I noticed small bumps on the head of my penis. Is this supposed to happen?

Last updated on August 27, 2020

Question:

I am 15 years old and I have noticed small bumps on the head of my penis about 2-3 years ago. They don’t pop or anything, but they are sensitive. Is this a skin condition or is this supposed to happen?

Answer:

Your description is too vague for me to guess what you are seeing. The head of your penis, called the glans, is highly sensitive to touch. During adolescence the surface of the glans becomes rough. It is especially noticeable when you have an erection as these rough areas spread out. The purpose is to give you strong feedback during sex. The least touch moves the rough areas and sends signals of pleasure back to your brain.

Some men develop a series of bumps along the bottom edge of the glans. That edge is called the corona and the bumps are called pearly penile papules. “Pearly” because they are white to yellowish in color, “penile” because they are on the penis, and “papules” because they are bumps. They are harmless. About 8 to 48% of all men have them to varying degrees. I don’t know if this is what you have or not, but you can write back with more details if you want more information.