What are Fordyce points?
They are sebaceous glands (which produce sebum in the skin) located in specific areas of the body that make them very visible. They are perfectly normal structures and are not an inflammatory, infectious or tumour disorder. They are a normal finding, as up to 80% of people are visible.
What do Fordyce points look like?
They manifest as papules (“pimples“) of a whitish-yellowish color, with a tendency to clump, and located on the lips or inside the oral mucosa. When these glands are visualized in the nipple area, they are called Montgomery’s tubercles, and when they are in the foreskin, they are called Tyson’s glands.
Why do they appear?
These are sebum-producing glands that, despite being present from birth, do not function at full capacity until the hormonal stimulation of adolescence, at which time they increase in size and become visible.
Do they require treatment?
In reality, Fordyce’s points are nothing more than normal glands without any contagious or degenerative potential to cancer, so their removal is not strictly necessary. Only in cases where it involves an aesthetic alteration can treatment be considered.
What is the treatment of Fordyce stitches?
Their removal can be carried out by several methods, although the simplest, most effective and with a higher safety profile is the CO2 laser in super-pulsed mode. This allows high energy peaks to be emitted, limiting the thermal damage of the treated area.
What are the advantages ofCO2 laser removal?
Overall the result is excellent, with complete removal of Fordyce stitches, minimal risk of unsightly scarring, and a simple process that can be performed under topical anesthesia. After removal of the lesions, minimal scab forms over the treated area, which comes off spontaneously within 7-10 days.
Compared to other methods such as surgical scalpel excision , electrocoagulation and/or electroscalpel, the superpulsedCO2 laser has some advantages: it is more precise; it is not necessary to apply local anesthesia by injection; it does not damage the surrounding tissue due to the control of the heat that is released; the risk of scarring after the process is lower and the formation of wounds or scabs is minimal.
In conclusion, the treatment of Fordyce points using theCO2 laser is the method with the best profile for their removal.
REFERENCES
Ocampo-Candiani J, Villarreal-Rodríguez A, Quiñones-Fernández AG, Herz-Ruelas ME, Ruíz-Esparza J. Treatment of Fordyce spots with CO2 laser. Dermatol Surg. 2003 Aug; 29(8):869-71.