We often pay close attention to our skin, but when it comes to our lips, tiny changes can easily go unnoticed. Sometimes, small white or yellow dots appear on the lips, which can feel rough in texture. For many, this becomes a cause for worry: “Are these dangerous? Is this an infection?” The truth is, in most cases, these are harmless spots known as Fordyce spots.
These tiny raised bumps, often mistaken for infections or skin conditions, might actually be Fordyce spots, small, visible sebaceous (oil) glands without hair follicles. Though they don’t pose a health risk, but may affect lip appearance and confidence.
What Are Fordyce Spots?
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Nipun Kapur Sohal, Skincare Educator, Chalhoub Group, Dubai, explains, “If your lips look like they have a white and bulky texture, let me tell you what this is. These are harmless sebaceous glands, also called Fordyce spots. They are not infections or diseases, but natural variations of the skin.”
These spots usually appear on the upper lip area, and in some cases, inside the mouth as well. While they don’t require medical treatment, understanding the causes and care tips can help improve lip health.
Causes of Fordyce Spots![2 - 2025-09-03T103117.793]( "Fordyce Spots causes")
As the expert suggests, there are three significant causes of the development of spots on the penis, caused by Fordyce:
- Poor mouth hygiene- Failure to keep the mouth clean may increase the appearance of the condition.
- Lip dryness- Lips tend to become parched, particularly during harsh climatic conditions or when dehydrated.
- Sun damage- It makes the lip barrier weak and deteriorates the texture due to constant UV exposure.
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How to Improve Lip Texture and Care for Fordyce Spots![3 - 2025-09-03T103113.289]( "tips to Improve Lip Texture")
The expert recommends an easy lip care regimen to make lips with Fordyce Spots look and feel better:
- Brush Your Teeth: Oral care by cleaning your teeth regularly helps prevent diseases and inflammation, which can increase the appearance of spots.
- Apply a Hydrating Lip Cream: Most of these lip balms have oils or petrolatum, which only moisturise but do not hydrate.
- Hydration is key. To make a low-cost, efficient decision, the expert suggests a balm, which is made of amino acids and water and, therefore, is hydrating, lightweight, and free of grease.
- Apply Lip Balm SPF: Coating lips with an SPF helps prevent sunburns, which may worsen the spots. It is important to apply SPF lip balm every time you are outside.
Treatments with the care of a dermatologist can be considered more dramatic.
Medical Treatments to Minimise Fordyce Spots![4 - 2025-09-03T103116.429]( "fordyce spots treatment")
If Fordyce spots cause distress or affect confidence, dermatologists offer various treatments:
Laser Treatments:
- CO₂ Laser Ablation vaporises sebaceous glands precisely with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. It has fast healing but may require local anaesthesia and carries slight risks like pigmentation changes or scarring.
- Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) targets redness if spots appear inflamed, and is often used alongside other treatments.
- Topical Treatments: Creams containing tretinoin (Retin-A) or oral isotretinoin can reduce spots over time through exfoliation.
- Cryotherapy: Freezing spots using liquid nitrogen or argon gas to destroy the tissue.
- Electrodesiccation: Using an electric needle to burn away spots, requiring a few days of healing.
- Micro-punch Surgery: A pen-like device removes tissue; recovery may take up to a month.
It’s important to avoid squeezing or picking at Fordyce spots, as this can lead to irritation, inflammation, or infection, and won’t remove the spots permanently.
What Causes Fordyce Spots to Appear?
Fordyce spots appear when sebaceous glands enlarge and become visible on the lips. They are usually present from birth and become more noticeable with age or hormonal changes during puberty. Other factors contributing include:
- Oily or greasy skin
- Poor hydration and sun exposure
- Mouth hygiene habits
- Fordyce spots are common, affecting up to 80% of people, especially males, but they pose no health risk and are not contagious.
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Conclusion
White patches or dots on the lips, like Fordyce spots, are natural, harmless sebaceous glands that can sometimes affect lip texture and confidence. Good mouth hygiene, proper hydration with suitable lip creams, and sun protection are key to improving their appearance. For those seeking more pronounced results, several dermatologist-led treatments are available. Remember, these spots are nothing to fear, and managing them with care and expert advice can keep lips healthy and smooth.