White lip bumps can have various causes, from aging to oral cancer. Recently Ive found out that a past partner has genital warts and Im scared to death. The genital warts clusters often appear grouped together tightly and touching each other, whereas fordyce spot clusters are close together but not necessarily touching (kindof in little rows like how your hair follicles are aligned.). Do you know what it might be? Genital warts are small fleshy growths or bumps that can appear on the shaft, and sometimes head, of the penis or under . Some researchers suggest that you may have Fordyce spots at birth. This can cause other side effects like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (or dark spots), a burning sensation, and blisters. Learn how we can help. Having these spots on your foreskin is normal. Please help. As genital warts initially develop, they may look like Fordyce spots. Possibly from constant squeezing of them? The bumps in the photo you linked to are definitely fordyce spots in the picture theyre around the anal area, but they can form in the same way in the vulva area. If theyre fordyce spots (and everything Im saying here assumes you are right), then you definitely didnt give them to her. In the few cases Ive gotten red spots it was because the area needed to be washed more thoroughly (like if I was out of town and didnt have access to shower or bathe like I would normally). (Photos and pictures), Fordyce Spots or Genital Warts? Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/07/2022. they have been there for awhile but have not gotten better or worse. or something. Ive had fordyce bumps since the age of 15, Im now 24. and then directly behind all of these or most of them is a fordyce spot. Fordyce spots These small glands may be scattered in clusters along the reflex prepuce, on the shaft of the penis and in the vestibu-lar area of the vulva. I have noticed in the last yr the spots and was worried they were worts!! and Im pretty positive they arent. Like I said I only have one small cluster (and it is Fordyce, I have been diagnosed) that hasnt changed in over a year and was just stressed looking at these photos thinking I might end up like that in due time. They are a variant of sebaceous glands and are harmless, with no known symptoms. It wasnt fordyce bumps because as far as I know, if you try to pop those, there will be pain and some blood (and for anyone else reading, it is definitely NOT a good idea to pop your fordyce spots) Since you said clear liquid came out, thats more difficult. There are many reasons why white spots may develop on your teeth. BUT at the moment I have 1 thats really hard and about 3 times the size as the others. (2010). Other conditions that can cause lumps include: Fordyce spots - small, harmless yellow or white spots that grow on the shaft of the penis; Lichen planus - a non-infectious rash of itchy purple or red bumps that can affect the penis I can only see the bumps when I pull my foreskin back and are really small, my questions are 1, can you be born or develop warts without any intimate contact? WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any thoughts? I dont understand these bumps I dont know how long they have been there seeing as I do not look down yonder. What do u think about this pic that adam showed u do u know anyone who can confirm this .and please see if I can get in touch with adam since hes the only one to seem to have similar thing I wanna know how he confirmed it and if he also got biopsy. I have never been so glad to see a picture of a penis! Biology of the Oral Mucosa. Here are the general rules about fordyce spots that might help you narrow it down: Having these things does not mean anything is wrong with you. Fordyce spots on your foreskin can sometimes look like other skin conditions, including: Sometimes, Fordyce spots are confused with genital warts. Hi there Greg, I think youre doing a brilliant job. can you have fordyce spots half way up your shaft and on your balls and im 15 and will they spread any more or just stay were they are. Genital warts and HPV are both highly contagious. Fordyce spots can reduce in size over time, but Ive not heard of them ever clearing up completely. The ones on the bottom are not quite uniform, but they have not changed since I remember having them. There are several reasons for little bumps on the penis, including pimples, ingrown hairs, or cysts. Some other dermatological conditions can appear similar to Fordyce spots, including: In your genital area, you might mistake Fordyce spots for genital warts or another sexually transmitted disease. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. I also got the all clear from a clinic check about 2 months ago. Could be warts for all I know. Bumps can form on the testicles that are harmless, but I would be a little more concerned with the one you said was below the tip. While some treatments have side effects, studies show that carbon dioxide laser, cauterization, or surgical removal are helpful. Though Fordyce spots are harmless, dont hesitate to contact your healthcare provider if you think something is wrong with your skin or if you have any skin-related questions. People can get warts without intimate contact, but those kind are not classified under what most people consider genital warts even if they happen to be around the right area. The "spots" are asymptomatic and can be found on the head of the penis, the inner foreskin, and, most commonly, at the border of the lips. How To Tell The Difference, the most common area they form is on the penis shaft (or rarely, the head or scrotum area) and usually kind of on the underside moreso than the top, they look like goose bumps (small and skin colored) and maybe a little whiteish if you stretch the skin, about 30% of all guys have them and you can get them later in life like what you may have just experienced (Ive had them since I was very young and theyve gotten less noticeable in recent years), theres not much you can do about fordyce spots I think there is a laser procedure for extremely bad ones but for the normal guy this is not a smart thing to do, usually only the guy who has them can even notice them most girls and other people who might look down there arent going to notice them, It is also possible for women to get little fordyce spot bumps around the vulva area (they look similar to male spots but I do not have any photos of them at this time), Fordyce spots can also appear around the mouth or even in the pocket of skin underneath the eye. This sounds a lot like what I have in the same location, except I have 2 small ones on each side. I dont think youre doomed or anything close to that. I think I should go to a second dermatologist just to be sure but then again wat if they are all wrong and missdiagnose u see I really believe I didnt have that prior to the encounter with that person. Also, Fordyce spots should have a regular pattern while genital warts would not. Fordyce spots are sebaceous glands (tiny glands found near the surface of your skin) without hair follicles. dude im 15 and noticed them awhile ago and was freaking out think i had like herpes or somthin then i researcher and found this..this takes a big load of my back, I popped one fordyce spot on the base of my penis a long time ago and some scar tissue had formed over it and it became quite large. Are there people who are at increased risk of Fordyce spots? These include: Pearly papules (these are in a ring around the glans of the penis ); Sebaceous glands on the labia (known as "Fordyce spots"); Vestibular papillae (the fronds found in the opening to the vagina). The lesions are usually diagnosed by their clinical appearance so no specific tests are required. Spots may also appear on the scrotum. The best solution I know to her not believing you is to tell her to Google it, or just take her to this page and show her the pictures. Is it just me or am I losing my mind? Your doctor may use micro-punch surgery to rapidly and effectively remove multiple spots from your face or genital area. This is normal with 10% of men getting them one in a while. They are caused by different viruses and may go unnoticed due to a lack of symptoms. Thank you, Retinoid medication. If you notice spots on your genitals, make an appointment with your doctor. Its killin me I need answers. I have an app with my gyno soon an Im hoping hell look at these spots good before just saying yes, its GW, which I;m hoping its not. Can they become bigge like a pimple? But some have been growing and turning zit/pimple looking, which is really worrying me. Yea these past few months have been so hard for me. Some people with genital warts say that they feel similar to tiny, bumpy cauliflowers. Fordyce spots are a natural and harmless occurrence. I have had these fordyce bumps ever since I can remember, but just tonight I discovered a few larger bumps around the middle of my penis Im not really quite sure how many or whether it was just one larger one. Can You Still Spread Genital Warts & HPV After You Get Rid of The Warts? They might be the same for you, but if you want to know for certain, it would be a good idea to get it checked out anyway. Genital warts. It is very hard to distinguish, but sort of flashes in the light and is noticeable when I look down at my penis. If you have a more serious itch it could be a sign of something else. Will my Fordyce spots become more noticeable anywhere else on my body? No, that is not normal in my opinion. I have a bump that doesnt look at all lik a wart. Fordyce spots arent an STD or STI, and they dont cause any harm. One of the major differences among genital warts and Fordyce spots is the size issue. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery found participants showed no signs of recurring Fordyce spots a year following surgery. Scroll to Figure 2, 3 & 4 of Normal Genital Spots Mistaken for an STI/STD; Fordyce Spots. Im so nervous guys, because Ive had sex with a new partner and I will feel awful if I passed it to her. Can a fordyce spot become infected or irritated and do this? If they happen to be penile papules (which can form in a few areas other than the rim of the head) then theyre just glans that have poked through the skin and you shouldnt mess with them. Yes youre right, they usually form around the rim of the head. Most girls have not seen enough guys to really know what things are supposed to look like. Fordyce spots can also vary in size too, which confuses guys even more. What I have looks like this but not as severe, just one cluster and then smaller barely noticeable bumps on the bottom: http://sciencephoto.com/media/148451/enlarge. I have only had sex with one girl and she has been tested and doenst have nothing. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Mine are all small and dont hurt or anything and I also dont have many but Ive had them for a while now like years they just started to get a little worse here within the past month and it freaked me out a bit, its mostly just the base and a little towards the middle, and they are all on the side of my penis! Lin Y, Bibb CA. Though Fordyce spots are common, benign and dont necessarily need treatment because they usually go away over time, you may not like how they look on your body. (2012). Also, I seem to have them on my sack aswell, does anyone else? Can stress or depression trigger more fordyce spots or anything like that? And the ones around the rim on your helmet are called papules if Im right? Usually all it takes are some simple picture comparisons with what you have to determine the facts. Thanks. Every since I had sex with someone I shouldnt have that idk if they have stds or not,cause lets just say they sleep around so idk if they do or not.so ever since Ive been so wooried and the day after I checked down there and saw these tine bumps when I pulled my foreskin down and I would have sworn I never saw those before I even think I checked myself the same day of encounter and saw nothin.u see this I why Im so stressed so doubtfull and negative. The average time is 2 to 3 weeks to clear up a case of warts and the methods really work. Between 80% to 95% of adults have Fordyce spots. Yeah, Im hoping its just a really severe/extreme and rare case. i had them 10 years ago. Just curious if any has had this happen too? That doesnt mean its not possible, it just means Ive not seen any photos of it in those locations. Dont pop those thats only hurting yourself needlessly. still to this day i am embarrassed by them. Sort of just popping up? Or am i forever doomed to being oblivious on what orall sex would ever feel like? Besides this I also noticed tinier dots salt like dots during this same time when I saw the bigger ones I showed to doc but said it the same but we did not remove biopsy from there just the more visible ones. Those tend to be generally OK Id just keep an eye on it and only get concerned if it changes or multiplies into a tight cluster. 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