Fordyce On Lips Cure

@dm byers who is the doctor and where is he located? I have yet to find a doctor who uses non fractional successfully.

I only had a test spot with the Sciton laser and I should correct myself, its a Ebrium laser, not a CO2. I think its a newer form of C02 but I could be wrong. The test spot was very focused which has stayed clear of spots for 9 weeks now. I went back to have my whole lip done and she used the fractional setting which did nothing.

I will find out the settings during my next appt when she did the test spot. Im waiting right now to see what happens with the test spot.

I had it done at Advanced Dermatology in Denver with Dr. Nelson. She is awesome but their Scition Ebrium laser is be worked on so that is why I have been waiting so long.

Since their laser is down I got a consultation with another doctor here. His name is Michael Contreras, MD and his clinic is called AboutSkin. Since it was only a consultation, nothing was done but he said he can do the same, start with electrocauterization and then use a Ebrium non-fractional laser. All the good dermatologists are usually 2-4 weeks out so I'm waiting for an opening.


Any reputable dermatologist with have a Ebrium laser. Research it and know what you are talking about before you go in. It seems Sciton is the top of the line and has several different attachments that will do focused spots for 1mm ablative or a fractional attachment that will only do 30% of the area (you dont want this). Looking at their website, sciton has a YAG attachment for the ebrium laser that will go the deepest on the market with minimal ablation.

I think most people get the "oh its normal" response because they go in there thinking the doctor knows all when in fact, 99% dont know sh!t about fordyce spots. Talk to them more and explain that you are willing to try anything and show them examples of what you have read that works. AND BE PATIENT, that is the hardest part.

In the meantime, use a long lasting matte liquid lipstick to touch-up bad areas. It takes the edge off the whiteness and blends the surrounding skin. I use smash or revlon colorstay on days that they seem to be whiter and more pronounced, just google long lasting liquid matte lipstick, pick the colors you think match, try them, return the ones you dont want.

Who knows why some days they are bad and some days they are good but Im sure that part has to do my diet, water intake, vitamins, sleep, stress, and cleanser use...

Bottom line is to just try, nothing will change unless you try. Hope this helps, I will update as things progress.

DM Byers

Great to hear you had success. Please keep us updated on if it was permanent. Btw, are you male? Asking in regards to if a male can use revlon lipstick.

It has now been 4 months and the test spot is still clear!

It is lower than the surrounding skin since its still surrounded by spots but that will be evened out once I go back. Im going to wait a little longer and monitor but Id say that is pretty damn good. I am crossing my fingers this is permanent but even if it only lasts 6-12 months, I'll just go back in (its was $50 for the test spot). So far Im very pleased with the laser (again, its not CO2 but an Erbium wavelength that goes much deeper than CO2 without tearing apart the top layers of skin too badly). Obviously everyone's skin is different, hence the tiny test spot.

I had before and after pics but a friend was going through my pics and saw them so I got super embarrassed and immediately deleted them which was dumb. I will take some on the next visit

I am male so when I do use the liquid lipstick, it is probably the smallest dab ever and I try to work it around. It definitely took me a bunch of tries to figure out how to use it and what would conceal it enough while still not looking like Im wearing lipstick, ha.

Tazorac .1% helped me a lot too. It doesnt remove them but makes them less visible. My lips are handling it okay because i know others that cant. It is VERY drying. I eased into it with .05% first applying just a few times a week. Now I do .1% 3-4 times a day.

AGAIN, dont wait on me, go and talk to a Dermatologist yourself and at least try something. there are a million lasers out there and each has different attachments and each can have the strength adjusted. Everyone seems to complain so much about these and how much they are ruining their life but yet they dont try anything and dont see a doc. TRUST ME, the home remedies do not work and popping is not permanent beyond a few weeks. I popped these for a year and caused scarring before I finally saw someone.

I also have tried 25% TCA on a few spots. It removed them but the area turned a dull white for a few weeks due to the skin repairing itself. Im not saying dont try since it might work for some but remember, its acid!! My lips are already on the whitish side so it wasnt too bad but not permanent.

I cant say it enough, test spots, test spots, test spots. What works for one, may not work for another

-dmbyers

Still clear after the co2?

How does the CO2 test spot look?

It's still clear and a tad shade darker now that the spots are gone. Not noticeable at. I have not gone back to get more areas done yet but need to once my schedule allows it. The .1% tazorac cream makes them less pronounced so waiting has been manageable.

Has anyone talked to their Derm about this laser or any other laser/procedure that has permanent effects?

-DMbyer

So you are happy with what you got? I gotta at man, these things are eating away me. They aren't even that noticeable unless you stare at my lip, but it seems to be all I can think about. I need to go in and get a test spot done soon.

I called the dermatologist today just to ask if they have treated fordyce spots before (i would her not waste time seeing someone that hasn't had experience with it) but the receptionist didn't even know at fordyce was. Kinda bummed me out, but I'm gonna set an appointment for January. Christmas left me broke so can't do it right now.

Please keep posting about yours though, it really helps knowing that the treatment can help. Like a light at the end of the tunnel sort of.

Honestly, if they aren't noticeable, why do anything?? if you have to put your face a foot away from the mirror too see anything, you are one of the lucky ones!

The admin at doctor's office doesn't know sh*t unless they are a high level nurse. Just say you want a consult about fordyce spots. And BE PREPARED. Research the methods on here, research lasers and other treatments (electrodissection, PDL laser, retinoids, accutane, etc.)

As mentioned Sciton is top of the line and has many different lasers, attachments, settings, etc. You can also look up skin clinics too that have Scitons and a doctor running it. Some of these dermatologists can make more money opening a skin and laser clinic rather than a dermatology office because they dont take insurance nor do they pay the astronomical insurance.

Also, I mentioned tazorac has helped me a ton enough where Im not constantly obsessing over these things. I know my obsession has gotten worse over the years too and I think that's because went off my anti-depressants so that's an option to0. Maybe a low level anti-depressent just to limit the anxiety and obsession these cause.

I know it's hard but try to think about them much, keep busy and have patience with any treatment you get. When I first noticed these, I went out and spent $100's of dollars on jojoba oils, vitamin E, Cocnut oil, scrubs, peels, supplements, retin A creams, acids, etc. And then I would use my finger nails to pop them!! NONE of it worked and probably made them worse. I even bought a $300 nano-syringe thinking I could just suck the oil out each month without popping them...guess what, that doesnt work. I know my obsession skyrocketed too when I started working from home full time and had a bathroom mirror 3 feet away from my desk.


Try the tazorac cream or something similar, the strongest prescription retinoid cream you can get and ease into it if you dont want to just to a erbium laser.

Accutane has been brought up by one of my DRs who had the most experience with these and acne. He said that it gets a bad rap and works tremendously to reduce the sebacous glands. My current insurance would not cover so I may try in 2018 when I get new insurance. There have been a few people on here that experimented with it but they never lasted past the first month. Its a six cycle at a high dose like 40mg and then you stop and move to a 10mg dose for as long as you want your fordyce gone.

dm

Although there isn't a permanent cure to these, they can be managed and dealt with using prescription creams, medications and lasers.

It does take hard work but that feeling of a renewed confidence is unreal. Again, try stuff out, get spot treatments, talk to multiple docs and BE PATIENT. Dont let these things ruin your social life, try different treatments.

And to add, the consensus between the docs is that these are cause by hormonal changes. One discussed how testosterone overproduces DHT which causes an increase in sebum production. There are DHT blockers out there but I cant vouch for them, finesteride is prescription level one, Saw Palmetto is a natural one.

Just another talking point to bring up with the doc...

Sorry for the three Posts!

I want reiterate this too because i think it's the most important. Live a healthy life!!

1. Workout consistently at a gym, not your home
2. Eat right and consistently, no cheat days at all
3. Take a multivitamin and some fish oil
4. Drink plenty of water
5. Get plenty of regular sleep
6. Dont smoke or cause stress to your body and lips, wear sunscreen
7. Keep the alcohol and/or drug use to a min if you have to do it.

Honestly, all the above are common sense and we all know we should be doing them, it's just a matter of consistency. I know Ive been failing at a lot of them recently and need to get back on track.

DM byer

Hello everyone,, this Dec 19 I will be having a spot test($50) on my lips. I have decided to do a CO2 laser and I'll keep you posted if everything works fine. Hope for the best guys. I know how it feels to have the same condition but I promise to post my before and after picture.

Let us know how it goes