At first, it can be scary to see little white-yellow pimples on your lips, cheeks, or genitals. When people see these spots, they frequently think the worst, including a viral infection, a sexually transmitted disease, or not cleansing themselves well enough. But most of the time, you see Fordyce spots. Most people will have this common skin disease at some point. Dr. John Addison Fordyce, a dermatologist, was the first to write about these patches in 1896. Doctors know that they are a normal part of the body and not an illness, and they now go by his name.
Fordyce spots are small, pale, or yellowish-white lumps that can be seen on the corners of the lips, inside the mouth (the inner lining of the cheeks), and on the genitals, like the shaft of the penis, the scrotum, the labia, or the inner lining of the vagina. Fordyce patches are normally between 1 and 3 mm wide and don’t pain, itch, leak, or spread. The most important thing is that they can’t be spread to other individuals and are not connected to any ailment, sexually transmitted or not.
Fordyce spots are sebaceous glands that are in locations where they shouldn’t be. This means that they produce oil. Sebaceous glands are often close to hair follicles. They let out sebum, an oily material that protects and keeps the skin moist. Fordyce spots are not the same as hair follicles because they can appear on parts of the body that don’t grow hair, including the lips or genitals.
Fordyce spots are there from the time you are born, although they generally become more prominent after you hit puberty. Changes in hormones during puberty make the sebaceous glands create more oil. This might cause these ectopic glands grow larger and easier to spot. People who have naturally oily skin or whose hormones are changing, like during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, are more likely to have these patches.
Fordyce spots aren’t hazardous, but they can be scary, especially if they appear on the lips or in private areas where they might be mistaken for something serious. People commonly mix up genital Fordyce spots with genital warts (which are caused by HPV), herpes sores, molluscum contagiosum, milia, or epidermoid cysts. Fordyce spots don’t hurt, itch, swell, or make pus, and they don’t make you want to spread as these other diseases do. If you’re still not sure or are afraid, it’s always best to contact a dermatologist or another health care specialist for a correct diagnosis. If you try to figure out what’s wrong with yourself, you can worry too much or get the wrong treatment.
You can get treatments for Fordyce spots if you don’t like how they look for cosmetic or psychological reasons, but you don’t have to. The Cleveland Clinic lists a number of procedures and topical treatments that can help get rid of or lessen the spots:
Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the area, which kills the tissue you don’t want. This is a short, non-invasive treatment that may need more than one session. The skin might change color or get scars, but this is quite unlikely.
Electrodessication uses a high-frequency electric current to get rid of the spots and dry them off. It can be effective for treating skin lesions, but it can also produce redness and pain for a short period.
CO₂ or pulsed dye lasers can be used to resurface the skin by smoothing out rough patches and making them less apparent without hurting the skin around them too much.
Micro-punch surgery is a type of surgery that doesn’t require a lot of cutting. It uses a unique pen-like tool to remove each area by hand. It works really well, but it is only utilized in important or rare situations because it demands a lot of information.
Other topical therapies, such retinoid creams (like tretinoin), may also help by slowly reducing the sebaceous glands and encouraging healthy cell turnover. Retinoids can make sensitive skin worse, so you should only use them with a doctor’s help.
It is very important to say again that you should not utilize home remedies or try to get rid of things on your own. If you squeeze, scrape, or pick at them, you could get infections, swelling, and scarring that are far worse than the Fordyce spots. Most of the time, over-the-counter acne treatments, harsh washes, and antiseptics don’t help and can even make things worse.
If you don’t want to have treatment for Fordyce spots, the best thing you can do is take care of your skin. To keep your skin clean, wash it gently with warm water and a light soap, especially in sensitive areas. Cleaning too often, using strong cleansers, or using skin care products that are heavy in fat can all irritate the skin or block oil glands, which could make the spots stand out more. A light moisturizer that doesn’t clog pores can help keep your skin in balance and soothe inflammation.
In short, Fordyce spots are skin features that many people have but don’t discuss about very often. They happen a lot, don’t hurt anyone, and aren’t contagious. People may be worried or embarrassed about how they look, but it’s normal for the body and normally doesn’t need medical help. You can receive cosmetic surgery if you don’t like how you appear, but you should talk to a doctor first. You don’t need to be ashamed of Fordyce’s spots; the most essential thing is to realize that they are normal. People may feel less humiliated and frightened about them because of this.
