Lump on Penis: 11 Potential Causes

Lump on penis? Don’t panic.

Lumps and bumps on your penis can have a number of causes, like harmless pimples, cysts, moles, and papules. Most lumps aren’t a cause for concern, but you should see a healthcare provider to rule out other medical conditions just to be safe.

Keep reading to find out what a lump on the penis could mean, explore treatment options, and learn what you can do to reduce your risk of future lumps, bumps, and blemishes.

Common causes of lumps on the penis include pimples, cysts, papules, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Other causes, like penile cancer, are more serious.

A hard lump on penis shaft could be from:

• Cysts

• Pimples

• Moles

• Sexually transmitted infections

• Pearly penile papules

• Angiokeratomas

• Lichen planus

• Fordyce spots

• Lymphocele

• Peyronie’s disease

• Penile cancer

Keep reading to explore these 11 possible causes of penis lumps and bumps.

1. Cysts

Cysts are fluid-filled masses that can appear anywhere on the body, including the shaft of the penis and the scrotum. They’re usually skin-colored, painless, and rarely change size or shape.

Popping a cyst is discouraged, as it could lead to an infection and require a round of antibiotics.

Sebaceous cysts crop up when oil-producing sebaceous glands are blocked or damaged. This type of cyst can also form within hair follicles (what’s known as ingrown hairs).

Another type is an epidermoid cyst, which forms when skin cells get trapped under the skin. Epidermoid cysts can appear after a penile injury or surgery and cause pain during sex.

Cyst Treatment for Hard Lump on Penis

In many cases, a cyst will go away without intervention.

But some cysts, especially those caused by blocked glands, might need minor surgery if they don’t resolve on their own.

2. Pimples

Acne lesions, pimples, zits — these unwelcome visitors appear when pores become blocked with oil or bacteria. This can happen due to poor hygiene, excessive sweating, or shaving.

Pimples can form on various parts of the body, including the penis and scrotum. Depending on what’s clogging the pores, they may appear as whiteheads, blackheads, or have no head.

A chronic and rare condition called acne inversa (or hidradenitis suppurativa) leads to pimples deeper within the penile or scrotal skin.

Treatment for Bumpy Penis Pimples

You know you’re not supposed to touch pimples on your face — dirt and oils from your hands tend to make things worse, and you may end up causing a breakout.

The same goes for pimples on your penis. Leave them alone, and they’ll clear up on their own.

3. Moles

Like cysts and pimples, moles can turn up anywhere on the body, including the penis. These dark spots arise when pigment-producing cells called melanocytes cluster together. Melanocytes produce melanin, a pigment that contributes to skin, hair, and eye color.

Most moles are harmless, but if they change shape, grow larger, or appear as a rough lump on the penis shaft or scrotum, it might be time to visit a dermatologist to rule out skin cancer.

To put your mind at ease, penile melanoma accounts for just 0.7 percent of penile cancers and 0.2 percent of melanoma cases.

Mole Treatment for Lump on Shaft of Penis

Moles usually don’t need to be treated. But if you’re concerned about them, ask a dermatologist about shaving them off or cutting them out of your skin.

Mole removal is an in-office treatment, though. Never try to remove one on your own.

4. Sexually Transmitted Infections

When unusual lumps, bumps, and spots show up on your penis, STDs and STIs may come to mind. Some of these infections can produce lumps on or under the skin alongside other common symptoms.

They include:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a viral infection that can cause genital warts. The warts often appear as skin-colored growths resembling cauliflower on the penile shaft or beneath the foreskin. They can pop up individually or in clusters after sexual contact with a person who has warts. Sometimes, these bumps can bleed, itch, or sting.

• Syphilis. This bacterial infection can cause sores or ulcers that are firm, round, and raised. They’re usually painless and form in, on, or around the penis or under the foreskin. Without treatment, the infection can spread, causing a rash on other parts of the body and additional symptoms like fever, sore throat, or fatigue.

• Herpes simplex virus. Many people with genital herpes don’t experience symptoms. But during an outbreak, the virus can cause lesions, open sores, or painful blisters. These sores may appear alongside flu-like symptoms like fever and body aches, especially during the first outbreak.

• Molluscum contagiosum. This viral skin infection isn’t always transmitted through sexual contact. It’s actually more common in kids. But when molluscum contagiosum happens to adults, it’s usually contracted through sex. The infection can cause small raised sores on the penis that are white or pink and feel firm.

Treatment for STIs Causing Lump on Penis

Depending on the STD or STI, you may be prescribed oral medication or topical creams. Some call for surgical procedures like wart freezing (cryotherapy).

Viral infections such as HPV and herpes might be treated with antiviral drugs, while bacterial infections like syphilis require antibiotics.

5. Pearly Penile Papules

Affecting around 14 to 48 percent of males, pearly penile papules are skin-colored or white growths that appear around the corona of the glans (head of the penis). The corona is the rounded border that hangs over the neck of the penis.

Researchers are unsure why some men get pearly penile papules and others don’t, but these growths are generally harmless and non-infectious.

However, because the lumps resemble STDs like genital warts, it’s a good idea to have them assessed by a medical professional.

Pearly Penile Papules Treatment

Due to their benign nature, pearly penile papules don’t need to be treated. But if you’re self-conscious about them, ask your healthcare provider about cryotherapy or laser therapy procedures.

Just be sure not to try to treat them yourself with wart removal creams, as this can cause injuries and scarring.

6. Angiokeratomas

These small purple, blue, or red bumps range in size from 0.5 to five millimeters. They’re typically hard to the touch and happen when blood vessels near the skin enlarge.

Angiokeratomas can show up alone or in a cluster around the head of the glans penis.

It isn’t clear why these growths appear, but experts think they might be present at birth or related to high blood pressure (hypertension) or Fabry’s disease (a neurological disorder that makes it hard to break down fatty lipids).

Angiokeratomas Treatment for Lump on Penis

Angiokeratomas don’t go away, but they’re usually harmless.

If you feel self-conscious about the appearance or have bumps in an area that rubs uncomfortably against clothing, your healthcare provider can freeze them, use laser therapy, or surgically cut them out.

7. Lichen Planus

Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin disorder that occurs when the immune system attacks skin cells. Experts aren’t sure why it happens.

Lesions appear as flattened, dark bumps and may contain fluid or itch. They often take on a ring-shaped formation on the penis.

Lichen Planus Treatment for Lump on Penis Shaft

Lichen planus lesions can be treated with steroid creams or injections. Second-line therapies include topical antibiotics or retinoids.

8. Fordyce Spots

Fordyce spots are enlarged sebaceous glands that can materialize on the head or shaft of the penis, the foreskin, or the scrotum. They’re usually yellowish in color and can be flat or elevated.

Fordyce spots are commonly misdiagnosed as STIs, but they’re actually harmless and not contagious.

Most men with these spots are born with them, but they don’t get noticed until the penis becomes larger in puberty. Though Fordyce spots are said to affect 80 to 90 percent of the population, they’re often underreported because most guys are asymptomatic.

Fordyce Spots Treatment

Since they’re harmless, Fordyce spots don’t require treatment.

But, like other conditions on this list, they can still be removed for cosmetic reasons. Lasers, light therapy, electrocautery (using heat to destroy tissue), or microneedling can all be used to remove Fordyce spots.

9. Lymphocele

A lymphocele is an unusual collection of lymphatic fluid (a fluid that supports the immune system). These lumps typically spring up when there’s some sort of blockage in the lymph channels.

Lymphoceles can sometimes happen after prostate surgery. In addition to a hard lump, the growth may cause other symptoms like pelvic bloating, abdominal pain, or increased urination.

Lymphocele Treatment for Lump on Penis

Lymphoceles require medical care. You should see a healthcare provider if you notice a hard lump after a surgical procedure so they can drain it properly.

10. Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease is a chronic condition in which a buildup of scar tissue forms under the skin of the penis, causing penile curvature. It can be a result of a penile injury or an autoimmune disease.

Though Peyronie’s disease isn’t dangerous, the condition can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED) or painful erections.

Peyronie’s Disease Treatment

Treatment options for Peyronie’s disease include oral medications, injections, surgery, and lifestyle changes (like quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol).

If Peyronie’s disease is contributing to ED, you may be prescribed ED medications like:

• Sildenafil (generic for Viagra®)

• Tadalafil (Cialis®)

• Avanafil (Stendra®)

• Vardenafil (Levitra®)

However, if your penis can’t expand because of scar tissue or you find erections painful, these medications may not work for you. Treating the disease should be your first course of action.

11. Penile Cancer

Penile cancer accounts for fewer than one percent of cancers in men in the United States. The rare condition can cause a lump on the shaft of penis, bleeding sores, crusty bumps, discharge, and thicker penile skin.

Some experts think penile tumors happen when fluids get trapped beneath the foreskin, making uncircumcised men more prone to this type of cancer. It can also be related to HPV.

Penile Cancer Treatment

Although rare, penile cancer should be treated promptly. Many men wait until the advanced stages, which can lead to more intensive treatment and potentially not-as-good outcomes.

For instance, according to the Urology Care Foundation, early-stage penile cancer can be treated with a skin cream or external radiation. More advanced cancer may require surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.

Seek medical advice early if you notice any unusual lumps or bumps.

You can’t always prevent lumps on your penis if they’re caused by congenital (appearing at birth) or autoimmune conditions.

But here are some tips to help prevent lumps on your penis:

• Practice safe sex, especially with new sexual partners.

• Follow good hygiene practices and clean under your foreskin regularly.

• Avoid wearing tight clothing.

• Find healthy ways to manage stress levels.

• Eat nutritious foods and maintain a healthy weight.

• Quit smoking.

• If you drink, drink in moderation.

• See a dermatologist regularly to assess any spots, bumps, or lumps.

Finding a lump on your penis can be scary, but in most cases, these small masses are minor and treatable.

Here’s what to remember if you discover a hard lump on your penis:

• There are many common causes of lumps on the penis. These include pimples, cysts, papules, and sexually transmitted infections. Other causes, like penile cancer, are more serious.

• Treatments depend on the underlying cause. Some lumps call for topical creams, oral medication, or injections, while others require surgery. And some need no treatment at all. You should always seek medical advice, even if you think it’s just a pimple.

• You can’t always prevent lumps on your penis. However, practicing good hygiene, managing stress levels, and using condoms during sex might help.

Want to learn more ways to support your sexual health? Check out these tips for keeping your penis healthy, find out what to expect during a penis exam, and explore surprising penis facts.