When Penis Skin Color Fades, It May Be Vitiligo

For many men, their penis is a big source of pride, so maintaining proper penis health and ensuring a good looking member is crucial. When issues involving penis skin occur, it can be a source of significant concern. Penis rash, redness, bumps, extreme curvature and other issue that affect the appearance of the penis may strike a blow at a man’s self-esteem. So when penis skin color fades or “bleaches out,” a man wants to know what is causing it and what he can do to fix it. In many cases, that fading may be caused by a condition known as vitiligo.

Pale penis skin

In some instances, penis skin color changes can be normal. For example, particularly in light-skinned men, the penis often becomes redder when it is erect, a result of the increased blood flow and heat that occur during the erectile process. Men who frequent nude beaches will often see a natural color progression as the penis tans and as the tan fades. And rough handling of the penis and excess friction may in some cases produce temporarily lighter skin, as an old layer of skin is rubbed away to reveal “newer” skin beneath.

And then in other cases, penis skin color change may be related to vitiligo.

What is vitiligo?

Most people who have heard of vitiligo know the name because the late pop star Michael Jackson was said to have suffered from it. Vitiligo occurs when the skin loses melanocytes, cells that produce melanin, which affect color production in the skin, hair and eyes. It may also occur if the melanocytes are present but not functioning properly.

Scientists are still unclear about just why a person may develop vitiligo, but there are several suspected causes:

– It may be hereditary, something that is passed on from a father and/or mother.

– It may be triggered by an outside factor such as sunburn or stress.

– An autoimmune situation may develop, in which the immune system itself attacks the melanocytes.

Vitiligo is not a dangerous condition, but people who contract it carry a higher risk of complications like hearing loss, inflammation of the iris and sunburn. More often, they may experience psychological distress – and this can be especially true for men with vitiligo on the penis who attach a great deal of importance to the physical appearance of their manhood.

Treatment

The effects of vitiligo can be treated in several ways. In some instances, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids may be able to re-pigment portions of affected skin, although this change can 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 is often recommended, applied topically.

Often, however, 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 portions of his penis are “patchy.” The penis itself still functions normally and is healthy; it is merely the appearance that has changed.

Penis skin discoloration due to vitiligo can be distressing at first, but being accepting and concentrating on the overall penis skin health is advised. To that end, regular use of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can make a difference. Since vitamin D may have an impact on vitiligo in some cases, using a crème with that vitamin can be a plus – especially since this vitamin is crucial for other aspects of penis health as well. In addition, penis skin will remain supple and smooth if a crème includes both hydrating agents like vitamin E and Shea butter as well as a potent antioxidant like alpha lipoic acid.

When Penis Skin Color Fades, It May Be Vitiligo by John Dugan