Home Remedies to Treat Fordyce Spots (White Spots on Lips)

  • What Causes White Spots On The Lips?
  • How To Get Rid Of White Spots On Lips
  • Prevention Tips

What Causes White Spots On The Lips?

Fordyce spots are caused by the abnormal secretion of sebum (oil) by the sebaceous glands present in the skin (1). The accumulated sebum acts as a breeding ground for bacteria, and this infection causes inflammation of the surrounding tissue. It is important to note that this is not a sexually transmitted infection.

There are several home remedies that may help treat Fordyce spots on the lips. But before treating them at home, you must consult a specialist to eliminate the chance of these spots being a sign of a sexually transmitted disease. This is just to make sure that the white spots on your lips are indeed Fordyce spots.

How To Spot These Spots!

Fordyce spots measure 1-3 mm. They are usually whitish-yellow. They are mostly formed outside or on your lips.

Stretch the skin to see the spots clearly. Do not confuse Fordyce spots with other dermatological conditions like epidermoid cysts and basal cell carcinoma.

How To Get Rid Of White Spots On Lips

If the white spots on the lips are recognized as Fordyce spots, you can use the home remedies mentioned below to treat them.

1. Garlic

Garlic has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties (4103721/' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >2),(3),(4). It contains active compounds like ajoene and allicin that help eradicate bacteria in your bloodstream. Thus, increasing the consumption of garlic can help kill breeding bacteria and maintain oral hygiene.

You Will Need

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 200 mL of water
  • 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice (optional)

What You Have To Do

  1. Crush the garlic cloves and blend with water.
  2. Add lemon juice for flavor.
  3. Drink this before or after your meals.

How Often You Should Do This

Have 2-3 glasses in a day.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

64295/?tool=pubmed' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >Apple cider vinegar acts as an astringent and has antibacterial properties that help eliminate bacteria (5), (6). It contains a group of fatty acids that inhibit the growth of bacteria and bring about balance in the sebum secretions.

You Will Need

  • A few drops of apple cider vinegar
  • A few drops of water
  • Cotton swab

What You Have To Do

  1. Mix equal quantities of ACV and water.
  2. Apply this mixture to the affected area with a cotton swab.
  3. Rinse with lukewarm water after a few minutes.
  4. You can also add a tablespoon of ACV to a glass of cool water and drink this twice a day.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this no more than twice a week.

Caution: If you experience any burning sensation or irritation, rinse it off immediately and apply an ice cube on the area for a minute or two.

3. Coconut Oil

Most often, the excess secretion of sebum that causes white spots is due to dehydrated and dry skin. Coconut oil moisturizes your skin and makes it healthy and smooth (7). It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (93/' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >8), (9). The essential oil of lavender used in this remedy will soothe skin inflammation (10). However, there is no direct scientific evidence to prove the efficacy of coconut oil in treating Fordyce spots.

You Will Need

  • 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • A few drops of lavender essential oil

What You Have To Do

  1. Add the essential oil to the coconut oil and mix well.
  2. Using clean fingers, apply this oil to the affected area, and let it sit for a couple of hours.
  3. You can store the remaining oil mix in a small container.

How Often You Should Do This

Reapply 2 times a day.

4. Jojoba Oil And Argan Oil

Jojoba oil is rich in vitamin E and helps control excess sebum production (11). Argan oil is traditionally used to treat skin infections, and it also moisturizes the skin and increases its elasticity (12), (13).

You Will Need

  • 1-2 drops of argan oil
  • 1-2 drops of jojoba oil

What You Have To Do

  1. Mix the oils and apply the blend all over your lips with a clean finger.
  2. Let the oil stay for 8-10 minutes.
  3. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this 2-3 times a day.

5. Essential Oils

Benzoin oil relieves dryness and soreness of the lips (14). Tea tree oil is a wide-spectrum antimicrobial agent that can kill any microbes that may have settled in the white spots (15). While these oils relieve symptoms and sterilize the area, cabreuva oil promotes healing and prevents the formation of scar tissue (14).

You Will Need

  • 2-3 drops of benzoin oil
  • 2-3 drops of tea tree oil
  • 2-3 drop of cabreuva oil
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of Scotch pine essential oil

What You Have To Do

  1. Blend all the oils.
  2. Apply this mixture on the white spots on your lips. Allow it to dry for a couple of minutes.
  3. Clean with lukewarm water and a gentle antibacterial cleansing soap.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 1-2 times daily.

Caution: Skip the benzoin oil from the mix if you have sensitive skin. Also, if you have not previously used any of the essential oils mentioned, please do a patch test before using them as a remedy for white spots on the lips.

6. Buttermilk

Buttermilk soothes the inflammation and irritation caused by the Fordyce spots on your lips. However, there are no scientific studies to prove its effectiveness in treating these spots.

You Will Need

  • Buttermilk
  • Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

  1. Dip the cotton ball in the buttermilk and apply it to the lips.
  2. Let it dry naturally. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You can repeat this a few times during the day.

You can use any of the above-mentioned home remedies to treat white spots on the lips. Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients before using them. Apart from these remedies, there are a few other tips you can follow to treat this ailment quickly.

Prevention Tips

You can also opt for permanent treatments to get rid of white spots on the lips (other than Fordyce spots). These treatments include vaporizing laser therapy and chemical peels. However, you need to consult a professional before opting for these treatments.

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