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What is this and why ts happened on lips
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Fordyce spots lips causes treatment
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Fordyce Spots (Fordyce Granules)
What you're seeing on these lips are Fordyce spots - small yellowish-white bumps clustered along the vermilion border (the edge/rim) and mucosal surface of the upper lip.
What are they?
Fordyce spots are ectopic sebaceous (oil) glands - meaning oil glands that appear in the wrong place. Normally, sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles. On hairless mucosal areas like the lips, some people's sebaceous glands develop without hair follicles and become visible through the thin skin, showing up as these small pinhead-sized papules.
They are described in Andrews' Diseases of the Skin as "ectopically located sebaceous glands, clinically characterized by minute, orange or yellowish, pinhead-sized macules or papules in the mucosa of the lips, cheeks, and less often the gums."
Why do they happen?
- They are a normal anatomical variant, not a disease
- Present from birth, but often only become visible after puberty due to increased oil production driven by hormones (androgens)
- They become more prominent with age as the glands enlarge slightly
- No specific cause - just how the skin developed
- NOT contagious, NOT an STI, NOT infectious
- Roughly 70-80% of adults have them to some degree
Are they dangerous?
No. They are:
- Completely benign
- Asymptomatic - no pain, no itch
- Not a sign of cancer or infection
- Not herpes (herpes blisters are fluid-filled, painful, and cluster after a tingling/burning prodrome)
Treatment (only if cosmetically desired)
Since they cause no harm, treatment is purely optional. Options include:
| Treatment | Notes |
|---|---|
| CO2 laser | Most effective, good cosmetic results |
| Electrodesiccation + curettage | Well-documented for lip involvement |
| Isotretinoin (oral) | Shrinks sebaceous glands, but effects are temporary |
| Bichloracetic acid | Chemical treatment option |
| Micropunch surgery | Surgical removal option |
Bottom line
These are harmless, very common spots that many people have but don't notice until they look closely. No treatment is medically needed. If they bother you cosmetically, a dermatologist can discuss laser or minor procedures.
A doctor video explanation for reference:
Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only. If you're uncertain about any skin lesion - especially if it's new, growing, painful, or bleeding - see a dermatologist for an in-person evaluation.
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