Red Puffy Meatus

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The very very tip of my penis (the meatus) is red, swollen and puffy. Its always been like it and doesn't affect me in any way but i wanna know if its common. It basically looks like the hole has red lips.

Welcome to A2A, Qwerty. If it's not sore or tender to the touch I suppose it just shows how much variation there can be. It's not something I have seen before, though. The whole of the glans has a similar surface ('mucous membrane') to the lips, so that doesn't explain why part of it would be redder. If it is a little tender I wonder if there might be a little irritation--perhaps a low-grade infection, or perhaps you don't drink enough water, and your urine is a bit too concentrated?

Thanks for the Reply. It doesn't hurt in any way and i can touch it and urinate without discomfort. It isn't just red though. It sort of looks like a blister with a line down the middle (witch is just the hole). It 100% isnt a blister though. an its more of a pinky red. I definitely don't drink enough everyday. I tend to have diluted orange squash but only maybe 4 glasses a day. My urine is too concentrated and from time to time can have a bad smell. I remember going to the doctors about it when i was younger (like 4/5) and he said to put cream on it, which i did. I don't remember if it ever cleared up but i don't think it did.

Also the bottom of the glands under the forskin is a purple colour. which ive read can be caused by balaniitis. i don't know if i have that or if either are related. ive had them both for as long as i can remember.

You should try drinking more water. The occasional bad smell in urine may just come from something you have eaten, but it could mean there is a urinary tract infection, which happens more often if the system doesn't get flushed out by a reasonable throughput.

Balanitis usually gives a red rash, but the term covers a lot of different infections that don't all look the same. A lichen planus infection gives purple blotches, but isn't common. A pale bluish-purple colour in the glans is quite normal, but dark purple usually indicates a problem with blood circulation.

You could always try some simple treatments to see if they make a difference. I would start with an antifungal cream--you may well have something suitable already in the house for things like tinea (athlete's foot); if not, antifungal cream is available at any pharmacy without prescription. Try it twice a day for a few days and see if it helps. If it does, keep up the treatment for at least a week after the problem has gone. If an antifungal cream doesn't work, the next thing to try is an antibacterial cream.

You can also try changing your washing habits. If you don't wash under the foreskin much, try doing it more. If you wash under there several times a day, try cutting down. If you use soap or a cleanser, try stopping using it, in case there's a local reaction to it.

Thanks for the help. i do also have a red rash but it varies from how bad it is. usually aggravated by masturbation so i always assumed it was just a friction related (I don't usually use lube). its on both the glands and the shaft. Just adds to the numerous problems down there :( I have some athletes foot cream which i have tried on the rash before but i didn't keep applying it. I will give it a go. I shower every day and wash under foreskin once a day with warm water while in shower. If i had to guess i would say they are caused by my poor diet. i don't eat a lot but what i do eat isnt partially healthy. As far as the purple it is quite dark and just goes around the whole edge so could be poor circulation.

Hey was wondering if you every found a good answer here? I've been to dermatologists and urologists with no answers. Same problem as you.

@wigumz Nope still don't have a clue what it is unfortunately sorry. I have had it my whole life and i went to the doctor when i was very young about it and he didn't know what it was and gave me a cream to put on it but it did nothing. How long have you had it?

@Qwerty You never mentioned if you have your foreskin or if you were circumcised or if it's only red swollen and puffy when you're erect or before and or after ejaculating so without actully seeing it, it's difficult for me to invision what it is your saying it looks like. If you have had it your entire life, if it's not painful or causing any discomfort, and your doctor didn't seen too concerned about it, then how do you not know it's actually normal.....?? Does it look like other men's penises?

@Roc Im uncircumcised. Its always there, doesn't really get worse or better no matter if im erect or not. Ive not seen another penis that has the same thing - Looks a little like this however the tip is more swollen on mine and "puffs" out more (Dont wanna put a picture of my own online)

http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj616/d_ot89/20140527_143922_zps003fa6bd.jpg

Hi, I have the exact same issue and have all my life. Because I've always had it I've figured it's not an infection and never really seeked medical help. Did you ever have any luck with creams etc?

@SL85 Hi, Ive tried pretty much every cream and its exactly the same, I've had it for a very long time also and it doesn't affect me in any way so I assume its just something ill have my whole life