What Causes White Discoloration Under Penis?

Posted on Mon, 16 Mar 2015

Question: Hello, I just wanted to ask a quick question. This morning, my wife discovered on the shaft of my penis on the under side a patch of skin that was whiter then the rest of it. Upon examination, it seemed to be a small batch/blotch of skin that just turned a different color. It seemed perhaps slightly raised as well, but other then that, normal. No pain. No burning or discomfort. Bodily function of it works fine. All we know is this spot appeared within the last month. Any ideas of what it could be?

Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Kindly send pictures of the affected area.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.

I can understand your concern for the spot over the genital area.

There is a possibility of mild fungal infection in the spot. To confirm the same and guide you best I request you to kindly upload few good resolution pictures of the affected area. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. or else you can send your pictures at

YYYY@YYYY

With attention " Dr. Sanjay XXXXXXX Kanodia "

Hope to hear soon from your side.

With regards,

Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY & Sexually transmitted diseases.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (4 minutes later)

I was actually in the process of taking the pictures right after I sent this question. They are now uploaded on the right. My wife discovered another white patch on the top right of my shaft as well as the original, more clear one on the bottom right towards the head, as you can see in the two pictures provided.

Another question, other than what it is; will it affect my wife as well? Is it contagious? Do you know if there's something that can be done about it, maybe some kind of cream I can acquire at a general store?

Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Vitiligo or Post inflammatory hypo-pigmentation. Meet Dermatologist.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome back and thanks for posting your pictures.

I have analyzed all the pictures sent. After analyzing the pictures with best diligence I can make two possibilities : the one of Vitiligo and the other of "Post inflammatory hypo-pigmentation" or PIH.

To tell you simply regarding the conditions: Our skin daily produces pigment from the special cells called as melanocytes. These melanocytes are the cells which regularly produces color/pigment known as melanin in the skin. These are superficially present in the upper skin known as epidermis.

In Post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation or PIH there is less production of pigment melanin in the skin temporarily. It leads to patches of whitish color for a time being period.

In vitiligo melanocytes stops secreting melanin. This causes slowly enlarging white patches on our skin.

Both of the above conditions are quite normal and usually seen. As your patches are recent one therefore requires a personalized examination to differentiate the two conditions. The diagnosis of both the conditions can be done by wood’s lamp examination reveals the exact nature of hypo-pigmentation due to vitiligo or PIH.

I suggest you to meet a dermatologist and get yourself examined. I also reassure you that both the conditions are quite simple and treatable one. There is no effect inside the body and there is no ill effect of both the conditions.

Hope the information provided will help you. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to help.

"Wish you good health"

Regards,
Dr Sanjay K Kanodia
(MD- Dermatology & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar