Scary Looking Penis Bumps Might Be Lichen Planus

Sometimes annoying penis bumps appear almost overnight, but in man y cases penis bumps may develop over time, sometimes rather slowly. dreams. That is often the case when lichen planus is the cause of unwanted penis bumps. But is lichen planus a serious penis health issue? What causes it and what should a guy do if he gets penis bumps that turn out to be lichen planus.

A nasty name

Let’s face it, the name lichen planus is a little discomforting. Lichen, after all, is often associated with moss, and who wants moss growing on their penis? In fact, that association is mistaken, and lichen and moss are two separate things.

So what is lichen planus? It’s an inflammatory skin disease that affects somewhere around one per cent of the population, both men and women – which tells a person that lichen planus is not restricted to the penis. In fact, it can appear almost anywhere on the body. It causes the skin to swell and form lesions, which on the manhood appear as penis bumps. They tend to be reddish or purplish and flat but slightly raised, and itchy as hell. (But guys should try not to scratch them; that just makes it worse.) Sometimes the lesions become blisters, which then break and ooze a discharge onto the skin and then become crusty.

Where it comes from

So what causes a guy to get lichen planus on his penis (or elsewhere)? Basically, lichen planus is considered an autoimmune disorder. What that means is that something happens that causes the body to misinterpret signals and to start attacking itself – or some part of itself. I n this case, the body is attacking its own skin cells. (Another form of lichen planus involves attacking the mucous membranes instead.)

As with most autoimmune disorders, it isn’t clear why this happens. Often, there is no obvious trigger. But in other cases, there are causes that may be responsible for an outbreak of lichen planus. These include becoming infected by hepatitis C; having a reaction to a flu vaccine, or to some common pain relievers (such as naproxen or ibuprofen), as well as to some medications for heart issues or high blood pressure; or exposure to certain chemicals or metals.

What to do

Many cases of lichen planus self-resolve without any need for medication. However, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. In some cases, what a person assumes to be lichen planus could be another condition which might more readily require treatment.

Often the doctor will recommend no treatment for the lichen planus itself, just letting it go away on its own. However, they may still prescribe treatment for the symptoms associated with it, such as itching. If they do decide to treat the lichen planus itself, options might include corticosteroids, anti-infection medicines, antihistamines, or retinoids.

Depending on the suspected cause of the outbreak, a person may need to switch their existing medications, be treated for hepatitis C, or consult with an allergy specialist.

Most of the time lichen planus is more of an annoyance than a serious issue. Of course, when it presents as penis bumps, a man is likely to want to get it cleared up speedily, as it does affect the appearance of his manhood.

Lichen planus in the form of penis bumps will cause a man to scratch his penis more than he wants to, but use of a top notch penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) might provide some relief. If the oil contains a combination of a high end emollient (like shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E), it can keep the skin moisturized so that the itching may lessen. The best oil will also contain other vitamins, such as A, B5, C, and D, to further enrich and aid the delicate penis skin.

Itchy Penis? Meet Lichen Planus

Sweat. Ill-fitting underwear. Jock itch. Scabies. These are just a few of the potential causes of an itchy penis. The occasional need to scratch the penis is nothing to be concerned about; occasionally, an itch just happens. But when a guy has a persistently itchy penis, it can lead to substantial embarrassment. And when the cause of the itchy penis is a visible documentation of a penis health issue, it’s even worse. So in the interest of making readers more aware of potential penis itch causes, it’s time to learn a little about lichen planus.

What it is

As the ever-helpful Wikipedia says, lichen planus is a disease "characterized by itchy reddish-purple polygon-shaped skin lesions," which can be as small as 1 mm or as big as 10 mm. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means it occurs when a person’s body (usually for unknown reasons) begins attacking something it shouldn’t be attacking. Usually the trigger that causes the attack is unknown. In many people, the condition is chronic - meaning that it may go away for a time but often comes back, sometimes repeatedly.

Lichen planus typically occurs either in the mouth or on the surface of the skin. And it can occur almost anywhere on the skin - including the penis, either on the glans, the shaft, or both. The small bumps are usually raised, and can be reddish, purplish or whitish.

Many men who look down and see lichen planus on their penis mistake it for genital warts or another form of sexually-transmitted infection (STI). But the good news is that it is not an STI and that it is basically benign. But because of its unattractive appearance, it still can scare away many potential partners who may not believe that it is not an STI.

Also, as indicated above, it can be very itchy - and scratching too much can lead to irritation and pain. In many cases, the skin around the lesions can become dry and scaly.

Who gets it

Anyone can get lichen planus, whether male or female. It also can occur at any age, although in men it most often occurs between the ages of 30 and 60. Since the exact cause of lichen planus is unknown, it’s hard to identify characteristics or risk factors which might help determine who is more or less likely to come down with it.

So once a dude has lichen planus, how does he get rid of this itchy penis culprit? In many cases, it goes away on its own, usually in a few days or a couple of weeks. But for some people, it can linger for much, much longer. In which case, a doctor may recommend one of several treatment options, such as steroids (topical or oral, depending upon the severity and specifics of the condition), immunosuppressive measures, antihistamines, light therapy or, in some cases, surgical removal.

So if a guy has an itchy penis due to lichen planus, it’s best to avoid the desire to scratch. Sometimes this can be aided by the application of a first rate penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Such a crème must include a combination of a high-end emollient (Shea butter is an excellent choice) and a natural hydrator (simple vitamin E is great). This combination of moisturizers can help smooth the skin so there is less of a desire to scratch. It also helps if the crème contains a potent antioxidant. One of the best is alpha lipoic acid, which battles excess free radicals and thereby helps strengthen the skin, making it more resistant to infection and oxidative stress.

Worrisome Penis Bumps Might Be Lichen Planus

Proper attention to good penis health requires frequent checking for possible signs or aberrations, including the sudden appearance of penis bumps. Many men find the presence of penis bumps worrisome, fretting that they may indicate the presence of an STI. Often, however, the bumps have less serious causes, one of which could be lichen planus.

What is lichen planus?
 
Lichen planus is an inflammatory condition that can occur on the skin or in the mouth. When on the skin, as with the penis, it presents typically as small, raised bumps with a flat top; occasionally there are little white "veins" striating the bumps. The coloring tends to be reddish, but purple is not uncommon. In some instances, especially on the glans of the penis, they may have a more whitish hue.

Lichen planus tends to look very scary, especially when it appears on the penis. In most cases, a person will also have an outbreak of lichen planus elsewhere on the body - perhaps the legs or the arms or the torso. This may at least have the effect of calming a man down somewhat: he may assume that if it has appeared beyond the penis, it lessens the chance that this is an STI.

But if it’s not an STI, how did he get it?

Causes
 
That’s a good question - and one for which there is not an equally good answer. It’s not something a person catches from someone else - which is also good news, as it means he doesn’t have to worry about passing it on. Instead, it’s the result of an autoimmune disorder, meaning that for some reason the body starts attacking its own skin cells. This is what causes the penis bumps to appear.

It’s thought that certain chemicals or ingredients may cause this, but it’s not clear which ones. And there does seem to be an association with lichen planus and some diseases, such as hepatitis C.

Is it dangerous?
 
Lichen planus is a benign disorder, one that doesn’t cause any real damage. It does tend to be very itchy and can cause the skin to dry out; in some instances the bumps may become blisters, especially if they are scratched frequently.

If a man is especially sensitive about the appearance of his manhood, the penis bumps caused by lichen planus may cause him distress or anxiety. In some individuals, this can be significant. Also, they may disrupt a man’s sex life. If the bumps are tender, friction from sex may cause some pain and may discourage a man from engaging in sex.

Treatment
 
Lichen planus usually goes away on its own, although in some cases that may take several months. A doctor may recommend a variety of treatments, including antihistamines, cortisone, or a form of light therapy.

Because the penis bumps associated with lichen planus may bring about a dry skin condition, doctors also recommend that moisturizers be used to relieve dryness. With that in mind, it may be especially fruitful to use a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) which can not only moisturize the penis but attend to general overall penis health issues as well. It is crucial to select a crème that has a combination of moisturizing ingredients, ideally a high-end emollient (such as Shea butter) and an excellent natural hydrator (such as vitamin E). Together, these create a "moisture lock" that can help seal in moisture and revitalizing oils that keep the skin supple. In addition, the crème should include a potent antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid. The antioxidant will help battle free radicals, which if left unchallenged will promote oxidative stress, which in turn weakens and ages the penis skin.