A bump on the penis can cause panic both for a man and his partner. Nothing ruins a mood like the moment someone feels bumps on a penis right before becoming intimate and it can shut down a romantic evening faster than a political debate. Thankfully, most times it’s nothing serious. While some penis bumps can’t be prevented, others can with proper hygiene and sexual practices. Here are a few of the most common reasons bumps on a penis can appear and how to deal with them.

1) Pimples - When a pore is clogged, a pimple forms. Pimples can contain pus and feel very tender, or conversely, can feel quite hard. They tend to pop up for men who skip showering, live in a climate with high humidity, wear tight pants, shave their pubic region, or have oily skin. The best thing to do for a penis pimple is keeping clean and leave it alone. Popping it could result in bacteria transfer and infection.

2) Ingrown Hairs or Folliculitis - Inflammation of the hair follicles (from shaving or just irritation) can cause red, pimply bumps on the penis. They can be both painful and itchy. They usually clear themselves up in a few days, but if a man experiences this regularly, some topical antimicrobials may be helpful to heal the current bumps and prevent future ones.

3) Penile Papules - These whitish or pinkish bumps appear on the glans (head) of the penis or along the edge of the glans. They look like small pimples. They often cluster in rings or rows. They stay with a man for life and are nothing to be concerned with and are experienced by 14-48% of men. If other symptoms like itching or redness occur with them, medical attention should be sought out.

4) Genital Warts - Transmitted through unprotected sex, genital warts are STDs caused by HPV and herpes. They are flesh-colored bumps on the penis, usually on the shaft, that can look like cauliflower. See a doctor for treatment immediately.

5) Molluscum Contagiosum - A contagious skin infection, molluscum contagiosum causes a cluster of small bumps to appear on the skin. These bumps have a small dimple in their center. They can be itchy. Often times the condition will clear up in time, but a gel or crème may be recommended to hurry healing along.

6) Lichen Planus - This rash can occur anywhere on the body and is demarked by purple-red bumps which can be itchy and uncomfortable. Usually, the condition can be cut short with a quality steroid cream.

Keeps Bumps at Bay

Regardless of the source of the problem, it is always a bad idea to pop or scratch at bumps on the penis. Doing so can cause minute tears in the outer dermal layer, which can invite bacteria and infection into the penis, causing more pain and problems. Also, be sure to practice safe sex and when finding an unknown bump on the penis, refrain from intimate activity until the cause is known.

While treating a bumpy penis and after, clean the penis with a gentle soap, being gentle but thorough to ensure the penis is clean and fresh. Follow cleansing with a specially made penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) to heal and nourish the skin. These special nutrient crèmes should be as natural as possible and have a moisturizing base like Shea butter and vitamin E for maximum softness. The addition of other vitamins and nutrients like vitamins A, C, and D and Alpha Lipoic Acid helps the delicate penile skin increase elasticity reduce cellular damage from age and environment. In short, these special crèmes keep the penis healthy and supple.