Blackhead on penis can appear as black bump or a pimple on shaft, head or tip of your penis. Such bumps are common occurrence in teens and young men. They can occur anywhere on your body including the face. Read important facts about blackhead on penis in this post and how to treat with natural home remedies.
How do I get blackhead on penis? A blocked pore on penile skin is the possible cause of penile blackhead. This occurs when hair follicles becomes clogged with dead skin cells and sebum. Here’s what you need to know about blackhead on your penis:
- Do NOT scrub or squeeze the blackheads, you will only worsen the condition
- The pimples or bumps are made of oxidized melanin
- Avoid tight cloth or using oil – based skin care products to reduce the occurrence of these bumps on your genitals.
What are Blackheads?
Before discussing blackheads in details, let’s first understand what they are. So, what are blackheads? Blackhead on penile head, shaft or foreskin can be described as small bumps that appear as a result of clogged hair follicles. The bumps or pimples appearing on the skin surface are usually black hence the name blackhead.
Blackheads appearing on penis are typically mild type of acne. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, in US alone, the number of people affected with this condition goes up to 50 million.
As mentioned, on penis, the blackheads will form when a clog develops in the hair follicle. As a result, dead skin cells and sebum will accumulate in the blocked pore forming a pimple like bump.
The risk factors of blackheads on penis:
Below here are the factors that increase the risk of developing blackheads on skin. They include:
- Overproduction of sebum
- Bacterial buildup
- Hormonal imbalances
- Irritation of the hair follicles
- What you eat plays a crucial role in developing blackheads
- Continuous use of certain drugs such as androgens, corticosteroids and lithium
What are the signs and symptoms of blackheads?
Can you get blackheads on penile shaft, head or tip of penis? Blackheads appear as dark lesion on the skin. They appear commonly on face and neck but can also develop anywhere on your body including the penile shaft, head and tip.
Needless to say, blackheads on penis area features of acne but can appear without showing other signs of acne. When appearing on shaft of penis, head, foreskin or tip the signs and symptoms include:
- Small, dark lesion on penile shaft, head and tip of penis
- Unlike pimples, they are flat but with a raised texture
- They are non – inflammatory. It means they are not infected therefore don’t cause any pain or discomfort
- They can psychological problems
Possible causes of blackhead on penile shaft, head and tip of penis
As mentioned earlier in the post, blocked pores is the major cause of blackhead on skin. Other causes include: hormonal imbalances, overproduction of sebum, certain drugs, genetic factors and use of certain skin products. Below is a brief description of each cause.
a) Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances is common during puberty, it is the major possible cause of blackheads or bumps in young males and teenagers. Blackhead is typically a type of acne that is influenced by hormonal imbalances. Changes or fluctuations in hormonal levels affect normal production of sebum.
In teenagers, during puberty, hormone testosterone increases. This results in production of sebum which results in formation of blackhead on penis.
b) Overproduction of sebum
Too much secretion of sebum by the oil glands is the other major cause of acnes. This too much oil can be associated with factors such as genetics and hormonal imbalances. Excess oil can clog the skin pore. When dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells accumulates in the blocked pores, the form a raised bumps on the penile shaft, tip and foreskin of the penis.
c) Certain Medication
Blackheads can be caused by use of certain medications or drugs. The use of certain medication can cause imbalances in hormones or normal production of sebum. If too much oil is produced, it blocks the hair follicles resulting to these dark lesions on skin.
Consult your healthcare provider for alternative treatment or medication if the one you use causes black lesion on penis.
d) Climate
Change in climatic condition could be the reason for blackhead on your body. It is common for those people living in hot and high humid areas to be affected with dark lesions. Sweat and sebum combining with dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria can cause black lesion on any part of the penis.
e) Use of Skin care products and certain cosmetics
If you use low quality skin care products and cosmetics you can easily get blackheads on penis. Men who use poor quality shaving creams are likely to get dark lesion on their penis. Such skin care products can block the pores of the skin or cause inflammation of the hair follicles.
f) Genetic factors
Unfortunately for some people they are born with a natural oily skin. It means that blackheads could be a family thing. If your parents had acne, you are also at risk of suffering from the same condition. The blackheads can appear anywhere on your body including the face, neck and penis.
Blackheads are harmless and usually don’t require treatment at all. In some cases though rarely, the spots or dark lesion may be caused by an underlying medical condition which may require treatment.
Infected blackhead on penis
Blackhead on skin and specifically on penis usually don’t cause any pain. Unlike pimples on penis, they aren’t inflamed. A painful pimple on penis is usually caused when bacteria enter the blocked pores on skin or in the hair follicle. It results into irritation, redness and inflammation.
When a blackhead on penis is infected it will in most cases develop into a pimple or a cystic pimple. Such pimples will be swollen and very painful. It usually leaves a very ugly scare on the shaft and foreskin.
Blackheads on your penis are not a serious health concern. They are considered harmless and will in most of the cases resolve on their own without treatment. But if they persist or fail to clear or go away within a couple of weeks, you can seek proper medical attention.
You may either use home remedies, over the counter antibiotics, creams or oral tablet to help cure infected blackheads. This helps to kill bacteria responsible for the infection.
Is it wise to pop a blackhead on penis?
This is a very important question for those who are experiencing blackheads on their penis. Obviously, the best answer is NO. Do not in any way try to squeeze or pop a blackhead. As pointed earlier, blackheads are harmless and in time they will resolve on their own.
It is recommended by dermatologist, to leave the blackhead or these acne bumps on penis alone. This is known as hands-off approach. It helps to prevent worsening the condition.
Resist the urge to scratch or pop these spots or bumps on penis. If you do so, you increase the risk of bacterial infection. This could be very painful. Should the blackheads persist or fail to clear on their own, talk to your dermatologist. In the post, we will discuss various available options to treat and get rid of blackheads on penis.
Treatment of Blackhead on Penis
Although blackheads are harmless and don’t cause any health concern, you may find them embarrassing and unsightly hence the need to treat. Below are ways you can cure and treat these spots on penis.
a) Over – the –counter medication
If you visit your chemist, you will find various acne medications available over the counter. They are in either found in cream, gel and pad form. Such medications contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and resorcinol. They help to fight off bacteria causing acne bumps on penis. In addition, they help to dry excess oil and force the skin to shed dead skin cells.
b) Prescription Medication
There are instances where over the counter medication may fail to cure blackheads. In such cases, your healthcare provider may recommend stronger prescribed drugs to help cure the black blemishes on your penis.
Drugs or medications that have vitamin A help to promote more growth of skin cells. They also keep plugs from forming in the hair follicle. Such medications are directly applied on the affected skin. They include: tretinoin, tazarotene and adapelene among many others.
In some cases, your dermatologist may also prescribe other topical medication that includes benzoyl peroxide combined with antibiotics.
c) Chemical Peels
This kind of treatment is used commonly to treat blemishes on face. Chemical peel helps to remove clogs, dead skin cells that are the major cause of blackheads. During the process of chemical peel, a strong chemical is used applied to the skin of your penis. Over time, the skin peels off leaving a smoother skin underneath.
Since the penile skin is sensitive, a mild chemical peel is recommended. Only under the supervision and care of a dermatologist should a stronger chemical peel done.
d) Manual Removal
Blackheads on skin and penis can be removed effectively manually. You need an instrument called a round loop extractor to remove the plugs causing blackheads.
e) Laser and Light Therapy
This method uses laser or beams of light to kill bacteria and reduce excess oil production. To cure blackheads on penis, both light and laser beams are focused on the surface of the skin.
How to get rid of blackheads on penis – home remedies
Generally, blackheads are harmless and don’t cause any health concern or risk. They don’t necessarily require medical treatment. However, you may treat using simple but effective natural remedies. Described below are some of the home remedies. They include:
a) Baking soda paste
Baking soda is known to be a natural effective remedy in exfoliating skin.
Here’s how to use:
- Add tablespoon in 100ml of water
- Stir to make a fine paste
- Use cotton to apply the paste on blackheads
- Allow the paste to sit for about 10- 15 minutes
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water
- Repeat this procedure thrice daily for a couple of weeks
2. Lemon Juice
Lemon is another effective natural home remedy in treating skin ailments including blackheads. It contains alpha hydroxyl which is a natural astringent.
Here’s how to use lemon juice:
- Squeeze out lemon juice from fresh lemon. Drain the juice into a cup
- Add 1 teaspoon of raw honey and stir
- Apply the mixture on the affected skin of your penis
- Allow it to dry for about 10 minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water
- Do this 2 – 3 times daily for a couple of weeks
3. Honey
Applying raw honey on the blackheads is another effective way to get rid of these black spots. Raw honey is a natural antibiotic which can help to destroy bacterial infections. Raw honey when applied on skin helps to tighten pores of the skin preventing them from blocking. It also helps to prevent scarring. Here’s how to use this remedy:
- Use cotton swab to apply raw honey on the affected area
- Leave it for about 30 minutes
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water
- Do this twice daily for good results
4. Turmeric paste
Turmeric is another natural pain relief and skin healer. It is known to have strong antioxidant and anti – inflammatory properties.
Here’s how to use this remedy:
- Add 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder in lukewarm water
- Stir gently to make a fine paste
- Apply the paste on the affected area of skin
- Leave it to dry for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water
- Do this repeatedly for a couple of weeks
5. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is capable of healing blackheads on skin naturally and fast. Here’s how to use this remedy:
- Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in a cup of warm water
- Stir gently to dissolve the salt
- Use a clean cotton ball to apply the solution on the affected area
- Do this 2 -3 times daily until the blackheads clear
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
To effectively get rid or cure blackheads on skin and penis, use apple cider vinegar. It is an effective natural home remedy. It has both antibacterial and antiseptic properties effective in curing acne bumps on penis and skin. Here’s how to use ACV:
- Add 1 teaspoon of ACV in a cup of water
- Stir gently
- Use cotton swab to apply the mixture on the affected skin
- Leave it to dry for about 10 minutes
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water
- Do this at least 2 – 3 times a day
Sources and references:
- https://www.healthtap.com/topics/blackheads-near-penis-opening
- https://www.webmd.boots.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/best-way-to-remove-blackheads
- https://www.healthline.com/health/pimple-on-penis – other-pimple like-bumps
- https://www.livestrong.com/article/195311-how-to-remove-clogged-pores-on-the-nose/