Pearly Penile Papules (PPP)

Pearly penile papules (PPP) are small bumps that grow on the ridge near the head of the penis. Learn more about this harmless skin condition.

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Pearly penile papules (PPP) are small bumps that grow on the ridge near the head of the penis. They are a harmless and common skin condition. They don’t cause pain or itching. They are not a sexually transmitted infection (STI). These growths are not spread from person to person. They are not warts or cancer. They are not caused by a virus or bacteria.

What causes pearly penile papules?

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes them. They are a type of overgrowth of tissue. They can appear in people with a penis from puberty onward. They are more common in people who have not been circumcised.

Symptoms of pearly penile papules

The head of the penis is called the glans. The bottom ridge of the glans is called the corona. Pearly penile papules grow on and under the corona. They don’t cause pain or itch.

They may:

  • Be white, pink, or skin-colored.

  • Look like small bumps.

  • Stick out like little stalks.

Diagnosing pearly penile papules

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and give you a physical exam. They will look at the head of the penis. In some cases, a doctor may take a small sample of tissue (biopsy). The tissue will be looked at in a lab. This is to make sure the growths are not another type of health condition.

Treatment for pearly penile papules

The growths are not harmful and don’t need treatment. There are no medicines known to treat them. Removal may be attempted with surgery, electrical destruction, or laser treatment in a doctor’s office, though scarring or recurrence are possible.

Living with pearly penile papules

Make sure you:

  • Don't cut, pick, or scrape at them. This may lead to a skin infection.

  • Don't use wart or pimple medicine on them. This may cause irritation and scarring.

Pearly penile papules may start to get smaller as a person ages.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your doctor if you have:

  • Symptoms that don’t get better, or get worse.

  • New symptoms.