If you have pimples inside your lips, they could be caused by cold sores, which include canker sores, mucous cysts, oral lichen planus and inflamed papillae. You will generally feel pimple like bump on inside mouth. They do affect toddlers, teenagers or even adults. In terms of location, these pimples can be on the surface inside of lip, inner lip corners, roof of your mouth, and on the inner surface of your checks.
If you are wondering whether it is possible to get a pimple on your lip, the answer is yes. Anyone can get lip pimples, and many people often suffer from both pimples and zits on their lips at certain points of their lives.
In some extreme cases, these lip pimples won’t go way no matter what they do. Perhaps an important issue we should focus on is the actual causes of these pimples on your lips before looking at ways of treating them.
The following are the main causes:
Canker Sores
Canker sores are ulcers that usually appear on the base of your gums, tongue, the roof of your mouth and the inner surface of your lips and cheeks. They usually start as painful, red bumps, and then develop into open ulcers with a yellow or white middle.
To add on that, injuries to the mouth tissue from dental work and cheek biting can also cause canker sores. However topical medications such as benzocaine may decrease the pain as they heal. Rinsing your mouth with a mild mouth wash or salt water and avoiding spicy foods may also decrease pain from bumps on inner lips.
Mucous Cysts
These kinds of bumps on inner lips usually appear on the lips’ inner surface. Less commonly they affect the inside of the cheeks, roof or floor of the mouth and the tongue. Mucous cysts are painless, thin, fluid-filled sacs. These cysts can be caused by damage to a salivary duct, such as trauma caused by sucking your lips between your teeth.
Trauma from lip and mouth piercings may also cause mucous cysts to form. These cysts may rupture and drain on their own, however more frequently surgery is required to remove the cyst.
Oral Lichen Planus
Oral lichen planus is an inflammatory condition affecting mucous membranes in your mouth. This inflammation causes raised bumps or lines on the sides of your tongue and inside of your cheeks. You may also have red, open sores in those areas. Triggers of oral lichen planus may include liver disease, hepatitis C infection, certain medications and vaccines and allergies.
Drug treatments for oral lichen planus include corticosteroids, retinoids, calcineurin inhibitors, and antibacterial agents. These bumps may also be treated with light and laser treatments.
Inflamed Papillae
Little pimple-like bumps on your tongue may be inflamed papillae; this inflammation can be caused by injury, such as biting your tongue or burning it with hot food.
This condition typically heals on its own, however medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen may decrease pain caused by inflamed papillae.
Other causes of bumps on your inner lip
Hormonal imbalance
Hormonal imbalances during various stages of growth can cause pimples including the ones on your lips. For instance, most women will have pimples on lips during pregnancy due to hormonal changes at this critical stage of their lives. Similarly, during puberty there is a higher likelihood of pimples due to hyperactive glands and hormonal changes.
Sexually transmitted diseases
As seen already, contracting herpes, a sexually transmitted infection, can cause lip pimples. However, you can easily know them since they will be in small clusters, have an ulcer-like look and be painful. We do not intend to dwell much on lip pimples caused by herpes as we have already discussed much on them.
Skin type
Another possible reason for pimple on your lips could be your skin type. Generally, people who have oily skins have been found to be more prone to pimples even on their lips compared to other skin types. Therefore, if you have an oily skin type, these could be the reason.
Inexpensive and low quality lip makeup
Some of the inexpensive lip glosses, lipsticks, moisturizers, and lip balm have been associated with pimples on lips. Most of these products may contain harmful and low quality ingredients which get absorbed into your skin. This can promote bacterial build up and be behind bumps on inner lips.
Allergic reactions
If you often develop pimples on your lips each time you use certain lip care products, you might be allergic to some of the ingredients present. In addition, some people are allergic even to the finest qualities of lip care products due to the ingredients they have.
Contaminated and expired lip care products
Using contaminated and expired lip makeup can also cause these pimples. Once these lip care products expire, or get contaminated they can easily harbor some pathogens which will bleed onto your lips and be a cause of pimples and other infections on your lips.
Greasy, fatty and poor diet
Eating greasy unhealthy foods as well as a poor general diet can result to pimples on your body including your lips. You are likely to develop acne like pimples or even whiteheads on your lips because of such foods.
Personal hygiene
Just like body pimples, pimples on lips can be caused by poor hygiene that might include not cleaning your lips after eating greasy foods (this can results to oil build up that will block pores on your lip line) as well as not clean and exfoliating your lips regularly.
Medication that contain corticosteroids or lithium
People who use medications that contain corticosteroids or lithium tend to suffer from pimples generally. These medications are thought to be behind these pimples even on lips.
Other causes of lip pimples
There are many other causes of these pimples that affect some people while the do not affect others. Some of these causes include:
- Smoking – it has been observed that smokers tend to have these problem that non smokers
- Fluoride in toothpastes– some people react to fluoride in toothpastes and they may develop pimple or zits on their lips.
- Stress –some people complain of pimples near lips that come back with stresses. They deserve to know that too much stress can also cause pimples including the ones on lips.
- Harsh environment conditions and pollution
- Genetic factors in some people.
Reasons for Water Blisters on Lips
Three to four after infection the HSV travels and invade your lips, mouth or throat membrane. They start to multiply rapidly. During this stage, you may experience body fatigue and swollen neck glands. It will therefore be followed by the symptoms below:
- Tingling and itching. You may experience tingling and itching around the mouth and on the lips. Many people will experience these symptoms during the initial outbreak of the infection. Itching may spread up to the nostrils and other areas that may be affected.
- Burning sensation. The lips, mouth or nostrils will start to develop inflammation that will accompany tingling and itching.
- Small blisters that are filled with fluids develop on the edge of lips and nostrils. When the outbreak is severe, the blisters may also emerge on the cheeks. The severity of the blisters depends on what causes blister on lip such as the risk factors.
- Oozing and crusting. The blisters may stay for 2 to 3 days before bursting to ooze. Small wounds experienced will start to form yellow crusting.
How long do Water Blisters Last on your Lips?
The blisters may last for 2 to 3 weeks before healing completely. There are various blisters on lip home remedy that are effective in helping the blisters to heal faster. However you may be required to look for medical treatment if your immune system is weak, the symptoms are severe, frequent recurrent of the outbreak or when the infection is affecting your eyes.
Clear Bump inside Lip Causes
This is a tiny gland under the surface of your skin that fills up with liquid. Normally these glands are at work full time, creating the moisture in your mouth and keeping you comfortable. But when one of them gets blocked you may notice that an area will often swell up slightly, especially right before a meal.
Mucoceles are harmless and should be left alone, especially if they pop on their own or never get much larger than a BB pellet. They can sustain a small injury to the surface which may cause the gland to heal shut. If there’s nowhere for the saliva to drain it ends up filling the gland until it bursts. Salivary glands that are injured in this way may go up and down every day as they cycle through filling and bursting.
Bumps on Lip due to Mucous Cyst
A mucous cyst on lip can be more annoying and frustrating than harmful. In this article, find a comprehensive discussion on the causes, symptoms and how you can remove a mucous cyst on your outer lip with home remedies.
A mucous cyst on the lip also known as mucocele is a common phenomenon seen in the general population that occurs mostly on the lower lip. The majority of cases reported occur to individuals below the age of 30. Individuals who have the habit of biting their lips will develop a small bluish bump on lips.
A mucocele, also known as an oral cyst, mucous cyst, or ranula is a clear bump that can develop on the lips, floor or roof of the mouth, or tongue. This type of oral cyst can occur when a salivary gland is injured or blocked.
It mostly results from some kind of trauma to the site, which can be due to injury from a blow or blunt object or an accidental biting of the soft tissue inside the mouth, especially due to adjacent teeth.
Before trying any remedies, you should always have any mouth cyst checked out by a doctor to rule out more serious conditions.
Home remedies
Honey
Honey is one of the best remedies to treat a mucocele. The soothing and anti-inflammatory nature of honey can help relieve the pain and inflammation. It has anti-bacterial properties help prevent infection and also accelerate the healing process.
- Mix together 1 teaspoon of raw honey and ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder. Apply the paste on the affected area and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, gargle with lukewarm water. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day. Also, apply honey on the affected area before going to sleep every night.
Salt
A mucocele can be effectively treated using salt. Salt has many healing properties that help treat the problem. It helps remove all the mucus from the mucocele fast and reduces pain and inflammation in the area.
Ice
Ice can numb the pain and irritation associated with large oral cysts. This makes ice one of the most effective remedies to treat a mucocele.
- Wrap a few ice cubes in a thin washcloth. Gently place it on the affected area for 1 minute to get relief. Repeat a few times a day.
- Also, you can sip cold water from time to time to ease the discomfort.
Glycerin
Glycerin is another effective home remedy to treat a mucocele. It has antiseptic and healing properties that help fight the microbes causing the infection. It also keeps the affected area well-moistened, which is essential for quick healing. For oral use, it is highly recommended to use vegetable glycerin.
- Dab vegetable glycerin on the affected area. Allow it to sit for as long as you can, then rinse your mouth with cool water. Repeat 3 or 4 times a day.
- Also, use a glycerin-based mouthwash to rinse your mouth several times daily.
Moist Tea Bag
Moist tea bags can be used to cure a mucocele. Tea contains tannic acid, an astringent that helps reduce pain and inflammation and speeds up the healing process.
- After steeping a cup of tea using a tea bag, chill the bag in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Gently press the chilled, wet tea bag over the affected area for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Do this 2 or 3 times a day until the oral cyst is gone.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is also effective in treating mucoceles. It has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that can help ease the pain and get rid of the cyst quickly. It helps in bursting the cyst as well as prevents the recurrence of such cysts.
- Extract the gel from an aloe vera leaf. Apply it directly on the affected area. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes, and then rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. Use this remedy a few times daily for several days.
- You can also rinse your mouth with fresh aloe vera juice 3 or 4 times a day.
Turmeric
Turmeric has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; hence it can be used to treat several common problems, including mucoceles.
- Start with 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and add some milk to make a paste. Using a cotton ball, apply the paste on the affected area. Wait 30 minutes, and then rinse your mouth using lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy 2 or 3 times a day.
- You can also apply fresh turmeric juice directly on the affected area 2 or 3 times daily for several days.
Sage
The calming properties of sage can reduce the uneasiness associated with an oral cyst. Moreover, it has an astringent and drying effect on the cyst.
How to Treat Bumps on inner lip
The most important part of this discussion is perhaps how to get rid of lip pimples. As we look at lip pimple treatments, will discuss various ways including home remedies that will be helpful.
Careful choice of lip makeup
As seen previously, lip makeup can clog air pores around your lip skin and cause pimples. When choosing lip makeup, go for sheer lip glosses and those that have less pigment. The more pigmented a brand is, the more likely it will clog air pores.
Keep good lip hygiene and anti-acne products
Another way to get rid of lip pimples is to ensure you always keep your lips clean. After eating greasy foods, ensure you get rid of excess grease on your lip line. Using a pad soaked with salicylic acid toner can ensure your lips are thoroughly clean.
If you have stubborn pimples on your lips that won’t go away easily, you could try using the various anti-acne products in the market as well as some medicated mouthwashes. It is also advisable that you do not use soap when cleaning your lips.
Creams containing 20 percent of azelaic acid and 5% benzoyl peroxide are good for acne and pimples. In addition, go for lotions and creams that have zinc as it helps fight pimples.
Finally, avoid licking your lips since this can worsen the problem and ensure you also keep your bed sheets and you general environment clean. Do not put dirty mobile phones close to your lips.
Face care products
Some of the face care products might be affecting your lips and causing it to have pimples. Try changing the face washes, lotions and soaps to see if the problem can go away. Cleanser with lavender oil, tea tree oil and arctium lappa can be of help on your lip pimples.
Apply foods with alpha hydroxyl acids
Another simple home remedy for zits on lips is to topically use foods rich in Alpha hydroxyl acids. Try to use citrus fruits such as grapes, apples and oranges on your lips to help remove any dead skin as well as open any clogged pores on your lips.
Good diet and plenty of water
Always ensure your diet is rich in zinc, magnesium, vitamin A and E as they can work well in reducing acne and pimple breakouts. Retinol for instance is rich in vitamin A and that is why it is used to treat pimples. Keep way from products that have caffeine and ensure you drink enough water. If you smoke, quit it.
Stress managements
If you lead a stressful life, ensure you use various ways and therapies to manage it. Stress is also harmful to you in many other ways including generating free radicles that can cause early aging.
More references
- Little pimple like bumps on the inside of the mouth: http://www.livestrong.com/article/549355-little-pimple-like-bumps-on-the-inside-of-the-mouth/
- Mucous cyst: http://www.healthline.com/health/mucous-cyst
- Mucous cyst on lip causes and pictures: http://www.healthyhowto.org/cysts/lip-cysts/mucus-cyst-on-lip-pictures-symptoms-causes-treatment/
- Home remedies for bumps inside lips: http://www.top10homeremedies.com/kitchen-ingredients/top-10-health-benefits-of-licorice-root-mulethi.html