What is the treatment for my persistent penis acne?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have penis acne and was wondering what treatments I could do to remove it; it's been there for over six months. Regular washing has not made any major changes, but the bumps have gone down a bit. I am not involved in any type of sexual activity; it just looks like face acne, but on the skin of my penis.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and understand your concern.

Your concern is so clear, along with the picture (attachment removed to protect the patient’s identity). I can understand how distressing it can be to notice persistent acne-like bumps on the penis, especially when they have been present for more than six months. Please be reassured that many penile skin conditions are completely benign and unrelated to sexual activity, and your history strongly supports a non sexually transmitted cause. As you are not sexually active and the bumps have remained relatively stable, infections such as sexually transmitted diseases are very unlikely.

Based on what you've described, this sounds like Fordyce spots or acne-like folliculitis.

Overwashing, scrubbing, or using strong soap will actually irritate the area more and slow down healing. Genital skin doesn't handle aggressive acne treatment the way facial skin does, that's why hygiene alone often doesn't fix it.

Please be gentle, and skip anything that irritates the skin. Clean the area once a day with plain water or a very mild cleanser, no scrubbing. Don't try to pop the bumps; as it increases the risk of inflammation or scarring.

Regarding treatment options, I would suggest a few that you can get done from your local dermatology clinic, as they should be done by the expert hands only to avoid any scarring or side effects.

You can go for CO2 laser, electrosurgery, or cryotherapy. In my opinion, the best treatment for your condition is cryotherapy, in which they use liquid nitrogen to freeze the bumps on the shaft, and they will regress over a period of a few weeks in cryotherapy. You may need two to three sessions to completely get rid of it, and it is virtually painless and safest for the gentle area among all the treatment options.

Another option for Fordyce spots is topical retinoids, but I would not recommend using Retinol on the sensitive genital area, as it can cause a lot of irritation.

Most importantly, this condition is harmless and does not affect sexual health, fertility, or hygiene. If the bumps change in appearance, become painful, start discharging pus, or spread rapidly, an in-person dermatology examination would be advised for confirmation.

Otherwise, with gentle care and patience, the skin often settles, and the bumps become less noticeable over time.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.