subject: Fordyce Spots - What To Do If You Have Fordyce Spots [print this page] A dermatologist named John Addison Fordyce is credited with finding and identifying the condition called Fordyce spots. Fordyce focused on dermatology and syphilis during the late eighteen hundreds and the early nineteen hundreds. Not surprisingly, he found one very common dermatological condition appearing in the genital area and sometimes the lips or nipples. Small raised bumps or spots about one to three millimeters in diameter that are painless, benign, and yellowish in color are referred to as Fordyce's spots. They can also be white or red in hue. Ectopic sebaceous glands, like Fordyce's spots, usually occur at the hair follicle sites.
Though this condition can occur in females, it is very common in males. In fact, about seventy percent of men have Fordyce spots. Though these bumps are completely benign and harmless, they can resemble more serious conditions. Many men see the bumps and believe they have genital warts. Because of this, some people avoid sexual activity, live in fear, or fall into depression. The spots typically appear on the shaft of the penis and the scrotum rather than the head of the penis. The second most common area for an appearance is the lips. When the spots are in a visible area like the lips, some people become reclusive. The Fordyce condition can present at any age.
Treatments for Fordyce spots can include a couple of different options. Some patients get laser therapy as treatment, though it can scar. Some dermatologists recommend a chemical peel to refresh the sebaceous gland level of the skin. Others use the application of a topical gel or cream. The chemicals in these medications tighten pores and reduce sebum production. Sebum is an oily or waxy material secreted by the sebaceous glands. Fordyce's spots are raised sebaceous glands, so the treatment of these glands can help reduce the appearance of the spots. Topical treatments are applied two times daily for about seven days.
It is important to cleanse the area where the bumps are visible with unscented soap or cleansers. Next, the affected area is coated in a thin layer of the gel or cream. It is essential to let the medicine absorb completely into the skin. This process should be repeated twice each day because improvement may not be seen until seven days into the process. Fordyce's is completely harmless and the cause is unknown, but for cosmetic reasons, many patients choose treatment.
