C Medical Treatments For Lip Pimples
Over-the-counter treatments involve topical ingredients which can be directly applied onto the skin. These are considered useful for treating pimples that appear on your lip.
One of the most commonly used ingredients in topical treatments is benzoyl peroxide. It acts by eliminating pimple-causing bacteria and minimizing inflammation.
OTC products which have benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient are available as:
- Face cleansers
- Gels
Important Note:
It is important to be careful while using any skincare product containing benzoyl peroxide due to its bleaching property. It may bleach your hair and clothes.
For recurring or multiple pimples on your lips, your dermatologist may recommend various other medical treatments such as:
1. Topical Medication With Prescription-Strength
In severe cases, individuals may find these medications more potent and effective than normal OTC ointments.
2. Oral Medication
Antibiotics may be recommended to treat acne in a few cases. These medications act by specifically targeting and eliminating the acne-causing bacteria.
3. Laser Therapy
A less common treatment option, laser therapy may be suggested for treating pimples. It involves light pulses directed to eliminate the acne-causing bacteria. For best results, multiple sessions may be recommended.
4. Pimple Extraction
Why A Pimple On The Lip Hurts
There is nothing so irritating and bothersome than that pimple on the lip. And boy, do they hurt! Ever wonder just why they hurt more than an average pimple on your chin? Well, the skin around the edge of the lips is thinner. Plus. there are more nerve endings in the area. The lips themselves have over 1,000,000 nerve endings, making them the most sensitive part of your body. And thin skin plus more nerves equals a double pain whammy.;;
Causes Of Pimples On Gums
Leukoplakia which is the main cause can be caused by several conditions in the mouth. Here are some of the conditions that may cause the pimple in mouth on gum:
- Irritation from rough teeth, fillings, or crowns, ill- fitting dentures that rub against your cheek or gum
- Chronic smoking, pipe smoking or other tobacco use
- When your lips are exposed too much sunshine.
- Oral cancer although in rare cases
- Weakened immune system due to HIV and AIDS
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What’s The Difference Between A Cold Sore And A Lip Pimple
Let’s dial it back to the basics: Simply put, lip pimples are just like any other pimple you get on your facebut on your lips. It’s caused by a multitude of factors. In addition to overactive oil glands that promote the overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria, Dr. Ciraldo says that one of the most common culprits is fragranced lip products, including lipstick, gloss, and even lip balms . Couple that with the humidity and friction you get from wearing face masksand you’ve got yourself a pimple breeding ground.;;
On the other hand, cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Your body will usually warn you it’s coming with a tingling, itching, or burning sensation. Outbreaks are often triggered by internal changes, such as a cold or infection, fluctuating hormone levels, and stress. Since you can catch the highly contagious infection through something as simple as kissing, the majority of people are exposed to the virus, but it will only come out when triggered, says Dr. Ciraldo.
That being said, there are some telling physical differentiators between the two. “If you were to take a closer look, the cold sore will be a cluster of blisters whereas a pimple is just a single reddish-pink bump and will never occur directly on the lips,” says Dr. Ciraldo. “The pimple is also usually more tender, as opposed to cold sores which tend to burn.”
What Is A Cold Sore

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 . “The virus typically lays dormant in the underlying nerve, but when there’s a triggering immune event to the skin, it can cause the virus to flare in the nerve,” says board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare Purvisha Patel, M.D. The lesions then appear as a response to the infection.;
A word on the virus: HSV is incredibly contagious, and it’s caused by skin-to-skin contactthings like kissing or drinking after a person who has active lesions, touching the person’s skin, or sharing objects like silverware, lip balms, or razors. And while there’s a certain stigma around them , cold sores are actually more common than you think: In fact, the World Health Organization reports that an estimated 3.7 billion people under age 50 have HSV-1, which translates to 67% of the global populationwell over half. And for some, the virus may lay dormant entirely; for example, you might have contracted the virus as a child or drinking after a friend and not even know it.
It’s important to note that some people can be contagious even without an active outbreak, a condition known as “asymptomatic viral shedding,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. That’s not meant to scare you from kissing or sharing gloss ever again , but an important word of caution nonetheless.;
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How To Get Rid Of Pimples On Lips According To Dermatologists
They’re just like any other pimple!
Getting acne anywhere is no fun, but it’s especially unpleasant when you discover a pimple in a really painful area, like your lip. Luckily, lip pimples are just another type of acne, and you can usually treat them how you would a pimple anywhere else on your face. To dive into the specifics, Seventeen chatted with Dr. Jennifer MacGregor, NYC-based board-certified dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology, all about those pesky pimples around your lips. From how to safely treat that type of acne to how to avoid even getting them in the first place, we’ve got you covered.
Before we get started, let’s clarify one thing: pimples surrounding the lip area are not the same thing as cold sores. Herpes type 1 or oral herpes is a virus that causes painful cold sores on your mouth and lips. While it might be confusing at first, cold sores actually look and feel different from pimples.
What Is A Pimple What Does It Look Like
A pimple is usually a small, firm inflamed spot on the skin and has many other names such as zit, bleb, boil, carbuncle, and others. Some pimples may become large. A pimple is an inflamed area of skin with pus formation in the center, resulting from a bacterial infection of the oil gland that produces sebum.
A picture of a pimple is shown above.
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How To Get Rid Of Acne Around Mouth And Chin Mouth Acne Treatment
If your face is breaking out around the mouth there is good news for you; mouth acne pimples and cysts can be cleared effectively and in so doing, you help to prevent the formation of acne scars.
Note however that it is unlikely that the mouth breakout will go away overnight; it takes consistent treatment with home remedies and over the counter acne treatment products to see results. With that said, below are some of the ways in which you can treat and get rid of acne around mouth more relatively faster:
How To Tell Which One You Have
See a lip lesion popping up? Check its make-up: Is it a blistered, fluid-filled bump on the skin? Or is it a fleshy bump with a white or black head? Cold sores tend to look like the former, while lip pimples have that distinguishable white or black top .;
While they might look similar in the beginning, cold sores usually take on the appearance of a cloudy blister, says Patel. That’s because they’re typically mixed with a clear fluid, which gives them that “cloudiness.” Of course, “If you have a lip skin lesion that is not healing, see a board-certified dermatologist,” she adds.
Cold sores can also come with flu-like symptoms as well as what’s known as a prodromea tingling or burning sensation on the skin before any actual lesions appear. People who experience cold sores may recognize this pain and treat the virus before any lesions even arise . On the other hand, “pimples do not have this sensation, as they do not involve the nerves under the skin,” says Patel. While zits themselves can become rather sore , it’s the burning sensation before that’s a tell-all sign.;
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How To Pop A Pimple On Lip
If you want to make a pimple on your lip go away really fast, you might be inclined to pop a pimple. So, should you ever pop a small or a large pimple on your lip?
It may seem that squeezing a pus-filled pimple on your lip is the best way to get rid of it. However, according to the National Institute of Health, popping a pimple on your lip or another part of your face may only be a short-term solution. If the pimple is very large, you could end up forcing the infection deeper into the skin.23
So, you should always try to avoid popping lip pimples. However, if the pimple is very unsightly and is causing you embarrassment, Dr. Cynthia Baily, a dermatologist from Sebastopol, CA recommends the following:
What Are Causes And Risk Factors For Pimples And Cold Sores
Cold sores are caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2 viruses, with the majority of facial cold sores caused by HSV-1 . Risk factors include person-to-person transmission by direct skin contact, sharing eating utensils and other personal items , and even kissing can transmit viruses through saliva. It is also possible to transmit the disease with oral sex.
Pimples are caused by inflammation and bacterial overgrowth in the sebaceous glands of the skin. They are not caused by person-to-person contact. Risk factors include clogged sebaceous glands , hormonal changes , and/or chemical irritants placed on the skin. Breakouts of pimples sometimes occur due to hormonal changes, for example during menstruation.
The signs and symptoms of pimples and cold sores can be summarized by the five stages by which both pimples and cold sores develop.
The following are the signs and symptoms of pimples:
- No visible lesions; possible tingling
- Reddish, flat small area of skin
- Possible whitehead or blackhead development
- Pus develops that eventually spontaneously drains
- Inflammation decreases and skin heals
The following are the signs and symptoms of cold sores:
- No visible lesions; possible tingling
- Fluid-filled blisters begin to appear
- Blisters ooze clear fluid and form painful sores
- Sores dry and form scabs
- Scabs fall off skin and skin heals
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Acne Around Mouth And Chin Meaning
Acne around mouth and chin simply means that you have clogged skin pores.
Acne breakouts erupt when hormonal shifts in the body during puberty, before menstrual, and before menopause causes excessive secretion of skin oil inside the hair follicles.
Together with dead skin cells, the oil forms a plug in the opening of the hair follicle. Consequently, the hair follicle beneath begins to swell, culminating in acne bumps.
Acne around mouth and chin, and indeed anywhere else in the body, usually begins as whiteheads. An overgrowth of the normally harmless skin bacteria in the plugs formed in the hair follicles may, however, cause further inflammation, resulting in pustules and cysts . These bacteria produce irritating chemicals.
Among the most common symptoms of mouth acne are:
- Whiteheads.;Also referred to as closed comedones.
- Blackheads;. As the name suggests, blackheads are acne bumps or lesions with darkened tips, formed when the oil and other content in a whitehead becomes exposed to the air and oxidize.
- Cysts.;Tender, painful, pus-filled bumps that are associated with severe teenage and adult acne.
- Redness. This occurs in the affected areas of the skin due to inflammation.
- Oily skin. Although not always, pimples and cysts on the mouth and chin and the whole body in general have a tendency to be accompanied by oily skin.
- Scars. Severe acne may leave you with scars.
Lime Juice Is An Effective Home Remedy For Pimple On Lip

Lemon is known to contain anti-bacterial properties and has been recognized as an effective cleanser for acne vulgaris. Take a cotton ball, dip it in lemon juice and gently dab it on the skin. The antimicrobial properties of lemon act on the bacteria build-up while its astringent properties help to constrict the pore which pushes out dirt and oil.
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What Does A Bump On Your Lips Mean
Lip bumps may cause discomfort or pain in the area, but they are mostly harmless and resolve on their own without treatment. These may be caused due to lip injuries, allergic reactions, and infections. They primarily appear when you experience any inflammation or blockages in the pores of your lips.
Lip bumps may differ in associated symptoms, appearance, shape, and size. The line of treatment solely depends on the underlying cause. However, you may use a simple home remedy or over-the-counter medication. In case of serious causes, it may require medical treatment to resolve the lip bump.
Cleansing your face excessively wont resolve or get rid of blemishes. Over-cleansing and over-exfoliating may instead aggravate your acne breakout. Cleansing and exfoliation leave your skin dry and irritated, leading to excess sebum/natural oil production in your skin.
Can A Pimple Cause My Lip To Swell
A pimple on or around the lips can cause the lip to swell. Severe swelling can be due to cystic acne .
You can get rid of the swelling by placing a hot washcloth as this can take away the pus. You should be able to notice a considerable change within 24 hours with hot compresses. Do not pick at the swollen lip.
While a pimple or two may pop up on your lip once in a while, there is no shortage of treatments. Let us know what worked for you when dealing with pimples on the lip line.
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Regularly Cleanse And Exfoliate Your Skin
Skincare 101, we know, but keeping the surface of your skin free of debris, which includes dead skin cells, is half the battle in maintaining unclogged pores. Dr. Kraffert recommends the;Amarte ExfoliPowder, which works to cleanse and exfoliate simultaneously, making this step as simple and effective as possible.;
What Causes Pimples On Lip
Excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria are number one culprits for pimples on lip. Hormonal imbalances can also trigger breakouts around the lips . Consider a blood test to rule this out.
Products like lip balm, makeup, toothpaste and shaving cream may contain ingredients that can irritate the skin, clog pores and cause pimples. Stress and certain medications can increase your chances of having pimples on your lips too.
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How To Get Rid Of A Pimple On Your Lip
Got a painful pimple on your lip and wondering, “Can you even get a pimple on your lip?” The answer is yes, as acne can form on the lip line, but it might also be a cold sore! Find out what causes pimples on lips, how to tell if itâs a cold sore or pimple, and how to get rid of a pimple on your lip.
What Is A Pimple
Allow us to explain what really happens under the surface of your skin: Pimples occur when bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil become trapped inside the hair follicle, triggering an inflammatory response and causing a zit.
Unfortunately, everyone faces pimples, and they can happen anywhere on your body you have hair follicles . Which, as it turns out, includes the lip area. While pimples can also crop up due to stress, sun, and trauma, they aren’t caused by a viral infection, like cold sores.
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Is Pimple On Roof Of Mouth Painful
The spots on roof of the mouth may tend to be very troublesome, mostly when it comes to chewing and eating foods, this may seem difficult to you.Pimple on the roof of the mouth can be due to irritation from hot foods and drinks, sour and spicy meals. In other cases cold can develop this irritation or very sugary cold drinks may be a problem as well.Avoiding mouth roof bumpsIt is very important to make sure that the foods we eat or drinks have favorable temperatures that will not irritate our mouths. Avoid too much cold or very hot foods and drinks.On the other hand, sour and spicy meals can cause pimple in mouth. Make sure you observe all this things when it comes to putting anything in your mouth.The formation of an infection called mucocele on the roof of your mouth will be a common sighting, if your salivary glands are cut or blocked. These kind of bumps in mouth usually go away when excessive mucus accumulate to its break point. Be aware of this bumps because they can appear again after a given period of time.