Fordyce Spots

What are Fordyce spots?

Fordyce spots (Fordyce granules) are enlarged, slightly raised sebaceous (oil) glands that appear in hairless areas of your skin. They commonly appear around the edges of your lips (vermillion border) and inside of your cheeks. They sometimes appear around your genital area. Fordyce spots are benign (not cancerous).

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American dermatologist Dr. John Addison Fordyce first described Fordyce spots in 1896.

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What is the difference between Fordyce spots and herpes?

You may be alarmed to notice Fordyce spots around your mouth or genital area, including your:

Penis, including the head (glans), shaft or foreskin.
Scrotum.
Vulva, including the labia.

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But Fordyce spots aren’t sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs or STIs). The appearance of Fordyce spots in these areas is normal, and they aren’t contagious.

Genital herpes is an STI caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). People with genital herpes develop painful blisters on their genitals. They can spread herpes through vaginal, oral and anal sex. They can also spread herpes through kissing or skin-to-skin contact if they have open sores. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can cause cold sores to form on the lips, gums, tongue and inside of your mouth.

What is the difference between Fordyce spots and warts?

Fordyce spots aren’t STDs or STIs, and they aren’t contagious.

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Genital warts are an STD caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). People with genital warts develop small bumps or growths in and around their genitals and rectum. Genital warts and HPV are both highly contagious.

As genital warts initially develop, they may look like Fordyce spots. If you notice the sudden appearance of small bumps on your genitals, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.

Who do Fordyce spots affect?

Fordyce spots affect everyone. They typically don’t appear during early childhood. They become more noticeable during puberty and adulthood as some of your hormones increase. Men and people assigned male at birth develop Fordyce spots about twice as often as women and people assigned female at birth.