Facts about Fordyce spots: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.
Date: December 30th, 2020
Facts about Fordyce spots: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
There could be some situations when you did see some whitish or yellowish spots. Either on someone’s lips, cheeks, or you personally currently experiences them. Maybe you are wondering what they are, their causes, and you are concerned about finding a solution. Well, the spots are known as Fordyce Spots.
What are Fordyce spots?
Fordyce spots are small elevated whitish or yellowish bumps, blemishes, or spots on the glans, vermilion border of the lips, or inside the cheeks.
They are both common in males and females. The spots less often appear on the glans, the shaft of the penis in men, and the labia/ vulva.
They are also known as the Fordyce granules and are visible sebaceous glands prominence without follicles.
Female face with spots
What are the facts about Fordyce spots?
Fordyce spots are skin abnormalities that are not infectious and should not raise too much health concern. However, you should check with the doctor if they start changing.
Fordyce is not a sexually transmitted disease, and it's not infectious.
The spots are generally asymptomatic, although they are often associated with itching.
What are the causes of Fordyce spots?
There are no specific causes for Fordyce spots; they occur naturally. You are born with them; however, they are not usually noticeable until the puberty stage. At the puberty stage, hormonal changes enlarge them; hence they become visible.
What are the symptoms of Fordyce Spots?
Fordyce spots contagious can be identified by the presence of the following symptoms;
Suppose you see any small, pale, elevated spot of diameter between 1-3 millimeters (mm) on the penis or scrotum's shaft. Then that could be Fordyce spots. Any spots outside your lips or inside of your lips and cheeks. The spots often appear symmetrically on both sides of the lips.
Fordyce spots contagious are typically covered by either a yellow, white, pale, red, or flesh-colored visible. Though they are tiny and often barely noticeable, in some cases, they are unsightly. However, when you stretch your skin, they will be visible. Fordyce spots contagious are not painful or infectious. Under rare circumstances, you'll find the spots on one's penis bleeding.
When Fordyce spots appear on your genital areas, you might mistake them for sexually transmitted diseases or warts of which they are not.
Are there some conditions that are mistaken for Fordyce spot contagious?
Yes, some dermatological conditions look like the Fordyce spots and can be mistaken for the Fordyce spot contagious.
The condition included;
Sebaceous hyperplasia- This condition causes small white soft bumps on some parts of the body like the cheeks and face. The spots can form anywhere over the body.
Basal cell carcinoma- it is a type of cell cancer that begins in the basal cells. It appears at a bump, red patch, or other growth.
Epidermoid cysts- these are small, hard bumps that form under the skin.
Milium cysts- these are hard, white, and round bumps that can develop on your face. They typically appear on the cheeks and nose.
Are there risk factors associated with Fordyce spots?
Although the spots' causes may be largely unknown, they can be linked to different skin types and health conditions.
On most occasions, spots around the mouth areas and eyes have been linked to hyperlipidemia and the heart and arteries' diseases.
Treatment of Fordyce spots
Since Fordyce spots contagious are generally harmless, most doctors would advise against any form of treatment.
Dermatologists emphasize that it’s normal to experience Fordyce spots. Since they don't cause any pain, they can be left alone to disappear independently.
However, Fordyce spots can sometimes cause cosmetic concern for most patients and impact their appearance. When these concerns arise, the spots can be removed through medical treatment or home remedies.
Medical treatment
- Electrodesiccation
It is also known as the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment. Dermatologists have used laser treatment with some degree of wavelengths to remove the Fordyce spot contagious or make them less visible. The therapy only addresses purely cosmetic concerns of the patient's skin conditions.
Any side effects?
In most cases, the Electrodesiccation procedure is very safe and with rare serious complications. However, the process causes temporary discomfort, and scabs may be formed where the growth was healed.
Removing Fordyce spots contagious with carbon dioxide laser treatment can sometimes result in scarring.
Electrodessication can potentially cause your pacemakers to be dysfunctional.
Note that; the procedure is not recommended for patients with implanted electrical devices.
- Micro-Punch Surgery.
This is a procedure in which doctors remove Fordyce spots contagious from your face or genital area faster. Doctors use a device similar to pens, punches the skin to remove the spots and other unwanted tissue.
Once the procedure is done, there are no scars, the Fordyce spots contagious will not recur.
Side effects;
The procedure is excruciating, but local anesthesia is provided to ease the pain.
Transient swelling, purpura, and bleeding may be experienced on short-term side effects.
- Tropical Applications.
In removing Fordyce spots contagious, dermatologists may prescribe some tropical applications. For instance, tropical tretinoin (Avita Retin-A) or oral isotretinoin (Sotret, Claravis), and bichloracetic acid.
Side effects of using Oral isotretinoin;
It may cause skin reactions or cold symptoms like sneezing, sore throat, and stuffy nose.
May results in dryness of the skin, lips, or nose. May also cause nose bleeding, among other effects.
Note; Formulations with bichloracetic acid as primary ingredients may be recommended to treat Fordyce spots contagious or make it shrink.
Some doctors may recommend combining the tropical applications with laser treatments; however, side effects such as a burning sensational or inflammation may be experienced by patients.
Home remedies for treating Fordyce spots
The white color spots on the lips may be due to the abnormal secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands or the skin's sebum.
When these oils accumulate on your lips, they may act as a breeding ground for some bacteria and viruses. The infection may then cause inflammation to the surrounding tissues.
Here are some of the home remedies you can use to treat Fordyce spots;
- Using Garlic.
Garlic is known for several health benefits. It reduces the number of bacteria that could be present in the bloodstream. A mixture of garlic flakes ground with water and some lemon juice has many medicinal properties. It will assist in the reduction of Fordyce spots. They will also help maintain overall body hygiene.
- Use of apple cider vinegar.
The concoction is astringent and antibacterial. A solution of apple cider vinegar and water is mixed in equal proportions and applied to the spots. It will help kill harmful bacteria present in the areas and wash it off after a while.
The astringent and antibacterial properties ensure bacteria are eliminated, and a balance required in sebum secretion is achieved. The astringent property acts as a toner, which helps normalizes the oils and sebum levels.
Note, the application of apple cider vinegar should be made twice a week. After mixing it with water, use a cotton swab to apply the solution onto the affected areas.
- Coconut oil.
There are several health benefits associated with coconut, but let's focus on treating Fordyce spots contagious.
Excessive secretion of sebum causes the skin to become dehydrated. Any application of coconut oils will ensure your skin smooth, healthy, and protected. The oil will moisturize your skin, which may have gone dry due to the extra sebum produced. Also, coconut oil contains some antimicrobial properties.
Application- make a mixture of a few drops of lavender oil and coconut oil, and then apply the mixture using neat/clean fingers on the affected areas. Let it be for a couple of hours before rinsing it out.
- Using Jojoba oil and Argan oil.
Jojoba oil is rich in vitamin E that will nourish your skin on the lips and around the affected areas. It also helps shrink the size of enlarged pores, which in turn reduces excess sebum secretion.
Argan oil will be absorbed by the skin and help balance oil production in the skin.
Mix the oils in equal proportions and apply on the affected areas, then rinse them off after ten minutes.
Conclusion
Fordyce spots are a common, normal variant of skin, large and completely harmless oil-producing glands. They are asymptomatic spots found on the head of the penis and labia, inner foreskin, vermilion border of the lips, and cheeks. They are not associated with hair follicles. They are asymptomatic. However, they can be itching and irritating when treated inappropriately.
Treatment for those patients who may be uncomfortable with the spots' appearance involves electrodesiccation, micro punch-surgery, tropical applications, and the use of some home remedies. The recommended home remedies include garlic solution, coconut oil, and applying apple cider vinegar to the affected areas.
