Fordyce's Condition

[Todd S.]

I have Fordyce's condition.  Sebaceous glands on my lips.  I am  thinking of getting rid of them, I heard a laser works.  

My questions:

1. If I use a laser, will the laser get all of them?

2. After getting the laser treatment, CAN THEY COME BACK AND/OR CAN NEW ONES APPEAR ANYWAY? - (if so, it doesn't make sense to do it)

3. Is there a chance the laser can scar my lips?

Please answer all the questions as I am trying to figure out if I should do this.

Thank you for your time, I appreciate you doing this.

Todd

[Shane87]

dear whoever reads these, I have had fordyces condition since puberty i guess im 17 now. It used to be not that bad but it seems like as i grow they grow too on my penis along the shaft only on the sides and underneath not ontop. they are also on my scrotum but those dont bother me cuz they arnt that visible and a girl wouldnt realy notice them BUT...this condidtion is ruining my life i cant live with these things..no way in hell am i gona stay a virgin forever..but they make me insecure about myself. If a girl saw them she would be disgusted and probably dump me...i need help please..there HAS to be SOME way to get rid of them or to make the bumps go down or fade away plz..iv read and the docs on here all say basicly tough luck talk to a doctor..theres co2 laser stuff that works on ppl lips..but please i need help i cant live with these things on my penis its made me pull away from my friends and girlfriends...there has to be some way..medacine? anything my email is ***@**** if u have anything to help me with plz email me i dont know if ppl come here anymore ..thanks
shane

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't think laser treatment is worth doing in this condition.  Even if it gets rid of them, they are likely to recur.  (I assume, by the way, that you are referring to a carbon dioxide or erbium laser.)  I suggest you ask the doctor who is recommending this procedure how successful he or she has been, and what complications, if any, have resulted.  Even if the spots recur, you might want to give it a shot, in the absence of any other alternative, since there isn't any.  Superficial laser removals do tend to be quite safe, at least.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff