I Have A Bump/Blister/Sore On My Penis, Should I Be Worried?

Genital Herpes

The first and one of the most widespread causes of genital blisters and sores is genital herpes. Genital herpes is a condition brought on by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This infection is a common one, where most people don’t even know they have it; most people with genital herpes show very mild symptoms if any at all. 

Genital herpes is spread through unprotected sex with someone who has the infection. The worst part is that this can happen without any apparent symptoms or outbreaks either. An outbreak of this infection can cause painful pus-filled blisters to show up anywhere in your genital region, including your penis head, shaft, and base.

To accurately diagnose genital herpes, doctors use various physical exams and laboratory tests:

• Viral culture
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
• Blood test 

Like many viral infections, genital herpes does not have any cures, but there are ways to manage it:

• antiviral medication (acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir)
• washing affected areas with warm water and gentle soap
• adopting a healthy lifestyle and diet to work around the infection
• reducing stress as stress can aggravate symptoms

Genital Warts

Genital warts are another kind of viral STI brought about by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the most common STI globally, affecting about 79 million Americans at present. While HPV usually goes away on its own without causing much of a stir, it can lead to more severe conditions like cancer and genital warts.

HPV is typically spread through sexual skin-to-skin contact, both oral and genital. Genital warts appear as small, flesh-colored bumps in the genital region. Diagnosing HPV usually requires two tests to be conducted, if either is inconclusive:

• Pap Test
• HPV Test

Treating your genital warts is not a requirement, especially if you don’t experience discomfort and pain. But if you’re experiencing itching, burning, and pain (all symptoms of genital warts), then you may opt for the following treatment options:

• Imiquimod
• Podophyllin and podofilox
• Trichloroacetic acid
• Sinecatechins

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection spread through sexual contact. It appears as a painless sore on your genitals and contact with which may spread the infection. After first contracting the infection, syphilis may remain dormant in your body for a number of years before resurfacing and causing problems. 

The following tests may detect the presence of syphilis-causing bacteria in your body:

• Blood tests
• Cerebrospinal fluid

If you’re able to detect and diagnose syphilis early on, treatment is easy and straightforward. At all stages of this infection, penicillin is seen as the best treatment. 

Chancroid

Chancroid is another sexually-transmitted bacterial infection that causes open sores to appear on and around your genitals. You should feel relieved that global incidence has declined significantly, especially in the United States. 

Being an STI, you are at risk of contracting this infection if you’re sexually active. This risk increases even more if you travel and visit countries where this infection has been detected, particularly countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Heterosexual males seem to be at greater risk of contracting the virus than anybody else. 

Accurately diagnosing the infection will require a sample of the fluid draining from the sore. These samples are sent to a laboratory for extensive testing and analysis. 

The following are known ways of treating chancroid:

• Antibiotics (azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin)
• Surgery

Scabies

Scabies is one of the more grotesque conditions on this list, enough to make your skin crawl. This condition is caused by the infestation of the skin by the human itch mite; these mites dig into your skin where they eat skin cells and lay eggs. It’s more widespread than you think it is, affecting millions of people each year all over the world. It is technically not a sexually transmitted infection; however, it can be spread through sexual contact nonetheless. You can contract scabies when you come into close physical contact with someone who has the condition.

Symptoms can include itching, pain, and sores appearing anywhere on your body. Scabies can easily be misdiagnosed as eczema or atopic dermatitis, as they produce similar symptoms. A biopsy may be required to examine the infected skin under a microscope.

Treating scabies cannot be done through OTC remedies; you will need a prescription-strength cream to eradicate this infection. You will then need to apply this cream or ointment directly onto the infected area. Your doctor may also prescribe a course of antihistamines and antibiotics to manage the itching and infections resulting from the open sores. 

Granuloma inguinale

Granuloma inguinale is a rare sexually transmitted infection that causes chronic inflammation and scarring of the genitals. Also known as donovanosis, this infection results in blisters and lesions appearing on your genital and rectal areas. Fortunately, it is rare in the United States.

Diagnosing will require fluid from the sore and treatment through antibiotics (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline).

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is an infection caused by a poxvirus. You can get it from close physical contact, sexual contact, and sharing towels with a person who has the virus. They appear as itchy, red bumps that can occur as a cluster of as many as 20 of them. Open or damaged sores may spread the virus through the fluid that comes from them.

Molluscum contagiosum can be diagnosed through a visual examination, but your doctor may also take scrapings from the infected area to be sure. Typically, you will not require drastic medical intervention or treatments, as the condition can get better on its own in 6 to 12 months. However, doctors may also recommend that you get the blisters or bumps removed because they are extremely contagious. 

Lymphogranuloma venereum

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually-transmitted bacterial infection caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. It is a chronic infection of the lymphatic system. This infection can cause painful ulcers or sores to appear on and around your genitals, and some cases will require a course of oral antibiotics to resolve.