Fordyce Spots

Sebaceous glands that open directly onto the skin or mucous membrane with no associated hair follicle. They appear as small, pale yellow-white spots, most often on the lips and the genitals.

What they do

Their function is uncertain. They produce a small amount of sebum, but the area they cover — and the absence of a hair to coat — limits their role.

Are they a problem?

No — they are a normal anatomical variant. They are not contagious, not a disease, and very common (a large majority of adults have them somewhere). They are sometimes mistaken for a sexually transmitted infection because of their genital distribution.

Key idea

Fordyce spots are sebaceous glands without the hair — the proof that the gland and the follicle, though usually together, are not biologically inseparable.