Fordyce Spots are also termed as Fordyce granules or sebaceous prominence. These are basically small raised, yellow-white, pale red or skin-colored spots that usually appear on the vermilion border of the lips of a person’s face. It may appear on the genitals like on the shaft of the penis or other parts of the body. It can vanish the shape and beauty of the lips. Well, if you are suffering from such problem, then this article will provide you few tips to prevent and treat fordyce spots on lips.
What are Fordyce spots?
- Technically, Fordyce spots are identified as a type of ectopic sebaceous gland. Here:
- Ectopic means something which is in an abnormal location or position.
- Sebaceous means something which is fatty and greasy.
- Glands are those organs or collections of cells that secrete products.
- Endocrine glands secrete things hormones into the body.
- Exocrine glands secrete things sweat or mucus outside the body.
- Sebaceous glands are smaller skin glands which secrete sebum oily matter into the hair follicles in order to lubricate the hair and skin.
- Ectopic sebaceous glands are those sebaceous glands which are present on the skin but not in the hair follicle.
Although, Fordyce spots are those sebaceous glands which are in the wrong place. These glands are not associated with any disease or illness. Dermatologists say that sebaceous glands are only of cosmetic concern. People who have these glands might not be happy with how they affect their bodily appearance.
Experts also say that Fordyce spots are natural and tend to occur due to some degree in most people. These spots are not at all infectious. A few men may wonder whether they have an STI (sexually transmitted infection) or cancer when they witness these spots. These men prefer visiting the doctor for correct guidance.
Causes of Fordyce Spots on Lips:
It caused due to the sebum that is considered as a natural oil of the skin. This oil gets trapped in the sebaceous gland that does not contain hair. In this case, there is no way to discharge the sebum as there is no hair present on the sebaceous glands.
Symptoms of Fordyce Spots:
You will find the small, pale color of bumps and spots about 1-3 mm in diameter on the places of the body like:
- At the shaft of the penis (Males).
- Scrotum (Males)
- At the place where the lips meet the skin of the face (vermilion border).
- Labia (Females)
Tips to Prevent and Treat Fordyce Spots on Lips:
Contents
Here, are few tips to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips. Use these tips to cure these spots of your lips.
1.) Use Coconut Oil Treat Fordyce Spots on Lips
The basic reason of the occurrence of Fordyce spots on the lips is dehydration. Hence, coconut is considered to be one of the best ways to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips. It keeps the lips moisturized and hydrated all the time. You can even add essential oils with coconut oil to increase the efficiency of it. If you don’t like coconut oil or you don’t get in the market, then you may also use olive oil as an alternative.
2.) Add Vitamins in Your Diet Treat Fordyce Spots on Lips
This is another great way to get rid of Fordyce Spots on lips. These spots may also occur due to the lack of the essential vitamins in our body. Well, here is the list of six vitamins that will help in healing the Fordyce spots on lips. Add them in your diet to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips.
Vitamin A – You can find the vitamin A in the foods like kale, sweet red peppers, carrots, squash, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, romaine lettuce, mango, dried apricots, nd tuna. Add this vitamin in your diet to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips.
Vitamin B – You can find the vitamin B in the foods like crab, skim milk, salmon, beef liver, mackerel, clams, oysters, goose eggs, Swiss cheese, and mussels. Add this vitamin to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips.
Vitamin C – You can find the vitamin C in the foods like strawberries, mango, cauliflower, kiwi, pineapple, Brussel sprouts, kale, peppers, and papaya. Add this vitamin in your diet to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips.
Vitamin D – You can find this vitamin in the foods like cod liver oil, whole grain cereals, Maitake mushrooms salmon, caviar, trout (cooked as well as canned), tofu, lean ham, butter, and swordfish. Add this vitamin to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips.
Vitamin E – You may find this vitamin in the foods like almonds, Swiss chard, avocado, papaya, kale, hazelnuts, parsley, turnip greens, olives, pine, and nuts. Add this vitamin to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips.
Vitamin K – You can find this vitamin in the foods like asparagus, beans, Brussel sprouts, eggs, basil (dried), kale, scallions, strawberries, cucumbers, and soya beans. Add this vitamin to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips.
3.) Eat Broccoli to Treat Fordyce on Lips
Add broccoli in your diet to prevent and treat Fordyce spots. It is considered to be one of the best cure for preventing these spots. It contains about 149% DV of vitamin C. Though, people believe that oranges are high in vitamin C, but oranges only contain 89% DV of vitamin C. You can add broccoli in the salads and even use it for garnishing various dishes.
4.) Drink Proper Amount of Water to Treat Fordyce on Lips
The most common reason for the occurrence of the Fordyce spots on lips is dehydration. Therefore, it is really very important to drink the proper amount of water to keep our body hydrated. It keeps the skin moisturized and also provide several health benefits. You should at least drink eight glasses of water on a regular basis.
5.) Essential Oils to Treat Fordyce on Lips
Essential oils can do wonders on many skin related issues. It can even prevent and treat Fordyce spots easily. The best essential oil is jojoba oil. just apply for it on your lips to get rid of Fordyce spots. You can even use the other essential oils like Tea tree, Frankincense, pine, Palmarosa, olive and Galbanum oils on your lips.
6.) Garlic to Treat Fordyce on Lips
Garlic is considered to be one of the most effective ways to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips. It also contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. So, start consuming one teaspoon of chopped garlic in the morning on a regular basis to cure Fordyce spots on lips. If you can tolerate the smell of the garlic then start drinking garlic juice at night. It is one of the best options to treat Fordyce spots on lips effectively.
7.) Spinach to Treat Fordyce on Lips
This green leafy vegetable offers unlimited benefits to the health. It can fight off various skin related issues and health problems. It is rich in various nutrients like folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, and vitamin B1, B6, B2. Hence, it is the powerhouse of various vitamins. It can provide amazing benefits to the health. So, to get the clean and soft lips just add spinach in your diet.
8.) Apple Cider Vinegar to Treat Fordyce on Lips
Though, you will feel a little bit of burning sensation while applying apple cider vinegar on the lips. Therefore, it is recommended not to apply it directly on the lips. It is one of the best ways to prevent and treat Fordyce spots on lips. Just dilute it in one glass of water and consume it two to three times in a week to treat Fordyce Lips. These spots will surely disappear after few weeks. So, apply this remedy 2-3 times in a week to treat Fordyce spots.
9.) Maintain a Proper Hygiene to Treat Fordyce on Lips
Always wash your face properly and try to maintain a proper hygiene. Once, you start keeping your body hygienic then surely it will help in preventing Fordyce spots. Also, don’t forget to clean the upper lip of your face. So, always maintain a proper hygiene of your body.
10.) Asparagus to Treat Fordyce on Lips
Asparagus plays a major role in promoting the healthy growth of the cells. It contains a great amount of folic acid in it. It also includes several vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin C. Just consume one cup of asparagus on a regular basis to get rid of Fordyce’s lips.
11.) Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a popular remedy to treat various skin ailments. This remedy can also be used to treat Fordyce spots. These pearly penile papules can be reduced easily with the help of tea tree oil. The oil is a well-known natural home remedy. This is because the oil is known to have natural antiseptic properties that helps to prevent bacterial growth and also provides relief from the inflamed skin. It is known to be as one of the best remedies to treat Fordyce spots since it does not have any side effects on the skin.
12.) Turmeric
Turmeric is yet another effective remedy that will help to treat Fordyce spots naturally. This herbal tonic is popularly known to be the best natural treatment amongst the best. In order to treat Fordyce spots with the help of Turmeric powder you will have to take about 1/4th tablespoon of this herbal powder and mix apple cider vinegar to form a paste. Apply this paste onto the affected area to treat the spots naturally. This makes it as an effective solution that can be applied to the inflamed skin. Turmeric is known to have natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antipyretic properties which can help to reduce the bacterial growth on your skin.
13.) Oatmeal Bath
This natural home remedy is yet another listicle which will help to treat the fordyce spots. The remedy has been widely used to treat skin diseases like Eczema. It is very useful for helping to reduce the Fordyce spotting on the genitals. Taking an oatmeal bath will help to reduce the itching, redness and inflammation on the skin. You can take the bath soak using cold water after using the herbal remedy like turmeric or tea tree oil that are natural antiseptics.
14.) Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is yet another essential oil that can be used to treat Fordyce spots. The remedy is useful for treating Fordyce spots because the oil is known to contain antibacterial properties. The healing effect of jojoba oil helps to prevent bacterial growth and their invasion. The presence of wax esters make it act as a natural moisturizer eventually enhancing the effect of this essential oil on the skin.
15.) Asparagus
Asparagus is known to be the richest source for folic acid. It is also packed with essential vitamins and nutrients which proves beneficial for the skin’s health. Folic acid is considered essential to maintain the metabolic consistency which ensures that the Fordyce spots do not develop on the skin. By consuming 260mcg of folic acid a day, you can maintain proper hormonal balance in your body.
16.) Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe is known to be one of the most natural forms when trying to treat Fordyce spots. It is as simple as cutting through a stalk of Aloe Vera plant and applying the gel straight away. The freshly scooped out gel can be directly applied on the inflamed skin. Aloe is known to possess natural antibacterial and antifungal properties which are the main key to the successful treatment.
17.) Honey
The presence of natural antiseptic agents in Honey makes it as a mild source which is generally used in various home remedies which are used to cure respiratory and skin infections. Organic honey is also used as a soothing agent for various skin irritations. This is because of the natural antibacterial properties present in honey which makes it as a quite a useful source in order to treat Fordyce spots. Use the remedy regularly in order to reduce the Fordyce spots and also to eliminate them completely.
18.) Lemon
Lemons are yet another natural disinfectants which can be used to treat Fordyce spots. Lemons basically treat the bacterial infections especially on the dermis. If in case you are suffering from blackheads or pimples, Lemon prove to be a useful remedy to treat these skin problems. You can easily squeeze out the juice from a fresh lemon and apply it to the affected area. Repeat the remedy regularly in order to treat Fordyce spots.
19.) Chamomile
Chamomile is yet another popular remedy which can be used to treat Fordyce spots. Either of the fresh or dried Chamomile flowers can help to treat the itchy lesions or inflamed skin. Using chamomile is one among the well-known topical treatments used for Fordyce spots. Chamomile is proves to be as one of the best herbal remedies unlike other flowers like Calendula or Arnica. Chamomile flowers actually do not cause any side effects for individuals with hyper sensitivity or sensitive skin.
20.) Comfrey
The comfrey root and leaves of have been used for ages as a proven treatment to cure skin wounds, bruises and rashes. This herbal remedy to treat Fordyce spots is one of the most effective solutions that are known to have natural anti-inflammatory properties. This natural remedy will help to reduce the Fordyce spotting. This remedy can either be applied in the form of a paste or can also be consumed directly in the form of Comfrey tea.
OTC Treatments for Fordyce spots
Dermatologists and other doctors emphasize on the point that these Fordyce Spots are normal and occur due to physiological occurrences. They are not at all harmful to human health. Most, of these doctors even advise that it is not necessary to take any treatment for these spots and they can be cured with the help of natural remedies. However, there are a number of potential treatments available if it becomes truly necessary. So, take a look below at a few OTC treatments available to treat Fordyce spots.
1.) Electro desiccation
Electro desiccation or CO2 (carbon dioxide) is a laser treatment which have been used with some degree of success in reducing the spots. This OTC is used to treat Fordyce spots if the patient’s concern is purely cosmetic.
2.) Pulsed Dye Lasers
Pulsed dye laser OTC is available to treat Fordyce spots. The treatment has also been effective in a few cases. This is a type of laser treatment which is usually used for sebaceous gland hyperplasia. It is a skin disorder of the sebaceous glands. It is basically an enlarged oil gland. Although this OTC to treat Fordyce spots is a bit expensive, but it tends to reduce the scars as compared to other methods. In the majority of cases, the OTCs to treat Fordyce spots mentioned above is not effective enough for most of the patients. But it has some hope in other cases as well.
3.) Micro-punch technique for treatment of Fordyce spots
Aesthetic Surgery is a remedy to treat Fordyce spots which has promising results with the micro-punch technique that it uses to treat Fordyce spots.
Complications Associated with Fordyce Spots:
Patients with severe Fordyce spots on the vermilion border of the lips of the face have a risk of anxiety and depression. This is due to the cosmetic concern of the patient. Since eyes and lips are the first things people look at, these Fordyce spots have a strong effect of these people.
Patients with severe symptoms of Fordyce spots on their genitals may get embarrassed or concerned about their sexual partners. In a few rare cases, the spots might even bleed if injured or during the intercourse.
