# Why Is My Penis Darker Than The Rest Of Me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945 "2006-04-17T04:01:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/1 "2006-04-17T04:01:13Z")
I’ve noticed that the skin on the shaft of my penis is significantly darker than the skin on other regions of my body that are equally deprived of direct sunlight, such as my buttocks and upper thighs. Why might this be the case? This is true despite the fact that I wash my penis more thoroughly and more enthusiastically than I wash the remainder of my body. What could be the cause of this? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/2 "2006-04-17T04:20:00Z")
It’s not unusual at all. Especially people from (or whose ancestors were from) Mediterranean countries, or some parts of Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/3 "2006-04-17T05:08:35Z")
Possibly for the same reason a balloon looks darker when it’s not inflated. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/4 "2006-04-17T06:02:56Z")
What **Princhester** said. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/5 "2006-04-17T06:07:57Z")
The darkening is an effect of all that masturbation. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/6 "2006-04-17T06:12:25Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > The darkening is an effect of all that masturbation. Do you mean because of slight charring due to frictional heat, or due to darkening vision as one goes blind? ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/7 "2006-04-17T06:15:01Z")
I’ve seen this on various men. I tend to assume it is either an ethnic variant and/or a result of hormonal changes following puberty, which definitely cause the darkening of genital & nipple areas in women. However, if your penis was a nice rosy pink a few months ago and suddenly is, say, black, you might want to have that checked out by someone. If it’s always been darker (or at least since puberty), it’s likely normal. BTW, you may wanna check your ass crack, it likely is also darker. If you are very hairy, this may be hard to ascertain. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/8 "2006-04-17T06:27:29Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > This is true despite the fact that I wash my penis more thoroughly and more enthusiastically… _Washing_, you say? Okaaay dude. We believe you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/9 "2006-04-17T08:16:14Z")
I have seen my share of nekkid white men. Ok, probably MORE than my share. Heh. The genitalia of the men I’ve had privilege to see, are darker than the body. I’ve always supposed it’s a combination of thinner skin and more blood vessels in those regions. It’s never been a turn-off or squick factor. BTW , **TheLoadedDog** , _wash_ that thing. We ladies will thank you for that 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/10 "2006-04-17T13:28:08Z")
“squick factor” ? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/11 "2006-04-17T13:31:57Z")
> [@drhess](#): > > “squick factor” ? Read: ickyness. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/12 "2006-04-17T13:39:07Z")
It’s because you cover it in thick, bold, zesty A1 sauce. Try using a little bit of white wine vineagar instead. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/13 "2006-04-17T15:13:40Z")
It’s a combination of (1) color blindness and (2) Chee-to consumption prior to wankage. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/14 "2006-04-17T15:26:28Z")
> [@drhess](#): > > “squick factor” ? Hopefully, definition 1 is meant, not definition 2 (the original meaning). > **[Urban Dictionary: squick](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squick&f=1)** > > 1. Noun. The physical sense of repulsion upon encountering a concept or situation one finds disgusting. 2. Noun. A situation or concept which engenders this reaction. 3. Verb, transitive. To cause someone to have this reaction. 4. Verb, intransitive.... * * * Note that going clothesless has been the natural state of man for almost all of our existence. The wearing of clothes is quite recent. Even less recent is living in northern climes where having a pale skin in order to increase Vitamin D production is an advantage. As opposed to darker skin which is an advantage in sunnier climes. It might be a tradeoff: Slightly less Vitamin D production but less chance of sunburn to a reproductively significant area. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/15 "2006-04-17T15:35:08Z")
I think diet may be a factor. Yours is dark like chocolate while mine displays evidence of _Cheetos_. My advice would be for you to switch to M&Ms. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/16 "2006-04-17T16:06:22Z")
Dear Og, Thank you for having the guy from Gobbler’s Knob talk about his penis. That is all, Shibb ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/17 "2006-04-17T16:29:51Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I think diet may be a factor. Yours is dark like chocolate while mine displays evidence of _Cheetos_. My advice would be for you to switch to M&Ms. Plain or nut? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/18 "2006-04-17T16:29:52Z")
Considering your username, I think you have to consider the possibility that it may actually be somebody else’s penis. ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/19 "2006-04-17T16:49:43Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Considering your username, I think you have to consider the possibility that it may actually be somebody else’s penis. Or perhaps it is actually your penis but somebody else’s body. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945/20 "2006-04-17T16:58:23Z")
Ddi you leave it on top of the fridge? When I put bananas up there for a week they turn black. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-penis-darker-than-the-rest-of-me/352945.md?page=2)