Zoon's balanitis
Last reviewed 01/2018
This condition presents as:
- shiny, moist, erythematous, well-dermacated
plaque on the glans penis in an older uncircumcised male
- well-demarcated, moist, shiny, bright-red or autumn-brown multiple pinpoint patches involve the glans and prepuce - “cayenne pepper spots” (1)
- presentation is often indolent and asymptomatic
- differential diagnosis includes seborrhoeic dermatitis,erosive lichen planus, psoriasis, fixed drug eruption, secondary syphilis, erythroplasia of Queyrat and Kaposi's sarcoma
Biopsy is often indicated (2)
Treatment
- may improve with altered
washing habits plus intermittent application of a mild or potent topical corticosteroid
(with or without antibiotics and anticandidal drugs)
- often persists or relapses
- almost all cases occur in uncircumcised men and nearly all are cured by circumcision
- alternative methods – CO2 laser (1)
Notes:
- some believe that Zoon's balanitis indicates a dysfunctional foreskin (1)
Reference:
- (1) British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. 2008 UK National Guideline on the Management of Balanoposthitis
- (2) Bunker C B. Male genital dermatology. London: Saunders, 2004.