Sometimes the pearly penile papules go away by themselves, but sometimes they don’t and in worst case scenario, they come back in higher numbers. Not all treatment options work as well as others, but you do have varying degrees of treatment possibilities. To save your time, the following are a list of treatments to avoid and treatments to try.

What does not work?

Home Remedies- Over the counter products you get at the drug store will not work. The common wart removal products like freezing and the pads will not get rid of the bumps. Also, do not try to pop or scrape off the lesion. This can lead to permanent scarring and infection. You will end up worse off than when you just had the bumps.

Topical and Oral treatment- There are no proven effective treatments using a topical lotion, such as podophyllin, or a pill.

What does work?

Cryotherapy- This treatment involves freezing the lesion with liquid nitrogen. The lesion should peel, blister or scab and then fall off. Though it is performed in a doctor’s office, the results are varied and there is no guarantee it will work as well as you want. But if the other treatments make you squeamish, you can try it.

Electrodessication with curettage- This procedure, using a local anesthetic, is more effective in that it uses a special tool to scrap off the bump. It is commonly used for benign growths and minor cancerous skin lesions. Once the scraping is complete, the area is cauterized to stop the bleeding and seal the wound.

Excisional Surgery- This treatment involves actual surgical removal of the bumps and then sutures to close it up. Non-affected tissue may be removed along with the lesion. A local anesthetic is used. This may be more tedious and is certainly not the easiest method of treatment.

CO2 Laser Ablation- Numbing cream and lidocaine are administered to make the procedure less painful. The carbon dioxide laser is used to vaporize the bump without damaging the skin around it. There will be some pain, swelling and scabbing afterwards and complete recovery may take a couple of weeks.

Just remember, removal is not necessary. However, if you notice that their presence is affecting your self-confidence and intimate encounters are embarrassing, you now know that you have options. No matter what, it is a good idea to see a doctor for an official diagnosis. If you decide to, your doctor can then recommend the best method of treatment for you.

Pearly penile papules are small dome-shaped bumps that sometimes appear around the circumference of the sulcus or corona of the penis. These bumps, or papules, are commonly skin-colored or slightly lighter than the skin.

Pearly penile papules, technically called hirsuties papillaris genitalis, are not sexually transmitted. Their cause is unknown, although they are more common in men in their twenties and thirties, and are also more common in uncircumcised males.

Some men choose to leave this condition untreated, as the papules are generally asymptomatic. However, many men find this condition to be embarassing in intimate situations and suffer detrimental social and emotional effects from leaving the papules untreated.

Treatment for pearly penile papules is typically quite simple and effective through carbon dioxide laser treatment by a qualified dermatologist.

San Diego dermatologist Dr. Groff is experienced in treating pearly penile papules, and will be happy to discuss your concerns with you.

As with all surgery, there are risks. General surgical risks include inflammation and infection, hematoma, scarring issues, swelling, bruising, and numbness.

Once you decide pearly penile papule treatment is right for you, start by making an appointment with one or more of our board-certified dermatologists. While at your consultation, talk to him or her about your specific goals and expectations. By discussing your specific surgical expectations, the physician will be able to exam you and tell you what they think can be realistically achieved. The more you share in consultation with the dermatologist, the more likely you are to be happy with your result.

• Meet personally in consultation with an experience board certified dermatologist

• At the consultation have an examination and discuss your desires and expectations and the specifics of the recommended procedure

• Receive information and materials that help you in the decision making process
• Get a specific written quote detailing all the costs

• After scheduling surgery attend an individual “pre-op” appointment to discuss all surgical aspects and risks