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Topics: Health, News, Sex and Relationships
Lucy Devine
An expert has issued a warning to anyone who notices white spots 'down there'.
Our bodies are full of all different kinds of spots and bumps, and while some are totally harmless, others need a closer look or a trip to the doctor.
When it comes to tiny white spots, you may have noticed them in more delicate areas, or around the face and eyelids. Some might have even seen small white bumps on their genitals, too.
Now, if you're concerned about a spot, bump or lump 'down there' it's important to get it checked out, either with a doctor or at a sexual health clinic.
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However, experts have explained that some white bumps are often harmless and are actually a condition called milia or Fordyce spots.
So what exactly are they? And what do experts say about them? Let's get into it.
Milia are sometimes mistaken for whiteheads or acne, but they're actually something quite different.
The spots are actually tiny cysts that form when a protein called keratin becomes trapped beneath the skin's surface. The small bumps are usually white or yellow and appear on the face, lips, eyelids, and cheeks.
Dr Marnie Nussbaum, clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, told Women's Health: "Milia are tiny keratin-filled cysts on the surface of the skin.
"They are often confused with whiteheads or acne breakouts. However, these bumps are filled with hard balls of keratin, as opposed to liquid sebum and bacteria. And they cannot be extracted easily."
Fordyce spots, meanwhile, appear as white or flesh-coloured bumps, usually on mucosal surfaces such as the lips and sometimes the genitals.
"They become more noticeable during or after puberty," the Cleveland Clinic explains.
"They often appear on and around your lips and sometimes on your penis and vagina. They’re a natural part of your skin, but treatments can shrink or remove them."
Fordyce spots sometimes appear in patches on both male and female genitalia; however, if you are concerned about anything unusual, it's worth seeking medical advice.
While both conditions are harmless, experts have a resounding warning about both milia and Fordyce spots: never try to pop or pick them.
Dr Nussbaum warns that due to the layer of skin covering a milia, nothing will actually come out and doing so carries a risk of scarring.
Meanwhile, WebMD adds: "One thing to avoid: squeezing the Fordyce spots. You might force out a small amount of an oily substance called sebum, but it won't remove the spots.
"Squeezing can cause inflammation and irritation."
If you need to have them removed, it is recommended to visit a skincare professional for professional extraction. In the case of milia, this requires a needle to be poked through the top layer to allow the sebum to be released.
Meanwhile, for Fordyce spots, there are a few options for procedures, including cryoptherapy, micro-punch surgery, and laser skin resurfacing.