What Causes Red Spots on the Penis and How Are They Treated?

If red spots have formed on your penis, it’s important to remember that they aren’t always a sign of something serious.

In some cases, red spots may result from poor hygiene or a minor irritation. These spots typically disappear in a day or two.

Red spots that develop as a result of something more serious, such as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), typically last longer and are accompanied by other symptoms.

What do the red bumps look like?

If you’re looking for a quick diagnosis, you can use the following chart to assess your spot symptoms. This chart is only assessing the appearance, feel, location, and number of spots — it isn’t accounting for any other symptoms that you may be experiencing.

If you’re leaning toward one or two different conditions based on spot symptoms, read more about them below to assess any other symptoms, learn treatment options, and see whether you should visit your doctor.

	itchy	tender or sore	general rash, few distinct spots	cluster of bumps	fluid-filled bumps	raised bumps	sunken bumps	under the skin
balanitis	✓	✓	✓
contact dermatitis	✓		✓
genital herpes		✓		✓	✓
genital eczema	✓		✓
genital psoriasis	✓		✓
jock itch	✓		✓
molluscum contagiosum	✓					✓
scabies	✓					✓
syphilis			✓		✓		✓
yeast infection	✓	✓	✓