Black spots on penis or scrotum are usually not a cause for concern. The dark spots are caused by a condition known as angiokeratoma of Fordyce. The spots on penis can be itchy or not itchy.
Depending on what is causing them, they can appear as little spots on head or tip of penis or on scrotum. Find more in the article as we explore on this topic.
Black spots on penis head
Why do you have dark spots on your penis or the penile shaft? As mentioned in the beginning of the post, the black spots on your penis are common in male and shouldn’t be any reason to worry. Identifying the causes is important. It could be STDs such as genital warts or syphilis.
The spots can be benign or not. That’s why we will attempt to discuss each causes and how to effectively get rid and remove the spots.
There are a number of possible reasons for black spots on penis head. Here is a just a little of causes. They include:
- Genital lentigines
- Moles on penis
- Post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation
- Pigmented warts
- Angiokeratomas of Fordyce
- Primary penile melanoma
Most spots you find on the penis head are completely harmless. But should you find them bothersome, seek medical help.
Black Spots on Penis Symptoms
The signs and symptoms are to help identify the cause. In addition, it helps to find the best way to remove and treat the spots. Other than the dark spots, there are other symptoms. They Include:
- The spots may be flattened with regular edges
- Itchy or not itchy
- Pain or any kind of discomfort
- Little on tip of penis
The above are some of the details to look out for whenever you notice dark spots on penis. The symptoms will be able to determine the possible cause of these black spots.
Black spots on my penis, scrotum – causes
Having dark spots on penis could mean a number of conditions. The causes include:
1. Fordyce Spots
Fordyce spots are tiny whitish – yellow bumps that can appear on the edges, tip and head of penis. They can also appear on other body parts including the lips. Also called Fordyce granules or Fordyce glands, the can appear on shaft and scrotum.
These spots are common in male and are not sexually transmitted and therefore harmless. These spots aren’t painful, itchy or infectious. They might not bleed during intercourse. The exact cause of this condition is not known. But they are present are present at birth.
2.Pearly Penile Papules
Dark spots on your penis could be pearly penile papules. These papules are considered a normal occurrence. They are not infectious; meaning cannot be spread through sexual intercourse. Uncircumcised men are likely to get affected.
PPP are considered harmless. They are not contagious. You cannot get through contact with a person who has them. They are not the same as genital warts.
Since the PPP are not a cause of concern, healthcare providers would prefer to leave them alone.
3. Pigmented Warts
Warts on penis and scrotum can at times appear pigmented. Genital warts on scrotum can be mistaken for other genital diseases. Genital wart is highly contagious and can be transmitted through sexual intercourse.
Genital warts are pink, brown or black. Depending on your skin, the color can vary. They are caused by HPV found to thrive in warm, moist part of the body such as inner thigh, groin and scrotum.
4. Post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation
Dark spots on penis could be as a result of Post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. This is a kind of pigmentation that occurs after an injury such as heat or skin disorder such as infection or dermatitis. It is more common in male of darker skin types.
5. Herpes
If your penis as black spots, this could be a sign of herpes.it is viral infection that causes tiny blisters that might appear as spots. It is contagious: you can get it through sexual contact. Initial symptoms include discoloration on the penis.
Spots on penis caused by herpes can be painful and usually take several weeks to last. Treatment includes taking anti- viral agents for a couple of days.
6. STD such as Syphilis
Black spots on penis could be a sign of sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis. The symptoms will include dull red or black or brown lumps on scrotum or penis. If you suspect the dark spots or lumps are a sign of syphilis, visit your healthcare provider for examination.
7. Hair Follicles
Dark spots on the penis or scrotum could be hair follicles. At base of the penis, the hair grows out as prominent dark spots. This is nothing to cause any alarm. In fact no treatment is needed.
8. Pimples or Septic Spots
The dark spots on scrotum could be septic spots or pimples. In some cases, pimples would appear anywhere including the scrotum. This is a not a cause for alarm as they are not harmful and no treatment is needed.
Do no squeeze these spots, you could risk infection.
9. Molluscum contagiosum
The tiny spots or dome –shaped lumps on the skin and sometimes on the scrotum could be a sign of molluscum contagiosum.
10. HIV
This might scare you but the truth is, the black spots on scrotum could be a simple of HIV. People who suffer from HIV can also show black spots in the penile shaft. This appears in the form of sarcoma. The darks spots can also be noticed around the foreskin. It is important to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Little spots on penis
If you having little or small spots on your penis, it could mean anything. Although black spots on scrotum are not usually a cause for concern, they could be unsightly. Little black dots on penis could be angiokeratoma of Fordyce. These spots mainly consist of blood vessels that have enlarged and become noticeable on the surface of the skin.
These spots may have a bumpy feel and rough when touched. You will notice dark purple or sometimes red rather than deep black. The spots can also be seen on the shaft and on inner thigh.
Darks spots on penis – itchy
If the black spots on your penis are also accompanied with itching sensation, then there could be a fungi infection in the penis. Candida is the most likely cause of itching on the skin. You get candida through sexual intercourse with someone who has it. Anti-fungal treatment is there to help you get rid of candida.
Itching could also mean you’re suffering from a serious health condition like HPV. The symptoms of human papilloma virus can be seen through appearance of dark – colored genital warts.
Black spots on tip of penis
If you notice black spots on tip of your penis, this shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. The spots can vary in size. Some may appear as bumpy and rough while others may take a round shape and small in size. As mentioned earlier, the spots could be anything but don’t necessarily indicate a health risk.
It could be angiokeratoma of Fordyce, genital warts, herpes or STDs. If the spots bother you so much, visit your healthcare provider. Some tests will be carried out to determine the underlying cause to find the effective treatment.
Treatment for black spots on penis
In the post, we‘ve indicated that the dark spots on your penis could be harmless. That is true unless you have a serious penile disorder. But you may want these spots removed owing to their appearance.
Here’s how to treat and remove dark spots on penis.
1. Laser removal
Laser techniques may be used to get rid of the dark spots.
2. Cryotherapy
This removal method is done to freeze the tissues around the black spots.
3. Electrodessication and curettage (ED&C)
This is another recommended method where your doctor uses a local anesthetic to numb the area with dark spots. Thereafter, tools are used to scrape off the darks spots and remove the tissues.
How to get rid of black spots on penis – Home remedies
Other than the treatment discussed above, there are home remedies you can try to effectively get rid of darks spots on penis. They include:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is an effective home remedy that can get rid of darks spots on skin.
How to use ACV
- Wash the affected area of the skin with warm water
- Dip cotton ball in ACV then apply on the skin with dark spots
- Leave it for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off
- Do this a couple of days until healing begins
2. Castor Oil
If the spots on penis are accompanied with itching and burning sensation, you may apply castor oil to relieve these symptoms. Here’s how to:
- Dip a clean cotton ball into the oil
- Apply the oil on the dark spots
- Leave the oil on the affected skin for some minutes before rinsing it off
3. Witch Hazel
This is also an effective home remedy to get rid of black spots on penis. Apply the herbs on the affected skin on penis, scrotum or shaft.
Alternatively you can apply the witch hazel in solution form.
what to do at home:
- Dip a cotton ball in a solution of witch hazel
- apply it on the affected skin with dark spots
- alllow it to sit on for a few minutes
- rinse it off with warm water
- do this thrice per day for a week until healing begins
Sources and references:
https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/black-spots-on-scrotum – causes
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/sexual-health/a12010/spots-on-the-penis/
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1058826-overview – a4
https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/postinflammatory-hyperpigmentation/
