A cyst on the penis is a common, often harmless, growth that can appear in various forms. Understanding their visual characteristics can help individuals distinguish them from other penile bumps. This information serves as a general guide to their appearance, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Understanding Penile Cysts
A cyst is a sac-like structure that forms within the skin or other body tissues, filled with fluid, air, or other material. Most cysts are not cancerous and can develop anywhere on the body, varying in size and growth rate. Unlike abscesses, which are collections of pus from an infection, cysts generally contain fluid or semi-solid substances like keratin or sebum.
Several types of cysts can appear on the penis, each originating from different tissue types or mechanisms. Common penile cysts include sebaceous cysts, epidermoid cysts, median raphe cysts, and inclusion cysts.
Common Visual Characteristics of Penile Cysts
Sebaceous cysts on the penis result from blocked or damaged sebaceous glands, which produce natural skin oils. These cysts appear as small, firm nodules under the skin, often feeling like a small, hard ball. They can be whitish, yellowish, or skin-colored, usually pea-sized or smaller, and may appear singly or in groups, particularly on the scrotum.
Epidermoid cysts form when skin cells become trapped beneath the surface, leading to a sac filled with keratin. These cysts present as small, white, or yellow bumps, sometimes with a tiny blackhead visible at their center. They are movable beneath the skin and can occur on various parts of the penis or scrotum.
Median raphe cysts are rare and present from birth, developing when tissue becomes trapped near the median raphe nerve along the underside of the penis. While harmless and asymptomatic, they can sometimes cause swelling or discomfort. These cysts are located along the midline, from the glans to the base of the penis.
Inclusion cysts are often a complication of trauma or surgery, such as circumcision, where skin cells get embedded beneath the surface. They manifest as movable lumps just under the skin that may slowly grow larger. Hard tissue can sometimes accumulate inside these cysts, potentially causing discomfort.
How Penile Cysts Differ from Other Bumps
Distinguishing penile cysts from other common bumps is important, as many conditions can appear similar but have different characteristics.
Pimples and folliculitis are red, inflamed, and tender, presenting with a whitehead or pus when hair follicles become infected. Ingrown hairs also appear as small, red bumps that can resemble pimples or cysts, sometimes filled with pus, and may have a visible hair trapped at their center.
Genital warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), have an irregular, cauliflower-like appearance and a rough texture, appearing as flesh-colored or whitish-gray growths. Molluscum contagiosum presents as small, firm, dome-shaped papules that are flesh-colored, pearly white, or pink, with a central dimple or umbilication. These lesions are painless and can appear in clusters.
Herpes lesions are characterized by clusters of small, fluid-filled blisters that are painful and can be red, white, or yellow. These blisters eventually break open, forming sores that may crust over as they heal. Fordyce spots are small, harmless, yellowish-white or skin-colored bumps that are enlarged sebaceous glands without hair follicles. They are 1-5 millimeters in diameter and become more apparent when the skin is stretched, found on the shaft or scrotum.
Pearly penile papules are small, benign growths that appear as whitish, yellowish, or pinkish dome-shaped or finger-like bumps. These papules are arranged in one or two rows around the corona (rim) of the glans penis and are a normal anatomical variation, not associated with infection. Unlike cysts, they are uniform in appearance and do not change in size or texture over time.
When to Consult a Healthcare Professional
While most penile cysts are benign, consulting a healthcare professional for any new or changing penile bump is advisable. Medical evaluation is important if a bump exhibits rapid growth or changes in size, shape, or color. Symptoms such as pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, or swelling around the bump also warrant immediate medical attention.
Other concerning signs include discharge or bleeding from the bump, fever, or a general feeling of illness. Any unexplained or persistent lump on the penis should be professionally assessed to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management, ruling out more serious conditions. Self-diagnosis is not sufficient for these concerns.