Fordyce Spots (Ectopic Oral Sebaceous Glands)
Fordyce's Disease of Mouth Fordyce spots, also known as Fordyce granules, are sebaceous glands that can be seen in many adults. They are visible on the genital area, face, and mouth and manifest as small, painless, pale, red, or white spots or bumps with a diameter of 1 to 3 mm. These spots can appear on the scrotum, the outer part of the penis, the labia, as well as on the border of the lips and the inner surface of the lips (retromolar mucosa). Importantly, they are not linked to any disease or health issue and are not contagious; rather, they are natural occurrences in the body. As a result, unless an individual is concerned about their appearance, treatment is generally unnecessary. Some individuals who experience Fordyce spots may seek advice from a dermatologist due to concerns that they might have a sexually transmitted disease, particularly genital warts, or certain types of cancer. Fordyce spots are named after the American dermatologist, John Addison Fordyce, who first de