Proper attention to good penis health requires frequent checking for possible signs or aberrations, including the sudden appearance of penis bumps. Many men find the presence of penis bumps worrisome, fretting that they may indicate the presence of an STI. Often, however, the bumps have less serious causes, one of which could be lichen planus.
What is lichen planus?
Lichen planus is an inflammatory condition that can occur on the skin or in the mouth. When on the skin, as with the penis, it presents typically as small, raised bumps with a flat top; occasionally there are little white “veins” striating the bumps. The coloring tends to be reddish, but purple is not uncommon. In some instances, especially on the glans of the penis, they may have a more whitish hue.
Lichen planus tends to look very scary, especially when it appears on the penis. In most cases, a person will also have an outbreak of lichen planus elsewhere on the body – perhaps the legs or the arms or the torso. This may at least have the effect of calming a man down somewhat: he may assume that if it has appeared beyond the penis, it lessens the chance that this is an STI.
But if it’s not an STI, how did he get it?
Causes
That’s a good question – and one for which there is not an equally good answer. It’s not something a person catches from someone else – which is also good news, as it means he doesn’t have to worry about passing it on. Instead, it’s the result of an autoimmune disorder, meaning that for some reason the body starts attacking its own skin cells. This is what causes the penis bumps to appear.
It’s thought that certain chemicals or ingredients may cause this, but it’s not clear which ones. And there does seem to be an association with lichen planus and some diseases, such as hepatitis C.
Is it dangerous?
Lichen planus is a benign disorder, one that doesn’t cause any real damage. It does tend to be very itchy and can cause the skin to dry out; in some instances the bumps may become blisters, especially if they are scratched frequently.
If a man is especially sensitive about the appearance of his manhood, the penis bumps caused by lichen planus may cause him distress or anxiety. In some individuals, this can be significant. Also, they may disrupt a man’s sex life. If the bumps are tender, friction from sex may cause some pain and may discourage a man from engaging in sex.
Treatment
Lichen planus usually goes away on its own, although in some cases that may take several months. A doctor may recommend a variety of treatments, including antihistamines, cortisone, or a form of light therapy.
Because the penis bumps associated with lichen planus may bring about a dry skin condition, doctors also recommend that moisturizers be used to relieve dryness. With that in mind, it may be especially fruitful to use a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) which can not only moisturize the penis but attend to general overall penis health issues as well. It is crucial to select a crème that has a combination of moisturizing ingredients, ideally a high-end emollient (such as Shea butter) and an excellent natural hydrator (such as vitamin E). Together, these create a “moisture lock” that can help seal in moisture and revitalizing oils that keep the skin supple. In addition, the crème should include a potent antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid. The antioxidant will help battle free radicals, which if left unchallenged will promote oxidative stress, which in turn weakens and ages the penis skin.
