- Dermatology Unit, Conditions
Pearly papules
What is
What are pearly papules?
Pearly papules are benign lesions distributed in one or two uniform rows around the crown of the glans penis. They are millimetric outgrowths of pink, whitish or even translucent coloration. They are a benign process, unrelated to the human papillomavirus (HPV) and therefore not transmissible.
It is estimated that approximately 14-48% of males have pearly papules and that there is a familial genetic predisposition.
Applications
Eliminate irregularities of the crown of the glans penis
No. Sessions
1 session with definitive results
Duration of treatment
20 minutes + prior application of local anesthesia cream
Pain intensity
Painless. Topical anesthesia
Recovery time
Approx. 7 days after treatment
Visibility of improvement
Irregularities disappear
Recommended time of year
All year round
Tips
Avoid sexual intercourse for 10 days and checkup after 1 month
Information
When they appear
In infancy they are not visible and at puberty, due to hormonal stimulation, they develop and acquire their definitive size. From this moment on they do not grow, but they do not disappear by themselves.
They appear at puberty, almost always before patients have had sexual intercourse. In no case is it a sexually transmitted infection; however, it can be annoying when rubbing and cause problems in the image from the aesthetic point of view or doubts in the couple.
They are contagious
Not at all. They are benign lesions with no transmission capacity. Pearly papules on the glans are a purely aesthetic condition.
Conceptually any lesion that protrudes is a wart and we think of its contagious capacity, however, these white pimples on the glans do not have a viral load such as papillomavirus (HPV).
Treatment
The only way to make pearly papules disappear is to remove the prominent tissue. The best treatment option for pearly papules is laser-CO2 ablation, which vaporizes the lesions to be removed with the utmost precision. This technique significantly reduces the risk of damaging the penile skin and thus the possibility of developing scars in the treated area.
The treatment of pearly papules is performed in our LASER UNIT equipped with an innovative and diverse range of light systems and laser equipment.
In order to avoid discomfort during the treatment, the area is treated with an anesthetic cream that is applied topically about 10 minutes before starting the treatment.
The treatment consists of eliminating the lesions individually with successive laser pulses. The treatment may last 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of lesions.
The procedure is painless and does not cause bleeding.
Post-treatment care
After the treatment, although it is not usual, if any discomfort is felt, or even to prevent them, the patient can take some analgesic: Paracetamol 1 gram every 8 hours or Ibuprofen 600mg (every 8 hours).
Proper care of the area requires that, every 12 hours (morning and evening), the patient should wash the area with a soap suitable for intimate hygiene: Avenamit Geni.La Roche Posay ® or Sugella Uomo®.
3. Immediately afterwards, the application of a topical antibiotic is recommended to prevent infection: Fucidine ointment® or Mupirocin Isdin ointment®.
Small erosions secondary to the treatment will progressively heal over a period of approximately 3-7 days depending on the patient and the extent of the treated area. Once healed, it is recommended to discontinue the application of the antibiotic ointment.
Sexual activity can be resumed as soon as all erosions have healed (approximately 7 days).
Recovery and results
After the treatment of pearly papules, reddening of the area and some scabbing may appear, but this does not prevent a completely normal life, avoiding sexual intercourse for the next 10 to 15 days.
The application of an antibiotic cream twice a day is recommended to minimize the risk of infection. The healing process is completed in a period of approximately 1 week to 10 days.
Although most of the lesions are eliminated during the first session and the treated lesions do not reappear, we recommend a check-up every month to eliminate any lesions that may have persisted.
In no case does the treatment cause changes in sensitivity or erection problems.
Pearly papules lack roots, they grow on a superficial plane of the foreskin, therefore, Co2 laser removal is very effective and “smoothes” the treated surface without the ability to reproduce.
Real cases
Before and after treatment
Throughout all these years many patients have trusted us. We show you some real cases.
Multimedia
More information on pearly papules
Video
Our doctors explain
Is it normal to have pearly papules? Is it contagious? How to eliminate pearly papules?
Our team of specialists in pearly papules removal, Dr. Lorena Leal (dermatologist), Dr. Maribel Serrano (Aesthetic Physician) and our Dr. Jose Antonio Canal (Head of the Laser Unit), answer these and many more questions about pearly papules in the following video.
FAQs
What is the treatment for pearly papules like?
In order to avoid discomfort during the treatment, the area is treated with an anesthetic cream that is applied topically about 10 minutes before starting the treatment.
The treatment consists of eliminating the lesions individually with successive laser pulses. The treatment may last 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of lesions.
The procedure is painless and does not cause bleeding.
Is recovery needed after treatment?
After the treatment of pearly papules, reddening of the area and some scabbing may appear, but this does not prevent a completely normal life, avoiding sexual intercourse for the next 10 to 15 days.
The application of an antibiotic cream twice a day is recommended to minimize the risk of infection. The healing process is completed in a period of approximately 1 week to 10 days.
Although most of the lesions are eliminated during the first session and the treated lesions do not reappear, we recommend a check-up every month to eliminate any lesions that may have persisted.
In no case does the treatment cause changes in sensitivity or erection problems.
Is it contagious?
Not at all. They are benign lesions with no transmission capacity. Pearly papules on the glans penis are a purely aesthetic condition. Conceptually any lesion that protrudes is a wart and we think of its contagious capacity, however, these white pimples on the glans are not virus-laden such as papillomavirus (HPV).
Do these pimples reappear on the foreskin after treatment?
Fortunately, the Co2 laser treatment is very effective, so the pearly papules do not reappear.
Is it normal to have pearly papules?
In infancy they are not visible and at puberty, due to hormonal stimulation, they develop and acquire their definitive size. From this moment on they do not grow, but they do not disappear by themselves.
Will I see any marks after treatment?
Pearly papules lack roots, they grow on a superficial plane of the foreskin, therefore, removal with the Co2 laser is very effective and “smoothes” the treated surface without the ability to reproduce.