A long story and thank you

It's such an amazing feeling to have found you guys. I've been struggling with a fear that I have genital warts for the past 4 years. I went to a Dr. 4 years ago and he told me I had nothing to worry about, that they were just normal bumps. Then, I had a girlfriend who thought she had genital warts and was prescribed medicine for them (I'm not sure if she actually had them, the Dr.s at our school were very quick to prescribe the medicine to anyone who asked). Then, I went and basically talked a Dr. into giving me a prescription as well, though the Dr. said a few times that she didn't think I really had genital warts, that she wasn't sure what the bumps were. But, she prescribed me stuff nevertheless, and it didn't really do anything. Then, I went back and asked her to prescribe me a different treatment for them (the first one was for the immune system, the second one was more for "burning"), and it did help on the big ones. I never had anything that looked like any wart photos I saw online, they were smooth and most under the skin, so I always wondered, but still was scared.

But, anyways, then I started self-treating. For years, I would use the over the counter wart stuff (acid, freezing) on these little bumps, usually on the most severe ones that were raised. Sometimes they would go away. Sometimes they wouldn't. Always I would find more and think "that is so small! and is it under the skin? it can't be a wart! but, I must destroy it. I'll try to treat it anyways..." For over 3 years I did this! Anyways, then a year ago I went to a urologist and was examined and he said absolutely nothing about these bumps that I thought had been a big deal. That really woke me up. I mean, he examined me and must have seen these bumps I had been letting rule my life for all this time and said absolutely nothing about them. Still, though, I let their presence rule my mind so much, I mean the amount of time I spend thinking about this stuff is hard to even believe. I think the biggest thing that always made me not believe that they weren't some disease was that they would from time to time crop up in new places. When that happened, I would never let them be, I would always attack them immediately with some severe self-treating, and then I would always be perpetually "wounded" and healing, so I had this image of my penis as being wounded, if that makes any sense.

Now, I've found the pictures of you all on the old forum and I see exactly what I have had all this time! Just some sweat glands! You have no idea how liberating this is. I still have the bumps, but I don't have to worry about this being warts, I don't have to worry about it being a disease I could give to someone. Somehow I feel after seeing your photos and reading your stories that I can now accept the fact that I've received repeated reassurance that I don't have an STD from Dr's. Part of me still doesn't fully believe it (that's weird, right?), but I mean, I have to start accepting it and let go of this fear that I have something. OK, I'm sorry this is so long. I just had to finally tell my story. I still right now have burns that I'm recovering from because I used the over the counter freezing stuff and the over the counter acid last week, again getting into this cycle of worrying that I have something. But, now with this community and seeing the pictures and reading the story, I am really going to finally accept this and be OK and move on. This is NORMAL! Thank you, guys.

Welcome

hey man. i know how you feel. Its like lifting 100 pounds from your back and the relief of knowing it is perfectly normal is absolutely incredible. I felt amazing after i found out that it was not a disease and that i was just like hundred of other people. But then I started getting a new fear. though it was perfectly normal, it is still unsightly. I became so afraid of what girls would say about my sp, that i felt as if i had something worse than an STD, because STD's are treatable. To a degree, sebaceous prominence is not treatable. I became obsessed with trying to rid my body of a harmless skin condition. No, its not even a condition. Its just harmless hair follicles that are clogged. Sp should be no big deal but the thought of getting rid of them and becoming perfect was ruining my life. It's unhealthy physically and mentally to stress so much over something so insignificant. I realized this before it was too late and i've started to accept that these things are not that bad. Any girl should not be bothered by them, or will be understand if you tell them about the sp. I no longer care that much about them. Learning to accept them was more satisfying than finding out that sp was normal in the first place. Now one thought (possible over optomistic) is that these spots are a blessing; lets say your girl realizes you have them and freaks out and leaves. Don't be sad because she was superficial and shallow, and it is better for you to find out early than for you to find out that she's not the person you want to be with too far along down the road. So these bumps can actually help you find the right girl.
Another thing, i hooked up with my girlfriend of just two days and she gave me a handjob last night and didnt say one thing about my sp. The only thing she says about last night was how much fun it was to pleasure me. The old me who was obsessive over sp would have passed up this perfect opportunity.
SO LONG STORY SHORT. GUEST, DO NOT GET OBSESSIVE ON REMOVING YOUR SP. YOU ARE STILL AT THE STAGE WHERE YOU ARE HAPPY JUST TO KNOW THEY ARE NORMAL. PLEASE STAY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NORMAL AND GO HOOK UP WITH AS MANY GIRLS AS POSSIBLE UNTIL YOU FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU. later man

i actually agree with shroomyloomy that sp is a blessing, to a certain extent, as it definitely does weed out the superficial girls. i also believe the pitfalls that come with thinking you are perfect could potentially be worse than having a flaw that keeps you grounded. im more than happy with the rest of my body, so not having the "flaw" that is sebaceous prominence probably would have turned me into an obnoxious douchebag. obviously i would still rather not have to deal with it at all, but it has given me a different perspective on things which i cant say is bad. having sp and then having it go away would be the best though! it would allow me the perspective that sp has given me, while at the same time releasing me from my inhibitions