What cause acne around mouth? Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Acne usually appears on your mouth, face, neck, chest, back and shoulders. Effective treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up.
What Causes Acne around the Mouth?
Causes include:
- Lip balm
All the happiness induced by lip balm might not be a problem except that the fragrances used in lip balm stimulate the production of sebum on skin surrounding the mouth. The wax from the lip balm can clog pores.
The fragrances and flavorings used to make lip balm irresistible irritate the skin, which causes it to make more sebum—which gets trapped underneath the wax inside a pore surrounded by dry skin. Because these ingredients are also irritating, the inflame the pore that is already clogged, and acne around mouth starts to multiply.
- Toothpaste
Sodium lauryl sulfate, which is also known as sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium dodecyl sulphate, and SLS, is a sudsing agent. It added to toothpaste to make sure it doesn’t get stuck in the bottom of the tube, and also to give the product a foaming action against your teeth and gums. This chemical is added to tons of thousands of other detergents to make them foamy so they can lift grease and grime.
The problem with SLS or any other sudsing agent on your skin, especially at the corners of your mouth, is that the surface tension generated at the edges of the bubbles can stimulate acne around mouth skin to appear. The skin’s first aid for these cracks is sebum generated by nearby pores.
That doesn’t cause acne round mouth breakouts, but if toothpaste also gets into those pores and irritates them, excess sebum can get trapped. Surrounding skin is not protected, and the clogged pore forms a whitehead or blackhead if it not inflamed or a pimple if it is.
- Eating spicy foods
Spicy foods often contain tomatoes and peppers, which contain acidic lycopene that can be an irritant to some people, throwing off their skin’s pH levels and triggering acne around mouth breakouts. However, it isn’t just spicy foods that can irritate your skin.
- Using products that contain pore-clogging ingredients
Mineral oil is a super-heavy moisturizing agent found in some lotions, but it’s also known to clog your pores and trigger acne around mouth outbreak.
- OD’ing on spot treatments
Overusing topical salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulphur over-the-counter treatments can dry out your skin, causing it to produce more oil and possibly blemishes or stimulate outbreak of acne around mouth. Those ingredients can actually make the appearance of your pimples look worse, since the active ingredients can slightly burn the top layer of your skin if used too often, making the pimple appear even redder and harder to conceal than if you had just left it alone.
- Hair products
The sulfates (cleansing agents), heavy moisturizing agents, and silicones that your shampoo, conditioner, and stylers contain can seep into your pores, clogging them and resulting in mouth acne, chestacne, or pesky pimples along your mouth.
- Smoke
Every time you light up a cigarette, you decrease the amount of oxygen that goes to your face. This not only predisposes you to cancer, and causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin that leads to wrinkles and increased pore size, but the carcinogens in the smoke also irritates your skin and dries it out, triggering your skin to produce more oil and possibly more breakouts of acne around mouth.
- Scrubbing around the mouth
A lot of people with acne think that the more you scrub your skin with a washcloth, rough exfoliants (like crushed apricot seeds), or cleansing brushes, the smoother your skin will be, but in reality, the problem will only inevitably get worse.
- picking at your pimples
When you try to press the plug or oil or puss out of your pore, you run the risk of pushing the bacteria deeper or spreading it around underneath your skin, multiplying your acne even more on around your mouth.
- Releasing pent-up stress properly
Stress triggers acne and acne results in more stress, so it’s a very vicious cycle. Basically, when you’re under pressure, your skin produces stress hormones, including cortisol, that can stimulate your oil glands to make testosterone that then increases oil production and clogs pores thus outbreak of acne around mouth.
- wrong detergent
Some chemicals in laundry detergent can be too harsh for your skin, and once you slip on your clothes or lie on your pillow, your skin might react to the residue that’s left on the fabric, resulting in breakouts on your face, back, butt, chest, etc.
- sun-worshipper
Contrary to popular belief, the sun isn’t healing your acne; it’s actually making it worse. What happens is, as your face gets red from the sun, it makes any breakouts you might already have blend in, creating the appearance of clearer skin. But what’s really going on is the sun causing your skin to dry out and triggering more oil production, which can lead to more zits.
What does it mean when you have Pimples around Mouth
Reasons include:
- Skin Irritation due to Food
If you have the habit of eating such that your food sticks around your mouth, you may get acne around moth. This is because the foods particles may serve as an irritant, thereby eliciting a reaction. The reaction subsides as you clean the area around your mouth cavity.
- Fungal infection
As we eat our food, some food particles stick around the mouth region. Our oral cavity is filled with fungus, like candida. This fungus may find grounds to grow around the mouth area, where food particles are present. The area looks red with small bumps. It is itchy.
- Perioral Dermatitis
Dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin around the mouth, is common in females in the age group 25 to 40. There may be redness and acne around mouth. These may or may not be itchy. Reason behind dermatitis is not clearly known. It is postulated that use of fluoridated toothpaste or waxy make up kits may be the cause.
- Cold Sores
These sores may be caused by viral infestations, like herpes. These sores may be symptomless, present as re bumps over the skin surface especially acne around mouth being visible.
- Red Bumps
Several red bumps may occur around the mouth if you have constipated or other gastric upsets. This is a way improper digestion surfaces out over the skin.
Other Reasons for Pimples around Lips
Causes include:
- 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 (especially in teenagers) 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 or even acne around mouth. 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 or acne around mouth outbreak 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.
- 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 around mouth 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.
How do you get rid of a pimple on your lip
- Careful choice of lip makeup
When choosing lip makeup, go for sheer lip glosses and those that have less pigment (less opaque brands). 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.
- Lip scrubbing and exfoliation
Ensure you always scrub your lips to get rid of any dead skin regularly. Lip exfoliation can be done with any of the good lip exfoliators available in the market or homemade and natural ones. An easy way to exfoliate your lips is gently scrubbing your lips after you have brushed your teeth. This will remove any dead skin whose accumulation can lead to acne, zits and pimples.
- Hot or cold compresses
A good home remedy for lip pimple is hot compress. Take a clean piece of cloth, deep it in warm water and apply it on the part of your lip with a pimple. This will help soothe it and reduce its appearance especially if you have a swollen lip from pimple or one that hurts. At times, cold compresses can also be equally helpful.
- 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.
- Do not pop or squeeze pimples
If you are trying to get rid of lip on your lip pimples fast, one temptation you are likely to get into is popping the pimples. Do not pop them. This does not just apply to pimples on lip (upper, lower or inner lips) but to all pimples generally. Popped pimple on lip will only worsen the situation since they might spread bacteria around your lips.
- 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.
- Try herbs
Some herbs and herbal medicated ointments can be of help. Get for herbs such as castor oil, eucalyptus, basil and neem and apply them on the affected areas.
Hormonal Acne around Mouth and Chin
Hormonal acne occurs first and foremost around the mouth. It shows up on the chin, below the nose, around the sides of the mouth, and sometimes up the jawline. AS hormonal acne worsens, however, it spreads to the cheeks and the forehead.
Causes include:
Testosterone causes oil production in the skin. You may also have high testosterone if you have diabetes or insulin resistance, because when the body produces insulin, the ovaries produce testosterone. It’s a very simple yet very damaging process.
Hormonal acne around mouth or chin usually occurs in the form of cysts. Cysts are those lovely, pus-filled, painful and inflamed red bumps. They often culminate in a peak of white pus.
Hormonal acne also appears as more mild forms called comedones. These are those whitehead “bumps” that never break the surface
- DHEA-S
It is produced primarily in the adrenal (stress) glands. Whenever a woman is under any degree of stress, her body faces a choice: it has to decide if it wants to produce normal sex hormones like progesterone and estrogen, or if it wants to produce stress hormones like DHEA-S.
Hormonal acne can even show up just as smaller lesions. These are not quite as angry and painful as full out cysts, and may appear more rash-like or just smaller than typical acne.
- Estrogen fights acne.
Estrogen helps promote clear skin. It does this in a number of ways.First, it has the power to off-set high testosterone levels in the blood. Estrogen increases levels of sex-hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG), which in turn binds testosterone and makes it impotent.
Second, the skin has many estrogen receptors in it, so estrogen directly performs a balancing and soothing function at the site of acne.
- Progesterone
Progesterone, in high doses, acts as an inflammatory agent, and can cause acne to flare up. Progesterone levels are highest during the days leading up to menstruation, which explains why many women experience outbreaks at this time.
Synthetic progesterone, such as that found in birth control pills, can also cause acne.
How to Get Rid of Acne around Mouth
Quick cure methods include:
- Use benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide treats acne by primarily unclogging the skin pores. It also kills the bacteria responsible for acne around mouth and other cystic skin lesions.
- Place Ice On Your Acne
Ice reduces swelling and constricts the oil glands in your skin. As a result, the excess oil and bacteria are flushed out from the inflamed glands.
- Steam Treatment
Steam can open up the skin pores and makes the dirt and bacteria to flow out. When you take the steam treatment, you sweat a lot, which means all the impurities get flushed out.
- Apply Lemon Juice
Lemon juice contains citric acid, which renders the juice its antibacterial properties. These help in eliminating the bacteria that cause acne. Lemon juice also possesses astringent properties that constrict the body tissues and expel the excess oil from the skin.
Preventive measures:
- Avoid Using Lip Balm
The wax in the lip balm can clog your skin pores, thereby trapping dirt and bacteria every time you use it. This eventually causes acne around mouth. Using lip balm may also spread the acne-causing bacteria. This means you would only be reinfection on yourself each time you use lip balm.
- Wash And Wipe Your Mouth After Eating Or Drinking
After you’re done with your meal or evening snack, make it a point to wash your mouth thoroughly. Swish water in your mouth. This is because the crumbs of food residue around your mouth might turn into a breeding ground for bacteria and cause acne breakouts. Also, do wipe your mouth after washing.
- Use A Fragrance
Using toothpaste is a must, but using one that contains fragrance is a strict no-no. Never forget this toothpaste that has fragrance also has chemicals. And chemicals aren’t good. They can irritate your skin and cause excess sebum production.
- Brush Your Lips
Brushing your lips can have a positive impact on your acne. The practice can also prevent acne breakouts in the future. It will remove the mild gunks sticking to your lips and help eliminate bacteria.
- Drink Plenty Of Water
Drinking a lot of water, apart from benefiting you in many other ways, flushes toxins out of the body and cleanses your skin from the inside. Drinking water can also flush out the bacteria present in your mouth.
Cystic Acne around Mouth
This type of acne around mouth occurs when acne bacteria inflames below the skin’s surface, leading to the rupture of nearby hair follicles. This creates a chain reaction in the skin, triggering wider inflammation, spreading of more acne bacteria and more breakouts.
Best tips to treat cystic:
- Regular exfoliation
Gently exfoliate every other day with a rice-based powder exfoliator. This physical exfoliation helps to buff away bacteria without over drying the skin.”
- Get in the sun (with SPF)
Spend a few minutes in the sun each day, as long as you’re wearing a non-comedogenic SPF, like an organic mineral powder. The sun’s UV light helps kill bacteria.
- Find probiotic skincare
Help to balance the body by incorporating probiotics into your routine. Look for cleansers, masques, and moisturizers that contain probiotics. Using these products will regulate bacteria levels at and below the skin’s surface.”
- And take probiotics internally
Add another layer of protection by taking probiotics internally to help regulate bacterial levels throughout the body.
- Use cold water
Lastly, wash your face with cold water. The cold water helps to calm inflammation and redness.