Fordyce's Spots on Lips

Fordyce's spot is also known as Fordyce granule. It got its name 'Fordyce' after the name of American dermatologist John Addison Fordyce. It can appear on various parts of the body including the lips. Fordyce spots can be described as small, white bumps that are slightly raised but are painless. It can be found in men and women of any age group. These spots do not cause any harm to our health. They are so tiny that they are not even visible to others but it makes the person having the spot very self-conscious because of obvious cosmetic reasons.

Causes

Looking at the Fordyce's spots many people think that it must be an infectious disease. Some even assume that it is a sexually transmitted disease. But these are all misconceptions. and is not related to any specific illness. It is not caused by any virus or bacteria and is non contagious. It is nothing but a dermatological problem. These spots are caused by sebaceous glands that are present near the hair follicles. However, it is not clearly known why these glands produce the bumps spontaneously on moist tissues. Research studies have revealed that it could be genetic. Many researchers believe that these bumps are present at the time of birth, but they gain prominence only when the child reaches adolescence.

How to Treat Fordyce Spots on Lips

If you have Fordyce's spots on your lips, you can leave them untreated, as they are absolutely harmless and may disappear on their own. However, if you want to get rid of them fast, then you have to see a dermatologist. The options are as follows:

Tretinoin Cream or Gel
This is the most simplest Fordyce spots treatment. Daily application of tretinoin can reduce the prominence of the spots to some extent. For best effects, it should be combined with an alpha hydroxyacid agents. This agent is also used for the treatment of acne.

Chemical Peels
Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) chemical peels can be used to treat Fordyce's spots. This treatment will cause flaking of the skin on the spots and it will be peeled off completely, in a week or so. Peeling makes the skin of the lips extremely sensitive and hence, it should be moisturized regularly. The disadvantage of this treatment is that symptoms of Fordyce spot may return, once the treatment is stopped.

Cryosurgery
This method involves use of extreme cold temperature, in order to destroy the bumps. It requires minimum invasion and does not cause much pain and scarring. Some blisters may appear following the treatment which disappear after some days. The drawback of this treatment is that it can cause damage to the nearby tissues and nerves.

Other Treatments
Vaporizing laser treatments like electro-desiccation can also effectively decrease the size of the spots. However, this treatment can have serious side effects like scarring. So doctors opt for this treatment, only if the spot is causing serious cosmetic concern. Pulse dye lasers treatment have provided relief to many people with Fordyce's spots. This does not cause scarring of the tissues but is highly expensive.

There are many people who prefer to use natural methods for curing Fordyce's spots on lips. It is possible by eating a well-balanced diet that consist of good amount of folic acid, Vitamins B Complex, A, C, D, E and K. All these ingredients improve the skin condition. Maintaining a good oral hygiene is also very important. Topical application of jojoba oil will diminish the appearance of the spots successfully.