Bumps on the penis and MRSA: not a good combination
In recent years, MRSA, known to doctors as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, has become an increasingly serious problem. While not traditionally associated with threats to penile health, it has become a potential area of concern. While it is rare for the appearance of bumps on the penis to signify the presence of MRSA, men should be aware of the possibility of MRSA occurring on the penis and know what to do if they suspect that this is the case.
What is MRSA?
As its name might imply, MRSA is an infection caused by a strain of bacteria that is resistant to traditional antibiotic treatment. This bacterium has emerged due to the overuse of antibiotics. For years, many people have been prescribed antibiotics for viral infections. These viruses were not affected by antibiotics, but unnecessary exposure to antibiotics helped the staph bacteria develop immunity against them.
Staph bacteria tend to live on the skin or nose; about 30-40% of people carry them with them. As long as they remain on the surface, they are harmless. But when they enter the body, they can cause problems, sometimes serious, with the blood, lungs, heart, joints, or bones. In some cases, MRSA in the body can be fatal.
It used to be that MRSA was basically a problem in nursing homes or hospitals, and the bacteria entered the body through improperly sterilized equipment. However, MRSA has become somewhat more common in what is known as a “community” setting, where it is spread from one person to another, usually by skin-to-skin contact.
Penis connection hits
MRSA usually presents as red, swollen bumps that can be tender or painful and can look like pimples or insect bites.
When they appear as bumps on the penis, most of the time they enter the body through cuts or nicks in the skin. So if a man is doing a manscape and cutting himself with a razor, if there are MRSA bacteria nearby, they can enter the body that way. Sometimes it can also be due to the penis rubbing raw from overuse or forgetting to use lubricant. Small cuts may develop through which bacteria can invade.
Some doctors have also reported cases where MRSA has been transmitted through sexual contact. It is not clear whether bacteria can enter the body through the meatus of the penis and travel through the urethra. However, it has been documented that it was transmitted from a man who performed oral sex to a woman infected with MRSA.
Bumps on the penis can be due to many causes other than MRSA. However, if a man has lumps on his penis that seem to be unexplained, he should see his doctor to determine the cause. If MRSA is responsible, the doctor will begin treatment to make sure no complications occur.
Prevention
Preventing MRSA is much better than treating it. Basic common hygiene practices, such as regular hand washing, keeping clothing, bedding, and towels clean, and showering after physical activity can help. It is also important not to share personal hygiene products (such as razors), towels, or underwear. And when wounds develop, they must be washed, sterilized, and covered. It is also recommended to use condoms during sexual intercourse.
Clearly, not all cases of penis bumps are a sign of MRSA. Sometimes those bumps signify irritated penis skin, which can respond to regular use of a high-end penis health cream. (Health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven to be gentle and safe for the skin). Strong penis skin needs help to resist free radicals and the oxidative stress they cause, and that is why the cream should have a powerful antioxidant such as alpha lipoic acid. The skin of the penis also needs to have enough elasticity to fulfill its functions, so the cream must include vitamin C, which helps to produce the collagen that contributes to adequate elasticity.