User:Mr. Ibrahem/Pearly penile papules

Pearly penile papules (PPPs) are normal small bumps that can occur on the penis. They vary in size from 1 - 4 mm, are white or flesh-colored, smooth and dome-topped, and appear in one or several rows around the ridge of the head of the penis and sometimes on the shaft. In a Black person, they generally appear whitish. They are painless, non-cancerous, and harmless.

They are a type of angiofibroma, whose function is not well-understood. They are sometimes described as remnants of penile spines, a sensitive feature found in the same location in other primates. PPPs secrete oil that moistens the head of the penis. Diagnosis is by visualization. On dermoscopy, they appear in a cobblestone-like pattern, with a central dotted or comma-shaped blood vessels, and without scaling. Examination of a tissue biopsy shows dense connective tissue, fibroblasts, and many blood vessels. They are sometimes mistaken for genital warts, molluscum contagiosum, sebaceous hyperplasia, or lichen nitidus.

Generally, reassurance is given and no treatment is needed. Following counselling, cryotherapy, laser therapy, or shave excision may be options for cosmetic reasons. Some home remedies involving corrosive substances can be damaging. They do not spread and often spontaneously regress.

PPPs are common, occurring in up to half of young males. They are more common in uncircumcised people. They were first described in 1700 and the term "pearly penile papules" was coined in 1964. Some find them distressing to look at, owing to their resemblance to some sexually transmitted infections.