White Spot on Penis

Are you worried about white spot that have appeared on your penis? Could that be sexually transmitted? Could that be cancer? Will it ruin your sexual life? Several questions may arise in your mind when you see white spots on your penis and these can be very embarrassing and troublesome. Well, don’t panic, although there are several conditions that can give rise to white spots on genital, they are rarely sexually transmitted. In most cases these spots could just be a harmless spot, but if you are worried please consult your doctor. In this article we will try to include the conditions that are limited to “white spots on penis that are usually flat and not raised”. Please refer to raised bumps and spots on penis for other condition.

Scar
Scarring is also one of the common causes of white spots on penis. Injuries and infection of the penis usually heals with scarring that is either temporary or permanent depending on the type of injuries or infection. These injuries may leave hypopigmented or hyperpigmented scar on the penis.

Post-inflammatory Hypopigmentation
Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation (PIH) is also common cause of white spots on penis. Any infection or inflammation on penis may result in post inflammatory hypopigmentation.

Vitiligo
Vitiligo which involves oral and genital mucosa is classified as muco-cutaneous vitiligo. Muco-cutaneous vitiligo can be seen in any areas like lips, glans penis, and prepuce, shaft of penis, vagina and anal region. In most cases vitiligo may also be present in any other parts of the body but sometimes it can also be isolated to these genital areas. Mucosal vitiligo is often difficult to treat and is resistance to medications.

Lichen Sclerosus
Lichen sclerosus involving penis is commonly a presentation of uncircumcised men although it can recur in circumcised individuals or after circumcision.The classic presentation of genital lichen sclerosus is atrophic white patches or plague but it may also manifects as scaly patches with telangiectasia and sparse purpura. Itching and pain may also be associated with it. Early genital lichen sclerosus may be confused with vitiligo. If there is clinical confusion biopsy is helpful. Patients with genital Lichen sclerosus may carry risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of penis.

Bier spots
Bier spots are small, irregular, hypopigmented spots that are usually found on the arms and legs of young adults. It can sometime develop on genital areas like penis. They are thought to be caused by vasoconstriction in small vessels which may be due to anatomical and functional damage to the small vessels of the skin. Some papers have associated biers spots with systemic disease such as scleroderma renal crisis, lymphoma and mixed cryoglobulinemia.[1] In most of the cases no treatment is required and the lesion may resolve spontaneously.

Pityriasis versicolor
Pityriasis versicolor is another cause of hypopigmentation on penis. PV is yeast infection and usually involves other parts of the body in addition to genital areas. Topical antifungal medications applied over 4-6 weeks may resolve the condition while it may take over 6 months to 1 year or more for hypopigmentation to return to its normal color.

Condom Leukoderma
Chemical contact leukoderma due to latex condom is probably not common but can happen. Individual may develop depigmentation around the shaft of the penis in a circumferential pattern. Discontinuation of condom use may resolve the problem.

Other condition that may present as white spots on penis are listed below:
Viral warts
Striae
Cicatricial pemphigoid
Lichen planus
Squamous hyperplasia
Extramammary Paget disease
Mycosis fungoides
Contact dermatitis

There may be many other conditions that can present as white spot on penis. It can be notoriuously difficult to diagnose the case just by what you have read or seen online. So it is always wise to visit the dermatologist and confirm the case.