The red dots on the glans, in fact, can be both the result of wrong habits and behaviors (eg: too vigorous masturbation), and the consequence of infections (eg: genital herpes), infestations (eg: scabies) or allergic reactions.
The presence of the red dots on the glans is very often associated with other symptoms, including: itching, pain, blisters, redness in other parts of the body, etc.
When diagnosing the red dots on the glans (whose identification is, in itself, simple and immediate), it is essential to investigate the cause of this skin sign in detail, as it is on this that the planning of future therapy is based.
Brief anatomical review of the Penis
The penis is the male reproductive organ.
Cylindrical in shape and covered with skin, it can be anatomically divided into 3 main parts, which are: the root, the shaft (or body) and the glans.
- Root: located between pubis and perineum, it represents the point of origin of the penis.
- Auction: it is the central part of the penis as well as the most considerable; the two corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum participate in its formation, three structures made up of erectile tissue and wrapped in connective tissue.
The cavernous arteries run inside the corpora cavernosa; instead, the urethra passes through the corpus spongiosum. - Glans: it is the most distal portion of the penis; including the urinary meatus for the expulsion of urine and sperm, it is provided with a flap of sliding skin called the foreskin.
Depending on what causes them (ie the cause), the red dots on the glans can be a completely transient problem (therefore a "not particularly worrying anomaly) or the signal of an important, serious health disorder, which requires recourse. to appropriate treatment.
Characteristics of the Red Dots on the Glans
The red dots on the glans are small skin patches, red or pinkish, which, depending on the triggering cause, can appear flat or raised (in the second case they can be bubbles, papules or small nodules), massed or dispersed, shiny or opaque.
As can be deduced, therefore, the variability of the red dots on the glans is quite large.
Too Vigorous Masturbation
Excessive masturbation acts are among the less serious causes of red spots on the glans penis; in fact, when they are due to masturbation, these skin manifestations disappear spontaneously in a short time (a few hours / a day at the most), as long as the penis is not further stressed.
What is the appearance of the red dots on the glans under such circumstances? They are simple pink-red undetected (therefore flat) patches.
Excessive Use of Intimate Cleansers
Like overly vigorous masturbation, excessive use of intimate cleansers is a clinically non-serious cause of red spots on the glans with easy-to-resolve consequences in the absence of further penis stress.
What is the appearance of the red dots on the glans in these circumstances? Initially, they appear as undetected red spots, then they tend to lighten, due to cell renewal that affects the skin of the glans.
Poor Intimate Hygiene
Poor intimate hygiene is the cause of red dots on the glans especially among young people, as these individuals are more prone to neglect the cleanliness of their body, and among those who live in particularly poor areas of the world, as in these areas the hygienic habits -sanitary facilities are poor.
What is the appearance of the red spots on the glans in such circumstances? They are flat, more or less massed skin rashes.
Allergic reactions or irritation due to detergents or other substances
When the cause of the red spots on the glans is an allergic reaction or an "irritation due to" the use of a certain intimate cleanser or contact with a certain material (eg latex condoms), doctors describe the circumstance in question with the " expression "contact dermatitis".
Contact dermatitis, in fact, is an "inflammation of the skin, induced by contact with substances that act as irritants or allergens for the patient.
What does the red dots on the glans look like in such circumstances? They typically appear as a cluster of small red skin patches.
Balanitis and Balanoposthitis
"Balanitis" and "balanoposthitis" are the two medical terms that indicate, respectively, the inflammation of the glans penis and the simultaneous inflammation of the glans and foreskin of the penis.
The list of causes of balanitis and balanoposthitis is superimposable and includes: some bacterial, viral and fungal infections, particular deficiencies of the immune system, the aforementioned contact dermatitis and the so-called sexually transmitted infections (NB: some of these infections will be subject to discussed in the following points, as they are potentially responsible for red dots on the glans even without causing balanitis or balanoposthitis).
What do red spots on the glans look like in such circumstances? When balanitis and balanoposthitis cause red spots on the glans, they tend to look like small, undetected skin patches.
Genital Herpes
Supported by herpes simplex virus 1 or 2 (HSV1 and HSV2 respectively), "genital herpes is a" sexually transmitted infection that causes bumps, larger patches and / or widespread redness not only on the penis (and glans), but also in the scrotum, pubic area, legs, buttocks, hands and mouth.
Normally, a healthy person contracts genital herpes when they have unprotected sexual intercourse with a person carrying the infection in question (which is why it is among the sexually transmitted infections).
What is the appearance of the red dots on the glans under such circumstances? If due to genital herpes, the red dots on the glans look like small bubbles, which could sometimes develop into actual blisters.
Syphilis
Syphilis is the sexually transmitted infection due to the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
In those who develop syphilis, the red dots on the glans are one of the onset symptoms of the infection and have a distinctive name: syphiloma.
What is the appearance of the red dots on the glans in such circumstances? At the onset of infection, they appear as small, hard lumps; in the later stages, they evolve and become ulcers.
Scabies
An example of an infectious disease, scabies is the infestation of the skin due to the mite Sarcoptes scabiei hominis.
Scabies is a highly contagious infection, the symptoms and signs of which are found above all on the flexor surfaces and folds of the skin, ie on areas of the skin such as: the elbows, wrists, hands, genitals or abdomen.
What does the red spots on the glans look like in such circumstances? In the case of scabies, the red spots on the glans appear as raised skin patches, very similar to small papules.
Candida
Candida is the infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans.
Candida in men is responsible for skin manifestations at the level of the penis (glans in particular) and, sometimes, also at the level of the mouth (where it can also affect the mucous membranes).
For a man to develop candida, the defenses used by the body must be used to control the proliferation of Candida albicans, fail.
What is the appearance of the red spots on the glans under such circumstances? If due to candida, the red spots on the glans appear as thick flat patches.
Contagious Mollusc
Molluscum contagiosum is an "infection of the skin and mucous membranes, which recognizes its triggering cause in a virus of the poxvirus family (DNA virus).
The molluscum contagiosum is extremely contagious, but fortunately it has a benign evolution.
Molluscum contagiosum causes symptoms not only on the glans but also on the penis more generally and in other parts of the body.
What is the appearance of the red dots on the glans under such circumstances? In the presence of molluscum contagiosum, the red dots on the glans appear as small raised patches, very similar to bumps.
Reverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis is a particular form of psoriasis, which mainly affects skin folds (e.g. armpits, groin region, navel, perianal area, area under the breast in women, genital area, glans region and foreskin in men, etc.).
What does the red spots on the glans look like in such circumstances? The red spots on the glans associated with inverse psoriasis are smooth, shiny skin patches.
to the glans. The red dots on the glans are associated with itching, when they are due to scabies, molluscum contagiosum, genital herpes, candida or inverse psoriasis;These vesicles do not remain such, but evolve until they "burst", releasing liquid; sometimes, it is the same red dots on the glans that become vesicles;
When to see a doctor?
The phenomenon of red dots on the glans deserves the attention of a doctor, when it seems to be due to an "infection or to a non-infectious condition that requires appropriate treatment.
To realize when the red dots on the glans fall into one of the two circumstances just mentioned, the patient must evaluate the associated symptoms (e.g. co-occurrence of fever indicates an infectious state; the presence of similar dots in other parts of the body could be the signal of an "infection or a disease such as inverse psoriasis; etc.).
Complications
The red dots on the glans can be associated with complications, if at their origin there is a serious medical condition (eg: syphilis) and the patient concerned has not received (or has not implemented) all the necessary treatments.
, blood tests and allergy tests.Anamnesis
The anamnesis is a collection of information on the symptoms and habits of the patient, which allows us to establish whether the red dots on the glans depend on particular behaviors (eg: too violent masturbation, poor intimate hygiene or excessive use of detergents), infections or other causes again, for which more specific tests are needed (eg allergy tests).
Blood analysis
Against the background of red dots on the glans, blood tests serve to clarify whether an infection is in progress and, if so, what that infection is.
Allergic tests
By performing allergy tests, the doctor discovers whether or not the red dots on the glans are due to some allergy or intolerance towards intimate cleansers or other materials (eg latex condoms).
, the therapy in question does not allow definitive recovery from genital herpes, but it is still very effective in limiting its consequences;
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