Fordyce condition is a rare and chronic degenerative skin condition, which occurs when sebaceous glands overgrow. Fordyce’s condition is usually associated with the little and yellowish growths, affecting the skin of the face especially lips, mouth, tongue and cheeks. Such growths can also commonly occur on female labia and penis. The condition, which rarely affects lower lip, is sometimes mistakenly identified as basal cell carcinoma.

Fordyce condition is noncontiguous. Some serious cases of Fordyce’s condition especially those of cosmetic concern may require treatment with vaporizing laser. The oral lesions that become frequent with the growing age can be seen in many elderly persons. Even a healthy person can be affected by this condition. So much so that Fordyce’s condition can involve several other medical conditions.

Fordyce’s condition is commonly seen in men and women of any age group. According to a study, nearly 90 percent men are affected by Fordyce’s condition, which may be visible in forms lesions. The condition does not usually obstruct love making because it does not cause pain.

Fordyce Symptoms

A person with this condition can be seen with a group of little yellowish dots or sheets on lips, mouth and even the genital skin. No correlation exists between Fordyce’s condition and systemic conditions.

Causes of Fordyce condition

Although the exact cause for Fordyce's condition is not known, yet the study suggests its generic connection. According to researchers, the heredity disorder can be the main factor behind this condition in nearly 40 per cent of the cases. The papules that may have developed since birth grow larger and become apparent from puberty onwards.

Viral infection, overgrowing sebaceous glands and family history can be some common causes behind the condition.

Diagnosis of the condition

Your doctor may conduct visual inspection of your health to diagnose whether you have been affected by Fordyce’s condition or not. The development of yellowish papules and their location may indicate ectopic sebaceous glands. Sometimes warts are mistakenly diagnosed as Fordyce’s Condition because of the similarity in involvement of the vermilion border in both the cases. In case the Fordyce’s Condition affected genital area, doctor may feel the need for conducting biopsy or blood examination considering the similarity in appearance of some of the sexually transmitted diseases and Fordyce’s Condition.

Fordyce Treatment

Try tretinoin gel or cream for application to the affected skin every day so as to reverse of the effects and prevent the further aggravation of the condition.

In case the lesions take the ugly form making you feel unpleasant, you can try a more expensive drug called "Accutane" for reversal of sebaceous hyperplasia. However, the chronic cases require Accutane. Once this medication is stopped, development of new lesions is possible. Therefore you must apply tretinoin cream regularly in order to ensure prevention of new lesions. You can also use diathermy for the removal of lesions.

Your doctor may prescribe TCA chemical peels for instant relief. But Fordyce's Condition may reoccur if you stop this medication. You can try laser vaporization to get over this condition.

Fordyce treatment with the help of CO2 laser or electro desiccation in the cases of cosmetic concern seemed to be effective in lessening the appearance of this condition. In such cases, however, the doctors don't usually prescribe this treatment, considering the condition as mere normal physiological phenomenon.

Biopsy is rarely required since Fordyce’s condition given the availability of its easy clinical diagnosis. However, it is incidentally diagnosed through biopsy of mucous membranes (for buccal, labial and retro molar mucosa).

The granules can have similarity with the skin's normal sebaceous glands but they don't have adequate hair follicles and are found to be lacking ductal link with the surface. The glands that are present just below the overlying epithelium locally raise the level of epithelium.

Home remedies for Fordyce

The condition does not usually require the recommendation of any specific diet or vitamin supplements since its exact cause is not known. However it is necessary to maintain good oral hygiene and adopt a balanced diet comprising folic acid and vitamins. Vitamin C, considered as an antioxidant helps build up the immune system. Garlic helps destroy a bacterium that affects bloodstream or the mouth whereas folic acid is helpful for normal metabolism.

Prevention of Fordyce

It is important to take care of the skin particularly that in the genital portion. But it is no way associated with the appearance of the spots. Only severe cases may require treatment. However, the condition generally goes away on its own irrespective of the treatment.