Fordyce Spots: Symptoms , Causes and Home Remedies

The pale yellow or skin-coloured spots that may also appear as painless white bumps or red spots seen on the shaft of male penis, scrotum, female labia or the vermilion border of lips are medically termed as Fordyce spots.

What are Fordyce Spots

Fordyce spots are tiny sebaceous glands that are present in awkward areas f the body. They are not related to any disease and are harmless spots. The only reason you may want to get rid of them is they look ugly and affect your appearance when present on the vermilion lining of the lips.

When present on labia, scrotum or penis it may persuade your partner to wrongly interpret that you are suffering from some skin disease or STD and may become the cause of embarrassment.

What are the Characteristics Symptoms of Fordyce Spots?

Fordyce spots are tint only about 1-3mm in diameter. The colour of these spots range from pale yellow to red and sometimes pink or white. Usually, they are seen on male penis, scrotum, female labia and the border of lips. On gentiles, these spots may occur as a single lesion or in a group of 50-100 small bumps. Oral Fordyce that happens on the edge of lips appear as rice granules and are usually white or white-yellow. These spots are painless and do not cause itch or any other kind of discomfort.

What Causes Fordyce Spots?

Fordyce spots is typical in people who have oily skin. These are ectopic sebaceous glands that occur in areas of the body where there is no hair follicle. So no sebum is produced and gets trapped causing bumps on the skin.

*Fordyce spots are not caused due to an infection, and thus they are not at all contagious.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fordyce Spots

1.Tea Tree Oil-

Although tea tree oil is more popular for treating skin infections, you can also find it useful in getting rid of Fordyce spots. Mix two tablespoon of coconut oil and a few drops of tea tree oil and apply it to the affected are a few times in a day.

*Tea tree oil should not be applied to lips.

2. Exfoliate Lips to Get Rid of Fordyce Spots-

The skin over your lips is very sensitive. To get rid of Fordyce spots on the border of lips you need to exfoliate it gently. Cut a lemon into two halves and sprinkle sugar on it. Exfoliate your lips gently with it for a few seconds and then apply jojoba oil to lips. Repeat this once in a day, and a few days you will get the result.

3. Lemon Juice and Orange Juice-

Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis and provide you with new spot free skin. Vitamin C is antioxidant, and it heals the skin.
Add a tablespoon of orange juice and lemon juice to one-fourth of lukewarm water. Soak a cotton ball

*Do not try this on genitals.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar-

Apple cider vinegar dries off the skin and heals it after scabbing. Add two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and apply the solution to the affected area. Repeat this three times in a day.

* This remedy should not be used for more than two weeks in a stretch.

5. Turmeric-

Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. In the case of getting rid of Fordyce spots, it is useful as it contains curcumin which frees skin of any spot. Add half to one teaspoon of turmeric powder to sufficient amount of water to make a paste and then apply it on Fordyce spots. After half an hour wash it off. Repeat this two times in a day.

6. Aloe Vera Gel-

Aloe vera gel is not just antibacterial and anti-inflammatory but also rejuvenates the skin and promotes regeneration of new cells. Take an aloe vera leaf, cut open it and extract fresh gel. Apply the gel on your skin a few times in an day.

Please note: Fordyce spots may be a result of vitamin and mineral deficiency so better eat vegetables and fruits rich in folic acid and vitamin B and say these ugly unwanted tiny spots bye forever.