For most patients, Angiokeratoma of Fordyce does not cause any symptoms and therefore doesn’t require treatment. All treatment options are only for cosmetic purposes. You do not need to be treated if your life is not significantly affected.

If you find that your relationships, wellbeing and lifestyle is affected, we will discuss this with you to ensure that treatment is the right option for you.

In some circumstances, it is appropriate to treat the angiokeratomas for medical reasons. For example:

• The lesions tend to bleed spontaneously or after minor trauma. They tend to bleed a lot if accidentally cut whilst shaving.
• The lesions can sometimes look like warts, and your partner(s) may become concerned with the lesions’ appearance.
• The lesions continue to grow in size rapidly.
• The lesions, being filled with blood, produce a sense of warmth or itching.
• Presence of lesions is undermining your confidence and self-esteem.
• The lesions affect your lifestyle and wellness, especially regarding fitness, high intensity sports and cycling.

Whilst it is only after seeing you that we can make sure that you are eligible for treatment, submitting our questionnaire (with pictures) will provide us with a very good idea of whether we can offer you treatment or not.

Yes, most certainly.

We occasionally take on patients who have had laser treatment in the past and are seeking further treatment due to an unsatisfactory outcome or recurrence. Hyfrecation treatment can be safely performed in such patients with excellent results.

We can see patients from the age of 18 and above at our clinic.

Occasionally, patients may have one of the following issues affecting the genital skin which needs to be addressed before undertaking the hyfrecation treatment. These include:

• Infection of the surrounding skin.
• An outbreak of Genital herpes.
• Localised active Inflammatory conditions of the genital skin (for example, eczema).
• If you suffer from diabetes, and your sugar levels are out of control.
• If you suffer from hypertension, and your blood pressure is not controlled.

Most people who are treated for Angiokeratoma of Fordyce do not show recurrence of their lesions and do not need to return for further treatment. However, as with any treatment, this is not something we can guarantee.

Those who have rare underlying metabolic conditions like Fabry disease, are more likely to have recurring lesions.

No. Angiokeratoma of Fordyce is essentially an enlargement of blood vessels, producing blood filled lesions. They tend to become more common as we become older, but can also develop in those in their 20’s.

Fordyce spots, on the other hand, is a normal anatomical variation of genital skin, and are first noted during adolescence. These lesions are not blood filled and they are slightly yellowish in colour.

Most patients do not feel any discomfort from the angiokeratomas, however, some patients may feel a bit of discomfort accompanied by a sense of warmth and itching. Due to their vascular nature, they tend to bleed a lot if traumatised or accidentally cut during shaving or trimming. Sometimes simply rubbing against the angiokeratomas is enough to make them bleed. If this is something you experience, it may benefit you to have your Angiokeratoma of Fordyce removed.

Furthermore, their appearance can be perceived as unsightly, or they may be mistaken for a sexually transmitted infection which can cause significant stigma. People who are distressed by Angiokeratoma of Fordyce may benefit from treatment to improve their self-esteem, confidence, and overall sex life.

No. There are no home remedies that have been shown to be effective at removing Angiokeratoma of Fordyce. If you have angiokeratomas, it is highly discouraged to attempt any home remedies, including physical removal, burning, squeezing or “popping” the lesions, or applying any over-the-counter remedies.

We recommend that you do the following before your appointment:

• Shower on the day of your appointment to reduce the risk of infection.
• Have a meal in the morning of the procedure.
• Take 2 paracetamol tablets, 1 hour before your appointment time for pain relief.

We recommend that you drive or use public transportation to attend your appointment and to get home. Cycling is not recommended.

You typically do not need to take time off after treatment of your Angiokeratoma of Fordyce. You will be able to go about your day as usual, unless you have a very physically demanding job. Avoid undertaking heavy physical exercise for 48 hours after the procedure.

Yes. You can bring your partner, friend or family member to your appointment.

However, if you feel that you would rather not bring someone to the appointment, rest assured that our staff are here to support you and make you comfortable in any way possible. Clarewell Clinics is a safe space.

You do not need to make any special arrangements for after your procedure. However, if you would feel more comfortable, you may request a family member, friend or partner to accompany you on the way home.

We currently do not deal with insurance companies ourselves. You will need to check with your healthcare insurance provider if they cover treatment for Angiokeratoma of Fordyce. We highly recommend getting approval in writing to avoid any miscommunication with your insurance company.

When you arrive for your appointment, we will invite you in for the initial consultation.

Once we have reviewed your lesions, we will proceed to prepare you for the procedure (as long as you have booked in for same day treatment). This will involve going through the consent form, taking any pre-procedure pictures and applying the numbing cream in privacy.

After letting the numbing cream settle for approx. 15-20 minutes, we will check to make sure the area is numb and then continue to remove the lesions using hyfrecation, if you still wish to go ahead with treatment.

After the procedure, we will offer you aftercare advice and provide you with an aftercare pack to help with the recovery.

The numbing cream is there to make the procedure as painless as possible. Your clinician will confirm the total numbness of the skin before undertaking the procedure.

Yes, absolutely you can. Please let us know at the time of your booking (or upon your arrival) so that we are ready to accommodate your wishes.

You may experience a little soreness at the site. This is completely normal, and you may wish to take painkillers to reduce the discomfort. It usually takes 1-2 weeks for the skin to heal and for most side effects to disappear.

Most discomfort that you may feel in the operative area should disappear within a day or two. This will of course vary depending on the extent of the lesions that were treated.

We recommend all patients have a thorough read of the information above as it will help with key questions.

If you think that something is wrong, please request a follow up call by contacting our clinic.

It is advised to abstain from sex and avoid masturbation until healing is complete (approx. 1-2 weeks). Having intercourse during the healing process can increase the risk of infection, scarring or bleeding.

Your clinician can sometimes see a residual lesion that you may not be able to identify. As such, all patients are offered a follow-up appointment within 4-6 weeks after their procedure. This will also give you a chance to ask any further questions that you may have.