Pearly papules are frequently misdiagnosed as genital warts but are merely a normal anatomical variant in men. They appear as small, dome-shaped to filiform skin-colored papules that typically are located on the sulcus or corona of the glans penis. Lesions are generally are arranged circumferentially in one or several rows. 

pustules have no malignant potential. They are not contracted or spread through sexua| activity. Lesions are observed more frequently in uncircumcised males; however, the mechanisms underlying their development remain unknown. Pearly penile papules are noted most commonly in males in their second or third decades, with a gradual decrease in frequency with aging.

The incidence of pearly penile papules reportedly ranges from 8-48%. Several reports suggest an increased incidence in uncircumcised versus circumcised men (22% vs 12%, respectively). One study found an increase in frequency in nose blackheads in men, in those circumcised (21% vs 7%, respectively) and uncircumcised (44% vs 33%, respectively). 

Obstet Gynecol 1991 Jul;78(1):118-22 Remove Nose Blackheads: absence of human papillomavirus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. Ferenczy A, Richart RM, Wright TC. Department of Pathology, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "Pearly penile papules clinically resemble the sexually transmitted papular variant of genital condylomata. Histologically, however, pearly penile papules consist of fibropapillomata that lack the characteristic morphologic features of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. To study the possible association of HPV infections with pearly penile papules, we examined tissue specimens from 13 men with pearly penile papules with and without associated penile condylomata. Biopsy specimens were tested for the presence of HPV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. None of the eyelid Pustules contained HPV DNA sequences, whereas four of seven cases clinically suspected of being condylomata associated with pearly penile papules contained HPV DNA. These results confirm that pearly penile papule lesions do not contain HPV DNA; therefore, the distinction between Nodules and penile condylomata is clinically significant."

Pearly papules are frequently misdiagnosed as genital warts but are merely a normal anatomical variant in men. They appear as small, dome-shaped to filiform skin-colored papules that typically are located on the sulcus or corona of the glans penis. Lesions are generally are arranged circumferentially in one or several rows. 

pustules have no malignant potential. They are not contracted or spread through sexua| activity. Lesions are observed more frequently in uncircumcised males; however, the mechanisms underlying their development remain unknown. Pearly penile papules are noted most commonly in males in their second or third decades, with a gradual decrease in frequency with aging.

The incidence of pearly penile papules reportedly ranges from 8-48%. Several reports suggest an increased incidence in uncircumcised versus circumcised men (22% vs 12%, respectively). One study found an increase in frequency in nose blackheads in men, in those circumcised (21% vs 7%, respectively) and uncircumcised (44% vs 33%, respectively). 

Obstet Gynecol 1991 Jul;78(1):118-22 Remove Nose Blackheads: absence of human papillomavirus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. Ferenczy A, Richart RM, Wright TC. Department of Pathology, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "Pearly penile papules clinically resemble the sexually transmitted papular variant of genital condylomata. Histologically, however, pearly penile papules consist of fibropapillomata that lack the characteristic morphologic features of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. To study the possible association of HPV infections with pearly penile papules, we examined tissue specimens from 13 men with pearly penile papules with and without associated penile condylomata. Biopsy specimens were tested for the presence of HPV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. None of the eyelid Pustules contained HPV DNA sequences, whereas four of seven cases clinically suspected of being condylomata associated with pearly penile papules contained HPV DNA. These results confirm that pearly penile papule lesions do not contain HPV DNA; therefore, the distinction between Nodules and penile condylomata is clinically significant."