Bump on the penile shaft: possible ingrown hair

An ingrown hair can cause a local raised, itchy, or tender spot, sometimes with a visible hair or a small amount of inflammation. Folliculitis affects the follicle and may appear as several red or pus-tipped bumps. Razor Bumps describe a recurring shaving response. Keratosis Pilaris tends to produce many rough follicular bumps, not a single new lesion. A smooth or pearly bump, blister, ulcer, bleeding area, or lesion not centred on a hair follicle may need another explanation. Do not diagnose a penile lesion from a photograph or assume it is sexually transmitted without an examination.

Stop shaving or plucking the area and avoid rubbing it. Clean with water or a mild unscented cleanser, dry gently, and wear loose underwear. A warm compress may ease tenderness. Never squeeze, lance, or dig for a hair, and keep antiseptics, steroid creams, and acne products away from the urethral opening unless prescribed. Avoid sex if the bump is painful or the skin is broken. For repeated hair-removal bumps, ask about Laser Hair Removal once the skin is healthy.

Seek prompt medical review for spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, severe pain, rapid enlargement, or difficulty urinating. Arrange sexual-health or dermatology care for blisters, ulcers, bleeding, discharge, several new lesions, a lesion after a new sexual exposure, or a bump that remains or recurs. Sudden severe testicular pain or swelling needs urgent assessment and is not explained by a superficial skin bump.

Is the bump centred on a hair follicle, and could it be infected? Should I have sexual-health testing? What hair-removal method is least likely to irritate my skin?