There are white dots on the foreskin

White dots on the foreskin may be ectopic sebaceous glands or pearly penile papules, which are usually benign conditions. It may be related to poor local hygiene, changes in hormone levels or mild inflammatory stimulation, and generally does not require special treatment.

Sebaceous heterotopia manifests as light yellow or white papules ranging from pintip to millet size, mostly painless and itchy, and are commonly found on the inner side of the foreskin or the coronal sulcus. This phenomenon is related to abnormal development of sebaceous glands and is more likely to appear after puberty. Keeping the area clean and dry can reduce the accumulation of secretions. If it is accompanied by redness, swelling and pain, you need to be alert to fungal infections such as candidiasis. You can use miconazole nitrate cream or clotrimazole ointment as directed by your doctor.

Pearly penile papules appear as pearly translucent small papules arranged in rows along the coronal sulcus and are hyperplasia of vascular fibrous tissue. It may be related to chronic friction caused by excessive foreskin, and is usually not contagious or malignant. It is recommended to choose breathable cotton underwear for daily use and avoid excessive washing or use of irritating bath products. If it affects the quality of life, it can be removed by laser or cryotherapy, but the probability of recurrence is high.

For daily care, you should wash the inside and outside of the foreskin with warm water every day, open it and dry it thoroughly before resetting it. Avoid picking or squeezing the white spots yourself to prevent secondary infection. For patients with premature foreskin, circumcision may be considered to reduce the risk of recurrence. If the number of white spots increases in a short period of time, becomes ulcerated, or is accompanied by abnormal urination, you should promptly go to a dermatology or urology department to check for genital warts, lichen planus and other lesions.