All men want to make sure they practice proper penile care, so hopefully they regularly examine their penises for signs of irregularities that need to be explored. (Hopefully, those irregularities aren’t there, but a man doesn’t know that unless he checks for them.) But when he spots something that’s different, it can be hard to tell if it’s cause for alarm or not. Take penis strokes, for example. In some cases, they could be a sign of something serious, like a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But in so many cases, they are triggered by something much more benign. That is the case when the lumps on the penis are due to lichen nitidus (LN).
What is lichen nitidus (LN)?
Most people have never heard of LN, which is not unusual. It is a fairly uncommon problem for men or women. As with many things that cause penis lumps, it is a skin condition. It occurs as a result of abnormal inflammatory conditions in the skin cells, although what causes the inflammation is currently unknown.
Normally, when the body detects an infection, it produces white blood cells called T-lymphocytes and sends them into action to conquer the infection. But in the case of LN, the body produces these T cells in response to a false alarm; there is no infection that needs to be fought, but something is going on in the body that it mistakenly believes to be an infection.
With LN, these extra white blood cells cause small skin-colored lumps to appear in an area or areas of the body. Although this article is about lumps on the penis, LN can occur anywhere on the body. These bumps are quite distinctive, as they tend to “glow” a bit. Because they are so small, usually 1 to 2 millimeters, and because they are essentially flesh-colored (a light pink on fair-skinned people, a lighter brown or black on darker-skinned people, etc.), they may not be noticeable for a while. They may itch, but this is less common than with other conditions that cause lumps on the penis.
it’s not serious
As mentioned above, LN is considered a benign condition. It can cause some inconvenience, but by itself it is not dangerous. It is also not infectious and cannot be spread to another person through contact. So a person can be sexually committed to another person without worrying about spreading it.
Still, it’s a good idea to see a doctor for a diagnosis that confirms that LN and not another condition is responsible for the presence of penile lumps. Also, LN sometimes occurs in conjunction with other problems, such as eczema or Crohn’s disease, so being seen for LN can lead to the discovery of another condition that may require treatment.
Treatment
LN usually goes away on its own and does not require treatment. If the condition itches, antihistamines may be prescribed to relieve the urge to scratch. If the condition lasts a long time, your doctor may prescribe other treatments, such as a topical application of vitamin A, the use of corticosteroids, or phototherapy (which is the use of light to treat a condition).
Penile lumps caused by NL can also improve with regular application of a top-notch penile health cream. (Health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven to be gentle and safe on the skin.). It’s a good idea to look for a cream that includes vitamin A, which, as mentioned above, is often prescribed to treat LN. Additionally, vitamin A has antibacterial properties known to help combat persistent penile odor. In addition to this vitamin, the cream should also include vitamin D. Sometimes called the “miracle vitamin,” vitamin D has proven benefits in fighting disease and supporting healthy cell function.