Anish Vij
The discovery of any bumps, let alone little white ones, on your body isn't a nice one.
Not knowing why or how the bumps are there often turns into an immediate concern. But as is the case with anything you're unsure of, it's always best to speak to a doctor.
However, if you've noticed small white bumps on your face or even your private parts, it could be a sign of Fordyce spots.
Fordyce spots are small, painless, yellowish or white bumps that can appear on the lips, inner cheeks, or genitals.
According to Mayo Clinic, it's a 'common skin condition where oil glands appear larger'.
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"They become more noticeable during or after puberty. They often appear on and around your lips and sometimes on your penis and vagina," they explained.
"They’re a natural part of your skin, but treatments can shrink or remove them."
The skin conditions is named after American dermatologist Dr John Addison Fordyce, who first identified the bumps in 1896, in case you were wondering.
Given that Heathline reports that the spots show up in around 70 to 80 percent of adults, it suggests that it's a pretty normal thing to have.
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“People often worry when they find Fordyce spots on their genitals because they think they might have a sexually transmitted infection,” Lucy Chen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology, told Riverchase Dermatology.
“But unlike STIs, Fordyce spots aren’t harmful or contagious.”
Dr Chen says that for most people, it's 'possible to distinguish Fordyce spots from other skin conditions through a visual examination'.
Skincare by Chebo Clinic explained on their TikTok page (@cheboclinic) that the best way to get rid of Fordyce spots is to reduce 'the amount of oil that comes out of these glands'.
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In one video, an expert suggested to use 'use retinol serum, or something that decreases our oil production'. They also pointed out how Fordyce spots often get confused with another skin condition called milia.
Milia are tiny, white cysts filled with keratin that form when dead skin cells get trapped beneath the skin’s surface, commonly appearing on the face, especially around the eyes.
The expert noted that milia stems from under exfoliation and clogged pores, whereas 'Fordyce spots are simply just your oil glands that don't really need exfoliation'.
"Milia, on the other hand, you'll need to chemically exfoliate and you might need a professional to manually take them out," she added.