Penis Rash from Angiokeratomas

A penis rash is a common occurrence, but it’s not something men are particularly happy to see. Sometimes a penis rash can be a sign of something serious, but more often it’s an annoyance; it may look unattractive and itch or cause discomfort without being a major penis health issue. This is typically the case when angiokeratomas are the cause of the penis rash - although in some cases they can bring about a more significant health concern. Learning about angiokeratomas is important in order to know what to do about them.

What it means

Angiokeratomas are benign skin lesions that can be found on various parts of the body but are most often on the lower extremities. Single angiokeratomas are fairly rare, and when they do occur, they are more often on the legs than anywhere else. When they appear on the penis and/or scrotum in men (or the vulva in women) they are typically referred to as angiokeratomas of Fordyce.

This is not the same as Fordyce spots, which are small red or white bumps that appear on the penis or balls. Instead, angiokeratomas often resemble warts (although they are distinct from warts), appearing as reddish or blackish raised bumps that can range in size from 1mm to 6 mm or more. The surface of the larger ones is usually "pebbly," and they are hard, not compressing when touched.

Often angiokeratomas may present as a series of small "dots" on the penis and/or balls. Often, however, they cluster, especially when they are larger, creating a rash-like appearance. Because of their resemblance to warts in these cluster formations, they can be very off-putting to potential partners.

What causes them?

So how does a guy get angiokeratomas? In some instances, they may be a result of a condition known as Fabry’s disease. This is a rare genetic disorder which can cause significant pain, kidney dysfunction, cardiac complications, ringing in the ears, fatigue and vertigo.

However, as stated, Fabry’s disease is rare; far more often, angiokeratomas form when a blood vessel develops a clot. This causes the vessel to grow and move closer to the surface of the skin. Over time, skin cells may then form over the blood vessel, creating the lesions.

Angiokeratomas can occur at any time; however, those located in the penis or testicles are more often associated with men over the age of 50.

Although typically benign, there can be some health issues associated with the condition. For example, friction from sex (whether with a partner or alone) may cause rupture and bleeding. In some cases, there may be low levels of pain associated with them. More rarely, angiokeratomas may create an environment in which bacterial or fungal infections can thrive.

Treatment

Since angiokeratomas are usually a benign penis rash, they do not require treatment. However, if they are encouraging infections, a doctor may surgically remove them. Removal is generally a simple procedure involving lasers or cryotherapy (freezing them off). Often angiokeratomas are mistaken for melanoma and may be excised for that reason.

Angiokeratomas are an unusual cause of penis rash; more often, dermatological issues are likely to create a rash situation. In such instances, regular use of a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can be beneficial. Rashes often result at least partially due to dry skin, so using a crème that includes a combination of potent moisturizing agents (such as vitamin E and Shea butter) can help keep penis skin well hydrated. In addition, the skin will be stronger if it is not prone to oxidative stress; using a crème with an effective antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid, can help reduce the likelihood of oxidative stress damage.

Penis Rash Due to Angiokeratomas

Penis rash can be an embarrassment for a man, especially if he is presenting his penis to a partner for the first time. Since the presence of a penis rash may indicate a possible penis health issue - including the possibility of an STI - it’s no wonder that a partner may change their mind about sex if they notice obvious skin irritation. Yet many times a penis rash is harmless to a partner - and such is the case when angiokeratomas are responsible for the rashy appearance.

Identifying them
 
"Angiokeratoma" is a rather off-putting name and one which may cause a person to panic; however, in most cases men with this condition don’t need to worry about serious health consequences.

Angiokeratomas are benign skin lesions; typically they appear in older adults, but they can appear at any age, including childhood. They have an appearance similar to that of a wart, and their coloring most often ranges from dark red to black. Some are papule sized (measuring 5 mm or less), while others are classified as plaque sized (6mm or larger).

An angiokeratoma tends to have a hard surface; in some instances, it may present as a "pebbly" surface. It retains its color when pressed (unlike some other rashes, which may fade somewhat when pressure is applied to them). Although an angiokeratoma may appear all by itself, when it is part of a penis rash, it typically appears in multiples - sometimes numbering in the dozens.

While angiokeratomas may present as a penis rash, they also are often found on a man’s balls rather than on his penis.

Cause
 
Why do angiokeratomas occur? They form due to clots in nearby blood vessels, which cause the vessels to extend closer to the upper layer of skin. Skin cells form over the extended blood vessels, and the combination of the vessels and the skin cells creates the hard, lumpy form of the lesion.
There are fortunately no health effects associated with angiokeratomas; however, sometimes they may rupture (due to rough handling during sex, scratching, rubbing against coarse fabric, etc.) and bleed a bit.

Treatment
 
Since they don’t present a health risk, most doctors don’t recommend treatment. But in some cases, a man may find they mar the appearance of his penis to the extent that they affect either his self-esteem and self-confidence or his success in obtaining sexual partners. A man may opt to have them treated for cosmetic reasons. In such cases, argon laser therapy may be employed as one way of removing the lesions. Cryotherapy, in which the lesions are essentially frozen off via application of liquid nitrogen, is another option for removal. In some instances electrocautery, in which heat is used as a lesion is scraped off, may be recommended.

Because doctors don’t really know why certain clotted vessels will create angiokeratomas, there aren’t really any recommended procedures for preventing their formation.

That said, maintaining appropriate penis health is a good way to minimize a penis rash, even if angiokeratomas may be the cause. Men interested in penis health would do well to regularly apply an excellent penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . Since many penile dermatological issues can be traced back to dry skin problems, keeping penis skin hydrated is essential. A crème with a high-end emollient (such as Shea butter) combined with a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E) places the penis in a prime position to maintain proper moisture. It also helps to use a crème with L-arginine, an amino acid that keeps blood vessels open and flowing. With the right penis health crème, the penis is better able to resist the causes of a common penis rash.