Reason behind series of white spots on your body and private parts as experts issue serious warning
Experts have issued a warning about white spots which can appear on your face and genitals.
These spots are common and are generally normal, but can leave some people concerned when they appear.
They can occur as a result of build up of keratin or dead skin cells in the skin, effectively being a tiny cyst.
While they can appear at any time in your life, they become more noticeable during puberty as your skin can become oilier as your body changes.
Advert
But although they are generally common, health experts have issued a warning to anyone who notices them to prevent them from becoming something more serious.
The spots are called milia, or milk spots.
Explaining what they are, Cleveland Clinic: "They become more noticeable during or after puberty.
"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."
And it's also worth noting that the spots are different from acne or other skin conditions such as coldsores or genital herpes.
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."
Acne is different as this is caused when pores in the skin become blocked, with bacteria also sometimes infecting the area.
Meanwhile, herpes is another thing entirely being a viral infection transmitted by close physical contact, often during sex with an infected person, while coldsores are caused by the same kind of virus but are more commonly present on the face.
While milia are common, medics have issued one warning about the bumps and white spots.
This is to try and avoid picking at them or popping them, as it won't make them go away.
Not only that but if you do routinely pick at them this could spread an infection.
It might be tempting to try and make them go away, but getting an infection there could ultimately only make your symptoms even worse.
Healthline says: "Don’t pick or squeeze Fordyce spots. This won’t make them go away, and it can cause infections to develop."
If you are really bothered by milia on your skin, there are treatments which can remove them.
And, of course, if something appears on your skin which you are not sure about you should speak to your doctor.
Kit Roberts