Nothing is worse than find a pimple on your face when you wake up. These days, everyone is extremely affected by the way they look. You don’t want to get judged for all those pimples on your face.
Pimples on the lips are even more dreadful as they are more noticeable and have the added risk of popping every time the lip moves. It can cause a lot of irritation, mainly when you eat or drink something.
Table of Contents
Do You See a Pimple On Your Lip?
Did you wake up to find a big pimple on your lip? Pimples on the lip can be a nightmare for most of you. It is more noticeable to some people than in others. Everyone suffers from pimples or zit on their faces at some point in their lives.
If you look in the mirror, you can access the type of a pimple that you have based on their appearance and size. Pimples on lips also hurt a lot as they are on the sensitive part of your body. But don’t worry. These pimples are easy to take care of, depending on what type they are.
1. A Normal Pimple On The Lip
These pimples caused due to clogging of dead skin and oil in the hair follicle. It is the most common form of a pimple and can be easily dealt with. Most people get it as a white tip at the end of their lips. Pus or an inflamed hair follicle fills such a white bubble.
You will be left with a scar if you pop this pimple and they tend to come back time and again. These pimples can appear on your lip, at the corners, inside your lips, in the area between your and lip and on the lower lip.
2. Cold Sore On Lip
Herpes simplex virus type 1 is the cause of cold sores. You can contract this virus from someone infected with it by sharing food with the infected person, through contact or intimacy. They appear as clusters of tiny blisters on the lip. Most people are first infected at a young age. Other reasons for cold sores include stress, dental treatment, accidents and exposure to direct sunlight.
Once you are affected by it, the chances of getting infected again are high. The virus weakens the immune system of people who are already suffering from other diseases. It is said to affect eyes, skin, and genitals. Usually, genital herpes infections are caused by herpes simplex virus type 2.
3. Oral Herpes
Oral herpes is a common infection of the mouth area, lips or gums caused due to the herpes simplex virus. You will see small painful blisters commonly known as cold sores or fever blisters near the lip. Oral herpes is also called herpes labialis. The virus called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2) is responsible for genital herpes.
However, sometimes HSV-2 is spread to the mouth during oral sex, causing oral herpes. Most people are infected with this virus by the age of 20.After the first infection, the virus goes to becomes inactive. Though, it is still in the nerve tissues in the face. Sometimes, the virus later reactivates, causing cold sores.
4. Canker Sore
A canker sore is a painful mouth ulcer which is usually white or yellow colored pimple surrounded by inflammable soft red tissue. They usually develop on the inner side of your cheek or lips. It is not contagious and is most commonly noticed in teenagers. The pain usually resides for seven to ten days. These sores go away in about three weeks without any treatment.
Foods that are hot, citrus, acidic or spicy in nature can cause these sores to become more painful and as a result, more irritable. In contrast, foods such as fish, parsley, kale, carrots, spinach, and yogurt can lessen these effects due to their vitamin content.
5. Chapped Lips
Your lip has a thin layer of skin protecting it. This makes it vulnerable to even the slightest changes in the environment. One of the major caused for chapped lips is direct sunlight that affects your lip. Another major reason for chapped lips is licking your lip when it’s dry. Your saliva destroys the thin layer of skin protecting your lip a little, every time you lick your lips.
Deficiency of vitamin B2 can cause cracks along the side of the mouth. Excessive use of cosmetics like lipsticks cause chapped lips.
Causes Of Pimple On The Lip
Some pimples go away with time without you trying to get rid of it while some don’t know matter what you do. Pimples are formed due to bacteria that get mixed with hyperactive oil glands and hair follicle when your body sheds dead skin cells. Minor causes include:
1. Skin
Your skin type plays a major role in you getting pimples. If you have oily skin, then you are more likely to get pimples as compared to people other skin types.
2. Low-Quality Cosmetics
If you are in the habit of buying low-quality cosmetic like lipsticks, lip balms, and moisturizers, then you need to stop. Such substandard products have harmful ingredients that get absorbed into your skin. They clog pores which in turn causes pimples on your lip.
3. Hormonal Imbalance
One major cause for a pimple on the lip is the hormonal imbalance. It is caused by the various stages that of your growth. It is common in teenagers when they hit puberty due to hyperactive glands. Pimples are a result of hormonal imbalance in pregnant women.
4. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Herpes, a sexually transmitted disease is believed to cause pimples. They are small, painful blisters caused by lip, gum, neck, chin or your private parts. They look like ulcers and ooze out a yellowish liquid and are very painful.
5. Fat Rich Diet
Food that is greasy and rich in fat clogs the pores of your skin. You may develop pimples or acne because of such a poor diet.
6. Allergic Reactions
If you are allergic to the ingredients in the cosmetic products you use, it may cause pimples on your lips. Always check the packet for the ingredients used, to make sure you are not allergic to them.
7. Contaminated And Expired Lip Care Products
It is quite tempting to use products that had expired just a few days ago. But using such products can have serious consequences. Expired products carry various pathogens that can harm your lips and result into pimples.
8. Personal Hygiene
Cleaning your lips is just as important as cleaning your body. Not cleaning your lips after having greasy and oily food or not scrubbing your lips regularly can lead to pimple formation on the lip.
9. Medication That Contains Corticosteroids Or Lithium
Lithium in lip care products causes allergic reactions in many people. It is advisable to check the back of the package to ensure it doesn’t contain ingredients like lithium.
Other Causes Of Pimples On Your Lip
- Environmental factors like pollution and weather change can cause pimples on your lip due to clogged pores.
- If you happen to be a chain smoker, you are more prone to getting pimples on your lip.
- Too much stress can get you pimples on your lip. A polluted environment is also one of the reasons pimples occur on the lip.
- The fluorine in your toothpaste can also be a reason for these pimples as some people may be allergic to it.
- Your genes also play a vital role in you getting pimples from time to time.
Chronic Causes:
- Cold sores
- Bacterial infection
- Syphilis
- Measles
- Erythrasma
- Lentigo
- Cancer
What Pimple On Various Spots Indicate?
1. A Pimple On The Lip Or Below The Lip
- Pimples on the upper lip can be normal pimples or cold sores.
- Waxing or shaving the region above your lip can cause these pimples due to ingrowth or irritated hair follicles.
- Piercing your upper lip can result in getting pimples on lip infection. This can also happen due to allergies.
2. A Pimple On Or On The Corner Of The Lip
- Not cleaning your lips after having fatty or greasy food results into a pimple on the lip
- Stress is another reason for pimples to form on the edges of the lip
- Hormonal changes during puberty and pregnancy cause these pimples in teenagers and women.
3. A Pimple On Your Lip
- Common causes of pimples inside lips are canker sores, mucous cysts, oral lichen planus and inflamed papillae.
- They are common in infants and teenagers.
4. A Small Pimple On The Lip
- Small pimples are cold sores in general that look like clustered little white pimples on your lip.
- These pimples will pop after a while and a crust or yellowish scab forms at its place.
5. Big Pimples On The Lip
- A big pimple on your lip caused by an insect bite or ingrown hair.
- The other common cause of big pimples on lips is hormonal imbalance seen in teenagers and pregnant women.
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Pimple On Lips
1. Maintain Good Hygiene
Clean your lips every time you eat greasy or food high in fat. Scrub your lips lightly with a wet sponge to remove the excess grease. If your pimples don’t go away easily, you can try out different anti-acne products that are available in the market as suits your body type as well as some medicated mouthwashes. It is also advisable that you do not use soap when cleaning your lips as soap is too harsh for your sensitive lips.
2. Exfoliation
You can easily get rid of the dead cells from your lips and exfoliate them with the products available in the market and some natural homemade scrubs.
Sugar Lip Exfoliating Scrub
Ingredients:
one tablespoon brown sugar, half tablespoon honey or olive oil
Method:
Mix a tablespoon of brown sugar with half a tablespoon honey or olive oil to get it to stick together. Once a week or twice a week, rub the scrub onto your lips vigorously to loosen the dead skin. After a minute wipe off with a damp washcloth.
3. Careful Choosing Of Lip Care Products
Lip makeup can clog the pores around your lips and cause pimples. When choosing lip makeup, you should opt for sheer lip glosses and those that have less pigment in them.
The products with high concentration of pigments are more likely to cause clogged pores. Some of the face care products that you use might be affecting your lips and causing it to have pimples.
Try changing the face washes and soaps and see if the problem can go away. Choose the cleanser with lavender oil, tea tree oil, and Arctium lappa as they can be of help on your lip pimples.
4. Healthy Diet
Follow a diet rich in rich in zinc, magnesium, vitamin A and E as it reduces pimples and acne. Drink enough water during the day to keep hydrated. Over-consumption of caffeine causes acne and so try to limit your intake as much as possible.
Include citrus fruits such as grapes, apples, and oranges in your diet to help remove any dead skin as well as help in opening any clogged pores on your lip.
5. Stress Management
If you are too stressed, opt for therapy or activities that are stress busters. Reducing your stress levels will cut the occurrence of pimples on your lip.
6. Hot Or Cold Compress
Hot and cold compress both work well for pimples on lip. First, wash and cleanse your face. Then apply hot compress with a washcloth. Do this for a couple of minutes and the size of a pimple will reduce eventually.
7. Try Herbs
Herbal masks made at home are a quick and effective method to get rid of your pimples.
Herbal Mask:
i) Honey And Cinnamon Mask
Ingredients:
one tablespoon honey and one ¼ tablespoon cinnamon
Method:
Mix a tablespoon of honey with one and one fourth tablespoon cinnamon in a bowl. Apply the paste to your face and leave it overnight. Wash it off the next morning.
ii) Lemon Juice
Ingredients:
Lemon juice
Method:
Lemon juice also helps reduce pimples. So just make a squeezed half a lemon in a glass of water and apply this solution to your lips.
This will decrease the size of your pimple in no time.
8. Do Not Pop Your Pimple
Most people make the mistake of popping their pimples. If you are trying to get rid of the lip on your lip pimples fast you get tempted to pop that pimple. But here is a piece of advice, do not pop them.
This does not just apply to pimples on the lip but all pimples in general. Popped pimple on lip may lead to the spread bacteria of around your lips. Also, popping these pimples will give you pimple marks that are hard to get rid of and in some cases, never go away.
9. Face Care Products
Choose good face care products that suit your skin type. Avoid getting products that have ingredients you are allergic to. Try using natural and ayurvedic products as they are better in comparison to chemically-rich products.
10. Food Rich In Alpha Hydroxyl Acids
Make a face pack of fruits that are rich in alpha hydroxyl acids. Such face packs will remove the dead cells from your skin. Apply them to the clogged pores of your lip and skin and wash it off after some time. This is a useful method to keep those pores open and your lip, moisturized.
12. Toothpaste
Toothpaste can also be used to cure pimples besides cleaning your teeth. But white toothpaste needs to be used instead of gel. The ingredients used in gel toothpaste do not cure pimples and can irritate.
Method:
i) Apply some toothpaste to the affected area of your lip
ii) Leave it overnight and wash it off in the morning
iii) This will reduce the size of a pimple in no time at all.
13. Steam
Steam has been known to cure all sorts of minor ailments. It can work wonders on pimples as well. Steam opens up the clogged pores of your lips and skin and allows it to breathe.
Method:
i) Fill a large container with hot water. Keep your face and the affected area close to the container for a few minutes.
ii) To maximize the effects of the steam, take a sheet and make a small tent-like structure with the container and you inside it. Make sure that the steam doesn’t escape from the openings.
iii) After a while wipe off the steam from your face. You can repeat the process and apply the oil-free moisturizer.
14. Garlic
Garlic is an antiseptic that can help you with your pimples. The sulfur in garlic helps in healing your pimples. Including garlic in your food can also be a good remedy to avoid further pimple formation.
Method:
i) Cut a fresh clove of garlic and apply it on the pimples.
ii) Lets it for a few minutes and wash the affected area with lukewarm water.
iii) Repeat the process several times a day for maximum results.
15. Baking Soda
Baking soda removes excess oil from the pores of your lips and skin and exfoliates it.
Method:
i) Take one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of water.
ii) Make a thick paste and apply it to the affected area after making your face slightly damp.
iii) Leave the paste on for a few minutes and then wash it off with warm water.
16. Honey
Honey is a natural antiseptic and antibiotic. It helps sooth the skin and also removes pimples.
Method:
i) Take a spoonful of honey. Dip a swab of cotton in it and apply it all over the pimples.
ii) Leave it overnight or for a few hours.
iii) Rinse it off the next day. Repeat the process a few times every day to get good results.
17. Cucumber
Cucumber contains vitamins A, C, and E and is a rich source of potassium.
Method:
i) Cut slices of cucumber and mix it with yogurt and make a paste. Apply the paste to your face for half an hour.
ii) You can also soak cucumbers in water for a few hours and used the strained water to wash your face.
iii) Cucumber has a soothing effect and will help reduce the size of a pimple.
18. Papaya
Papaya is said to be a good antioxidant and has the properties to exfoliate your skin.
Method:
i) Crush raw papaya. You can make a paste of it or extract its juices.
ii) Apply this solution to the affected areas and rinse it off after a few minutes.
iii) This will make your skin glow and minimize your pimples.
Pimples Vs. Cold Sores
Cold sores appear as a cluster of small blisters on or around your upper lip and are quite painful. Pimples, on the other hand, are not painful. Symptoms of cold sores are fever, muscle aches, irritability and tiredness, pain, burning, tingling, or itching sensation in the affected area. Normal pimples have none of these symptoms and go away with time.
You’ll notice these painful blisters on your lips, face, gum, chin, and neck, around and inside your mouth, throat, tongue, a genital area among other parts of your body.
These blisters ooze a yellowish fluid that later breakdown and develops into a yellow crust. If you find yourself suffering from these symptoms, then you are infected by a cold sore. If not, then it is more likely a normal pimple.
How To Pop A Pimple On Lips
It is not recommended that you pop a pimple as it may leave you with a pimple scar. However, if you insist on popping it, here is a mess-free, simple way to do it.
- A pimple will only pop once it has ripened and is of a yellowish tinge.
- When this happens, apply a hot or cold compress to your pimple
- Take cotton swabs and place them over a pimple. Pop a pimple between these two swabs until the puss oozes out.
- Once all the pus has oozed out and the skin covering the pimple breaks out, remove the swabs.
- Wash a pimple affected area after some time. Immediate cleaning can cause itchiness and irritation.
Treatment
If you do not see any signs of improvement after trying out these remedies, you need to see a dermatologist for further treatment and advice. You should consider this advice if you have chronic pimples on their lips. Treatments such as vaporizing laser therapy can help you if you have chronic lip pimples that leave dark marks and spots.
