Small white or pale bumps around the lips or intimate area can feel alarming, but they are not always pimples or signs of an infection. One common explanation is Fordyce spots, which are visible oil glands that can appear alone or in clusters. They are usually tiny, painless and harmless, and commonly occur on the lips and genital skin.

Other harmless possibilities include clogged pores, irritation after shaving, ingrown hairs or normal skin structures. Pearly penile papules, for example, are small whitish or pink bumps that can develop around the head of the penis and do not require treatment. Because several conditions can look similar, photographs or appearance alone may not provide a reliable answer.

Bumps that tingle, burn, become painful or develop into blisters and open sores should be evaluated more carefully. Oral or genital herpes may begin with one or more blisters that later break into painful sores. Genital warts may instead appear as smooth or rough growths, sometimes forming small clusters.

Avoid squeezing, cutting or applying strong acne and wart products to sensitive skin. Trying to treat an unidentified bump can cause irritation, infection or scarring. A doctor or dermatologist can often identify the cause through an examination and may take a swab when a blister or sore could be herpes.

Arrange a medical check if the bumps are new, painful, itchy, spreading, bleeding, producing discharge or appearing after intimate contact. Most small white bumps have a harmless explanation, but a professional examination is the safest way to distinguish normal oil glands from a condition that needs treatment.