For many men, their penis is a great source of pride, so maintaining proper penile health and ensuring an attractive member is crucial. When problems related to the skin of the penis occur, it can be a source of great concern. Penile rash, redness, bumps, extreme curvature, and other problems that affect the appearance of the penis can affect a man’s self-esteem. So when the skin color on the penis fades or “whites”, a man wants to know what is causing it and what he can do to fix it. In many cases, that lightheadedness can be caused by a condition known as vitiligo.
Pale penis skin
In some cases, changes in the skin color of the penis may be normal. For example, particularly in fair-skinned men, the penis often becomes redder when erect, as a result of increased blood flow and heat produced during the erection process. Men who frequent nude beaches will often see a natural color progression as the penis tans and the tan fades. And rough handling of the penis and excessive friction can, in some cases, produce temporarily lighter skin, as an old layer of skin is rubbed away to reveal the “newer” skin underneath.
And then, in other cases, the change in color of the skin of the penis can be related to vitiligo.
What is vitiligo?
Most people who have heard of vitiligo know the name because the late pop star Michael Jackson is said to have suffered from it. Vitiligo occurs when the skin loses melanocytes, cells that produce melanin, which affects color production in the skin, hair, and eyes. It can also occur if melanocytes are present but not working properly.
Scientists are still unclear on why a person might develop vitiligo, but there are several suspected causes:
– It can be hereditary, something that is transmitted from father and/or mother.
– It can be triggered by an external factor such as sunburn or stress.
– An autoimmune situation can develop, in which the immune system itself attacks the melanocytes.
Vitiligo is not a dangerous condition, but people who get it are at higher risk of complications such as hearing loss, inflammation of the iris, and sunburn. More often, they may experience psychological distress, and this may be especially true for men with penile vitiligo who place great importance on the physical appearance of their manhood.
Treatment
The effects of vitiligo can be treated in a number of ways. In some cases, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids can re-pigment parts of the affected skin, although this change may take a long time to become visible. Various forms of laser therapy and light therapy are sometimes effective, although their use on the penis requires special care and consideration. Vitamin D, applied topically, is often recommended.
However, often a man will find that even after treatment he still has visible patches of vitiligo on his penis. In such cases, a man is advised to learn to live with the fact that parts of his penis have “patches”. The penis itself still functions normally and is healthy; it is simply the appearance that has changed.
Discoloration of the skin of the penis due to vitiligo can be distressing at first, but it is recommended to accept and focus on the overall health of the skin of the penis. To that end, regular use of a superior penile health cream (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven to be gentle and safe for the skin) can make a difference. Since vitamin D can have an impact on vitiligo in some cases, using a vitamin D cream can be an advantage, especially since this vitamin is also crucial for other aspects of penile health. Also, the skin of the penis will remain supple and smooth if a cream includes moisturizing agents like vitamin E and shea butter, as well as a powerful antioxidant like alpha lipoic acid.