FORDYCE'S SPOT

'Fordyce's spots', or 'Fordyce granules' are small, painless, raised, pale or white spots or bumps 1 to 3 mm in diameter that may appear on the shaft of the penis or on the labiaImage - Fordyce spots (vulvar), as well as the inner surface and vermilion border of the lips of the face. They are common in men and women of all ages. They are named after an American dermatologist, John Addison Fordyce. On the head of the penis, they are called Tyson glands, not to be confused with pearly penile papules.Khoo LS, Cheong WK. Common genital dermatoses in male patients attending a public sexually transmitted disease clinic in Singapore. ''Ann Acad Med Singapore'' 1995;'24':505-9.
The spots are a form of ectopic sebaceous gland, and are not known to be associated with any disease or illness and are of cosmetic concern only. They are non-infectious and a natural occurrence on the body. Men sometimes consult with a dermatologist because they are worried they may have a sexually transmitted disease (especially genital warts) or some form of cancer, but this is not the case.Palo Alto Medical Foundation Bettina McAdoo , M.D. Retrieved June 24, 2006. They may equally be worried about the appearance of their penis and what their sexual partner might think of it.Spots on the penis. Dr John Dean. Retrieved June 24, 2006.
Vaporising laser treatments such as CO₂ laserOcampo-Candiani J, Villarreal-Rodriguez A, Quinones-Fernandez AG, Herz-Ruelas ME, Ruiz-Esparza J. Treatment of Fordyce spots with CO₂ laser. ''Dermatol Surg'' 2003; '29': 869-71. PMID 12859392 or electro desiccation have been used with some success in diminishing the appearance of this condition if they are of cosmetic concern. However, most doctors consider this a normal physiological phenomenon and advise against treatment.

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★ DermAtlas: Fordyce spots