White bumps on lips can be benign or cancerous and are often an indication of the underlying medical conditions. Here we discuss the causes of white spots on lips, including HPV on the lip line, on the corner of lips and on the inside, as well as a treatment to get rid of small white bumps on the upper lip and lower lip.
There are several medical conditions that are associated with white protuberances and their underlying causes are so varied. These range from viral infections and sebaceous glands that are “in the wrong place”. We talk about the specific conditions associated with these causal factors in the following sections of this article.
If you are not sure how white bumps on your lips look like, we have included some photos to help identify them. There are more pictures of the pimple on the lip in the course of this article. So, here you go with a couple of photos that show the patients with white protuberances on their lips:
White bumps on HPV lips and sexually transmitted diseases
“I have small white bumps on the lips that are only visible when the lip is stretched, although I can feel them with the tongue, the bumps are only on the edges of the lips, and could this be the oral HPV?”
Well, human papillomavirus is associated with serious medical problems, such as genital warts and some types of cancer, but in most cases, the virus disappears without causing health problems.
Genital HPV is the most common STI in the United States, but most types of viruses are not harmful.
In addition to those that affect the genital areas, there are some types that can be transmitted to the areas of the mouth and throat that lead to the so-called oral HPV. It is usually transmitted through kissing and oral sex, and symptoms may include small yellow or white spots on the lips or mouth, and even the back of the throat.
However, it is unlikely that she is suffering from oral HPV as the resulting warts could be larger and very easy to see. Fordyce granules, also known as Fordyce spots would be a prime suspect especially considering the position of the shots.
Small white bumps on lips
They have small white bumps on their lips is a phenomenon that most people experience at some point in their lives. These pimples on the lips usually appear in small patches on both the lower lip or the upper lip, but in some cases, both lips are concerned. These are some of the possible causes of white bumps in the line of the lips or around the mouth:
Herpes and small oral grains on lips
It is an oral infection that is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 that most people know as cold sores. It is characterized by painful papules and blisters filled with fluid in the area of the lips and mouth.
The inner walls of the mouth may also be affected. The herpes virus is transmitted by direct contact, for example through kissing and sharing utensils, or the use of infected household items.
The condition is often associated with fever and swollen neck glands and although conditions will heal on its own in less than two weeks, pain-relieving drugs and antiviral drugs such as acyclovir can be used to relieve symptoms and speed up the process of healing, respectively. Antibiotics can also be used to treat secondary bacterial infections.
Whitish patches or bumps on the lips
The condition may recur later and complications can occur in people with medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS and cancer.
Oral cancer
Hard blows to the lips that do not go away can allude to cancer in the mouth. Oral cancer can also be the fault of those white protuberances on your lips. This is especially likely if the blows are particularly difficult and are accompanied by open sores that do not appear to be curative.
Your best course of action is to seek an immediate evaluation by your doctor. A biopsy may be necessary for an adequate diagnosis.
Getting a frequent dental check-up is recommended for people who are at risk for oral cancer, as it can be fatal if left untreated. Some of the factors that increase the risk of oral cancer are excessive consumption and smoking.
Fordyce granules or white spots on the lips
If the bumps are yellowish white to pure white, then you may have to do with Fordyce granules.
Also known as Fordyce spots, these are small bumps that usually appear at the border of the lips, but can also occur inside the mouth, at the head of the penis, and, in the inner fold of the foreskin.
The protuberances are usually very small ranging from 1 to 3 mm in diameter and are usually painless. They usually appear in groups and are said to be normal sebaceous glands that are not in the hair follicles.
It is believed that Fordyce granules are present at birth, but it is not until puberty that they are beginning to grow and become evident.
Although it affects as many as 80 to 95 percent of the adult population, Fordyce spots are not associated with any medical condition, are not contagious and do not require treatment unless they are of aesthetic concern.
It is advisable to consult your doctor if you feel like it. Mild topical steroids are usually given to relieve symptoms. Laser therapy can also be used.
Milia – pimple like bumps on lips
Those little white bumps on the lips can also be milia. These are pearl white small bumps, which are usually full of keratin. The protuberances are very similar to those of acne, but are characterized by the absence of red rash.
They form when dead skin cells are trapped below the surface of the skin due to a failure of the normal process of skin exfoliation.
A possible culprit of milia that occur on the lips is an allergic reaction to fluoride in toothpaste. Rinsing the lips and skin around the mouth thoroughly after brushing can help prevent future accidents.
Some lipsticks and lip gloss products can also have a similar effect. If it is not used for beauty and lip care products – for example, if you are a man – chances are that you are kissing someone who are using it.
Sun damage can also be the fault of those milia on their lips. The change of lip balms with sun protection of at least SPF15 can help prevent future accidents.
Although milia are not contagious and usually heal over time without treatment, you should talk to your doctor if you find aesthetically unattractive. Surgical removal and cryotherapy are some of the common interventions used to eliminate milia.
Oral acne, pimples, pimples on the lip line
Blows lips can also be a sign of acne. This is especially likely if the blows are similar pustules, i.e. which seem to be full of fluid. The hormonal imbalance is usually the culprit of most acne outbreaks, but poor skin care can also be the culprit of oral acne.
Trauma and contusion in the mouth
It’s also likely that the trauma to your lips, for example, from frequent biting, is the fault of the blows you have in your hand. This can cause small areas of scar tissue, as the wounds heal, which can be perceived as white bumps when seen in the context of lip color.
White protuberance on the lower and upper lips
What about white protrusions that affect both the upper and lower lips? Well, these can be Fordyce spots that are usually benign and non-infectious. They are just normal glands that are not associated with hair follicles and that are not a health problem, but you should consult your doctor or dermatologist if you are annoying.
It could also be milia that are usually small and pearly whites. These are usually solved own for children, but for adults, treatment may be necessary to get rid of them. Options range from chemical exfoliations to microdermabrasion surgical removal.
It could also be the result of clogged pores that lead to acne pimples. The treatment often involves topical application of detergent creams that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, but oral antibiotics may sometimes be necessary. Tree oil tea is also a common home remedy for acne.
White protuberance on the inside of the lip
It is common to obtain white bumps in the corner of the lips or in the line of the outer lip. When you have an infection in your mouth, you can also get pimples and bumps on the inside of the rubber lip.
If the blows are difficult, they could be a cyst that is forming. For the most part, these cysts are caused by an infection or after dental extractions or surgery. Normally, if you have a lip piercing, a bump may form around it or in your ring.
When the inner lips, white spots can be hard, soft or even break and cause the mouth to taste salty or terrible. Some protuberances on the inside of the lip do not hurt or cause pain.
Hard lumps and can mean a recurrent tumor, but at the same time, it can be harmless. Consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Difficult white protuberance on the inner side of the lip
As for the white protuberance on the inside of the lip, it is likely to do so with a mucous cyst. Also known as mucocele, this is a painless and thin sac, filled with fluid inside the lip.
Mucosal cysts typically occur on the inner surface of the lower lip, but they can occur in other areas of the mouth, including the soil of the mouth, on the tongue, on the inside of the cheeks and on the gums.
Although they are usually painless, mucous cysts are often problematic due to the irregularity perceived in the mouth of the person concerned.
A mucous cyst form when mucus or saliva escapes into the surrounding tissue and a coating of granulation or connective tissue to create a smooth round filled with bulk fluid.
Lip sucking between the teeth is believed to be a causal factor for this. Trauma resulting from lip piercing is also thought to trigger its formation.
Mucous cysts usually resolve on their own, drain fluids in them spontaneously, and treatment is usually not necessary. However, if you cause significant discomfort or keep recurring, you should talk to your doctor.
Your doctor can drain the pockets with a sterile needle. Other treatment options are problematic for mucocele marsupialization, laser therapy, and micro-marsupialization.
Your doctor will determine the most appropriate course of action based on the specific case.
Treatments and home remedies to get rid of white bumps on lips
The treatment depends entirely on what makes the white pimple on the lips. Fordyce stains do not require any type of treatment, since they disappear on their own. Electrosurgery can, however, be used to get rid of the stain like white bumps around the lips.
If you have thrush or a fungal infection that causes leakage around the mouth, anti-fungal medications can be determined by the doctor to help treat white bumps.
Oral herpes are treated with anti-viral medications. However, these can only get rid of the symptoms, meanwhile; they cannot cure the virus itself.
If you are suffering from oral cancer, which usually presents with hard white protrusions on the lips that will not go away or heal, the doctor is likely to recommend treatments such as surgical removal of tumors, radiation or chemotherapy.
For home remedies, rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can help reduce irritation around the lips. Stir salt water solution in the mouth before spitting it out. You can also apply a little honey on the lips at night to reduce the infection on the lips.
Garlic is known to decrease bacteria successfully in the bloodstream. Therefore, increasing the consumption of garlic in your diet plan will certainly help in reducing the white bumps on lips.
The use of fruit juices such as lemon, orange and so on by mixing the juice with water will help in reducing the spots effectively. Apply the watery juice on the spots with cotton. The patches will disappear after a couple of days with the use of this easy treatment at home.
Apple cider vinegar has proved effective in reducing the white bumps on lips. However, be sure to use apple cider vinegar only once or twice a week and also clean with lukewarm water after a couple of minutes.
Jojoba and argania oil possess tocopherol extracts that tend to be effective in relieving the white spots on the lips. Use the combination of jojoba and argania oil on the affected part of the lips to lower the points at a higher speed.
By consuming more folic acid supplements with food, you can possibly reduce the appearance of white spots on the lips. You can get folic acid products at any pharmacy. Consume them on a regular basis to reduce the spots on the lips faster.