[8] They appear as small, painless, raised, pale, red or white spots or bumps 1 to 3 mm in diameter that may appear on the scrotum, shaft of the penis, or on the labia, as well as the inner surface (retromolar mucosa) and vermilion border of the lips of the face.

People with this condition sometimes consult a dermatologist because they are worried they may have a sexually transmitted infection (especially genital warts) or some form of cancer.

[9] On the shaft of the penis, Fordyce spots are more visible when the skin is stretched, and may only be noticeable during an erection.

[citation needed] Occasionally, several adjacent glands will coalesce into a larger cauliflower-like cluster similar to sebaceous hyperplasia of the skin.

[citation needed] In some persons with Fordyce spots, the glands express a thick, chalky discharge when squeezed.

[8] They appear to be more obvious in people with oily skin types, with some rheumatic disorders, and in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

[10] In the latter, the most common site for Fordyce spots is the lower gingiva (gums) and vestibular mucosa.

Individual sebaceous cells are large, with central dark nuclei and abundant foamy cytoplasm.