From the Guidelines
Scars on the glans penis are primarily caused by Lichen Sclerosus (LS), a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can lead to scarring and structural changes.
Causes of Scars
- Lichen Sclerosus (LS): a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can cause scarring, particularly in the genital area, including the glans penis 1.
- Phimosis: a condition where the foreskin becomes tight, leading to scarring and potentially causing erectile dysfunction and painful erections 1.
- Koebnerization: a phenomenon where scars or skin lesions can trigger the development of new LS lesions, leading to further scarring 1.
- Surgical complications: scarring can also occur as a result of surgical procedures, such as circumcision or meatotomy, particularly if the disease is still active at the time of surgery 1.
Relevant Factors
- Topical corticosteroids: can help prevent scarring and reduce the risk of Koebnerization, particularly when used after surgery 1.
- Circumcision: can be an effective treatment for phimosis and LS, but may not always prevent further scarring or disease recurrence 1.
From the Research
Causes of Scars on the Glans Penis
The causes of scars on the glans penis can be attributed to various factors, including:
- Infections such as herpes genitalis and human papillomavirus (HPV) 2
- Inflammatory conditions like balanitis, which can be caused by bacterial or fungal infections 3
- Chronic inflammatory diseases such as lichen sclerosus, also known as balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) 4
- Traumatic injuries, including those resulting from circumcision or other surgical procedures 5
- Dermatological conditions like necrobiosis lipoidica, which can cause ulcerative lesions and subsequent scarring 6
Infectious Causes
Infections play a significant role in the development of scars on the glans penis. For example:
- Herpes simplex virus infection is a common cause of genital ulceration, which can lead to scarring 2
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can cause condyloma acuminatum, which can result in scarring if left untreated 2
- Bacterial infections like Staphylococcus haemolyticus can cause erosive balanitis, leading to painful and exudative lesions on the glans penis 3
Non-Infectious Causes
Non-infectious causes of scars on the glans penis include:
- Chronic inflammatory diseases like lichen sclerosus, which can cause atrophic white patches on the glans penis and foreskin 2, 4
- Traumatic injuries, such as those resulting from circumcision or other surgical procedures, which can lead to the formation of penile skin bridges 5
- Dermatological conditions like necrobiosis lipoidica, which can cause ulcerative lesions and subsequent scarring on the glans penis 6