The white bumps on your lips are usually the sebaceous, oil-producing glands known as Fordyce Spots. They are harmless, small dots around 1 to 2 millimeters in size. These white dots typically appear on the inner portion of your lips. Moreover, a person can get one or as many as 100 spots on their lip.
There are lots of reasons why you might have white bumps on or around your lips. Many people will experience them thanks to clogged pores or overactive oil glands. However, white bumps can also be a symptom of a medical condition such as herpes simplex, oral thrush, or oral cancer.
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).
Gentle exfoliation is the best way to remove dead skin from your lips. Exfoliating the lips will make them soft and smooth and allow your lip care products to penetrate the lip better. The lips can be exfoliated with a lip scrub as needed, but most people find that two or three times a week is enough.
Fordyce spots can appear on your upper lip because of dehydration. Coconut is a natural moisturizer that is effective in removing the spots.
What does it look like? Solar cheilitis predominantly affects the lower lip because it tends to be more prominent. The homogenous pink color of the healthy lip (Figure A) is replaced with non-homogenous white/gray, pink, red, or brown areas and the normally sharp vermillion/skin border becomes less distinct (Figure B).
Can You Pop Fordyce Spots? No, popping or squeezing Fordyce spots is not advisable. They don't vanish by doing so and in fact, may cause an infection. Fordyce spots are a benign occurrence that are present in 80 percent of the population.
The exact cause of Fordyce spots remains unknown and is likely due to a combination of biological and environmental factors. Fordyce spots are commonly caused by the overgrowth of ectopic sebaceous glands, which some studies have linked to hormonal changes and/or factors in embryo development.
Calcium deposits under your skin look like firm white or yellow bumps. The bumps may be different sizes and sometimes show up in clusters. At first, you may notice redness or itching on your skin. But most people don't have any symptoms before calcium deposits appear.
Fordyce spots mostly occur due to stress, heat, and humidity. It is most commonly seen in stressed individuals, and with low socioeconomic status, fewer children than adults exhibit Fordyce granules because the sebaceous glands and hair system do not reach maximal development until puberty.
Everyone's born with Fordyce spots, but they generally become more noticeable at puberty. Your hormones can make them larger. For most people, Fordyce spots show up in early adulthood. You're more likely to get them as you age.
The topical mode of treatment to remove or reduce Fordyce spots include isotretinoin [11], and dichloroacetic acid [12]. In a few cases, dermatologists may suggest combining topical treatments with laser-based treatment. However, these treatments may cause potential side effects like burning sensation and inflammation.
Fordyce spots (also termed Fordyce granules) are harmless and painless visible sebaceous glands typically appearing as white/yellow small bumps or spots on the inside of lips or cheeks, gums, or genitalia. They are common, and are present in around 80% of adults.
Milia bumps are normal, harmless and very common. While no single specific cause is known, they can occur in areas of prior trauma, such as after surgery or burns. They can be diagnosed as a single bump or multiple bumps on the face, including the lip area.
Cheilitis means “inflamed lips.” Actinic cheilitis is a form of actinic keratosis, which are precancerous macules or papules that may occur anywhere on the body. Being precancerous, actinic keratosis can eventually turn into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a type of skin cancer.
Early stage lip cancer may look like a flat or slightly raised patch of discoloration. Other lip cancer symptoms include: A sore, lump, blister or ulcer that won't go away.
Actinic cheilitis is a form of actinic keratosis, or a precancerous skin lesion. It presents as dry, chapped, scaly lips with white patches or discoloration. People who are frequently exposed to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds are at greater risk, especially when sun protection is not involved.
People with poor nutrition, specifically vitamin A, iron and folate deficiencies.
You can expect to see fading in 3-6 months.
In Fox-Fordyce disease abnormalities affecting the apocrine sweat glands causes inflammation, and enlargement of the glands and the characteristic intense itching. Skin near an affected area may become darkened and dry and multiple, small, raised bumps (papules) may develop.
They are not infectious. These skin abnormalities are not a health concern but should be checked by a doctor if they start changing.
They'll go away on their own after a few weeks or months. You may be tempted to pick at or pop the milia. This irritation may only make it worse and cause complications. Picking at the skin around the milia can lead to scarring or an infection.