I have white bumps on lips and mouth and VRDL is 1 in 4 dilution. Is this due to infection?

Question

Hello doctor,

My wife got two abortions due to unformed heartbeat for up to three months. So the doctor suggested abortion tablets. After the second abortion, the doctor did some tests for my wife and me. She gave Rubella CMV and herpes vaccine and tablets for her. My HIV is negative, and VDRL is reactive 1 in 4 dilutions. So the doctor told me there is no problem. I do not have any bad habits. Now we are planning for pregnancy by doctor's suggestion. Before one month, I got pimples inside the mouth and white bumps on the lips. They are painless. Again the same doctor told them they came due to vitamin C deficiency and suggested B complex and Vitamin C tablets. And then I went to a dermatologist. He also told me my VDRL is 1 in 4 dilutions and treated as negative. He also suggested B complex tables, but pimples are still there even after taking tablets for one month. Meanwhile, I have done VDRL, syphilis, and TPHA tests with negative results, but the pimples increase. What I have to do now? Please suggest.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have a history of white lesions on your lips, and some pimple-like lesions are present inside your mouth for the last one month that are painless. Your HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and TPHA tests (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination) are negative and VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory) test reactive in 1:4 dilution. Your wife has a history of two abortions in the past. Lesions over the lips and mouth can be due to aphthous ulcers that are round/oval ulcers but painful or herpes gingivostomatitis (it is a viral infection) or fungal infection. There are a few questions I needed to ask you. Did you notice any skin changes in your genital region, like an ulcer over the penis? Do you have any lump in the groin area? Also, send me a picture of your skin lesions over the lips and mouth. In the meantime, maintain oral hygiene and mouth wash.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have seen the picture (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The small white bumps on your lips and mouth are Fordyce spots. They are visible sebaceous glands that appear as painless raised white spots (one to three millimeter diameter). They can occur over the vermilion border of lips, inside the mouth, and also on genitalia. These are completely harmless. They are not infectious and are not sexually transmitted. Usually, they do not require any treatment. If you have cosmetic concerns, electrosurgery, and vaporizing laser treatment, chemical peeling are some of the procedures done to remove it.

Answer 3

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, there are some topical medications that you can use, like Tretinoin gel 0.025%, but care should be taken while using this gel. Use it at night time. You may experience some irritation or mild burning sensation. So use a very small quantity to apply and do not rub. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 (sun protection factor) or more of use a lip balm with SPF 30 after washing your face before you go outside during daytime. Some possible side effects that you can experience are burning, itching, scaling, slight peeling, mild redness, or skin dryness. If you experience any of these, feel free to reach out.