Penis Scars: Potential Problems

Although his penis is one of a man’s most prized possessions, men don’t usually spend a lot of time actually inspecting it. Sure, they spend time handling it – stuffing it in when dressing, pulling it out for urination, fondling it for periods of time (sometimes quite lengthy periods of time) when masturbating. But, aside from occasional penis care checks, not many men spend that much time actually inspecting it. If they did, they might see that over time the penis can develop some small cuts and tears, often from normal wear, which may form small scars when healing. But can scars present any problems a guy should know about? In some cases, the answer is yes.

Scars

Scars are part of the natural healing process. They form when the dermis (the deep layer of the skin) gets damaged from some form of trauma (a cut to the skin, a sharp blow, skin diseases or conditions, etc.) To heal the damage, the body produces a protein to seal over the wound. But collagen has a different texture and feeling than the surrounding skin, so the scars it forms may look or feel different. Sometimes the body goes overboard in creating collagen for the job, and in those instances, the scar is typically raised above the level of the skin.

Penis scars

Scars are in many ways a good thing; after all, they are part of the healing process that repairs injuries to the body. But in some instances, scars can cause other problems.

Scar tissue can be especially bothersome on the penis. Why? Because the penis is designed to change size and shape. When a man becomes aroused, the penis becomes erect, elongating and filling out. As all men know, without that erection, unaided penetrative sex is impossible. And because the penis has to grow so frequently, the skin is designed to be extremely flexible and pliable.

Unfortunately, the tissue that is used to create scars does not have that needed flexibility. Thus, the portion of the penis in which scar tissue dwells cannot grow to the same length as portions which are unaffected by scar tissue. In instances in which there is minimal scar tissue, this may be unnoticeable. But if there is a significant degree of scar tissue in one place, it can result in one side of the penis not growing as long as the other sides. When this happens, it typically causes the penis to bend in one direction when erect. (It may bend up, down, to the left or to the right, depending on the location of the scar tissue.) This creates a condition known as Peyronie’s disease, which can be painful and can in some cases interfere with a man’s ability to enjoy penetrative sex.

Other problems

Penis scar tissue can cause other issues as well. For example, among intact men, scarring on the foreskin can affect flexibility, resulting in situations where either the foreskin cannot retract (called phimosis) or once retracted, can get stuck behind the glans (called paraphimosis).

In addition, too much scar tissue can also result in de-sensitization of the penis, in which the penis does not experience the same degree of pleasurable sensation as it would otherwise.

Men with significant scar tissue in the penis should discuss the issue with their doctor to determine an agreeable course of action.

A penis with scars needs the regular application of a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). A crème with L-carnitine may be of help, as this neuroprotective ingredient can aid in maintaining proper penis sensation. The best crème should also include vitamin C. In addition to providing other health benefits, vitamin C is helpful in creating the tissue that gives tone and elasticity to penis skin.