graft, and rejuvenating the skin to restore its appearance and thickness.
It's also possible to use laser therapy to get rid of them. A Q-switched ruby laser, which employs a synthetic ruby and emits intense, brief laser pulses, is used in this experiment. It's a common treatment for dermatological problems including pigmentation. To completely eliminate lesions, several treatments may be required. These operations can leave minor scars, but they are normally painless and have no effect on the penis' health or function. It is impossible to prevent penile melanosis. It's a condition that can't be predicted. However, your doctor should keep a photographic record of the macules over time to check for any modifications in shape or size. Such changes could indicate melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, even if it's uncommon.
Take Away
Penile melanosis is a rather innocuous disorder. It is caused by a pigment deposit in the skin, which results in little black lesions on the penis. The ailment does not require medical attention because this is the only symptom. However, some people choose to have the lesions removed or lightened to make them less noticeable. Anyone who undergoes treatment to eliminate the lesions must not see any changes in their penile function or sexual health. Discoloration of the penis can be caused by a variety of factors, therefore anyone who observes any lesions or other abnormalities should get medical advice from a doctor or dermatologist.
