In recent years, MRSA - known to doctors as Methicllin resistant Staphylococcus aureus - has become an increasingly serious problem. While not traditionally associated with threats to penis health, it has become more of a potential area of concern. While it is rare that presentation of penis bumps means the presence of MRSA, men should be aware of the possibility of MRSA occurring on the penis and know what to do if they suspect this is the case.

Just what is MRSA?

As its name might imply, MRSA is an infection caused by a strain of bacteria that is resistant to treatment by traditional antibiotics. This bacterium has come into being due to overuse of antibiotics. For years, many people were prescribed antibiotics for viral infections. These viruses weren’t affected by the antibiotics, but unnecessary exposure to the antibiotics helped staph bacteria to develop immunity to them.

Staph bacteria tend to live on the skin or the nose; about 30-40% of people carry them around. As long as they stay on the surface, they’re harmless. But when they get inside the body, they can cause problems, sometimes severe ones, in the blood, lungs, heart, joints or bones. In some instances, MRSA in the body can prove fatal.

It used to be that MRSA was an issue basically at nursing homes or hospitals, with the bacteria entering the body through improperly sterilized equipment. However, MRSA has become somewhat more common in what is referred to as a "community" setting, where it gets passed from one person to another, usually by skin-on-skin contact.

The penis bumps connection

MRSA usually presents as swollen red bumps that can be tender or painful and may look like pimples or insect bites.

When they present as penis bumps, they have most often entered the body through cuts or nicks in the skin. So if a guy is manscaping and cuts himself with a razor, if there are MRSA bacteria nearby, they can enter the body that way. Sometimes it can also come about because of the penis being rubbed raw from overuse or through forgetting to use lubricant. Tiny cuts can develop through which the bacteria can invade.

Some doctors have reported cases where MRSA has been transmitted through sexual contact as well. It is unclear whether the bacteria can enter the body through the penile meatus and travel through the urethra. However, it has been documented as being passed on to a man who performed oral sex on a woman who was infected with MRSA.

Penis bumps can result from many causes other than MRSA. However, if a man has penis bumps that seem to have no explanation, he should consult with his doctor to determine the cause. If MRSA is responsible, the doctor will begin treatment to ensure no complications result.

Prevention

Preventing MRSA is much better than treating it. Basic common hygiene practices, such as washing hands regularly, keeping clothes, linens and towels clean, and showering after physical activity can help. It’s also important to not share personal grooming products (such as razors), towels or underwear. And when wounds develop, they should be washed, sterilized and covered. Wearing condoms during sex is also advised.

Clearly, not every case of penis bumps is a sign of MRSA. Sometimes those bumps signify irritated penis skin, which may respond to regular use of a high-level penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . Strong penis skin needs help in resisting free radicals and the oxidative stress they cause, and that’s why the crème needs to have a potent antioxidant like alpha lipoic acid. Penis skin also needs to have sufficient elasticity to fulfill its functions, so the crème should include vitamin C, which helps produce the collagen that contributes to proper elasticity.