Acne on the lips: causes, drugs, ways to prevent, etc.

Apart from the cheeks and other areas of the body, pimples can also appear in unexpected areas, namely the lips. Although relatively small, acne on the lips tends to be more painful than other areas. So, what causes this and how to solve it?

Causes of pimples on the lips

Just like other acne, the cause of pimples on the lips occurs due to excess oil production, bacteria, and clogging of hair follicles.

Clogging of hair follicles due to skin cell buildup can occur due to various factors as follows.

Use of lip care products with a high oil content (lip balm or petroleum jelly).
Hold the lip area with dirty hands.
Leftover food and drinks that are not cleaned.
Sweating around the mouth and surrounding areas.
Hormonal changes, especially during puberty and menstruation.

Although some lip care products are safe, overuse and not being cleaned properly can clog pores. As a result, acne in this area cannot be prevented.

The difference between pimples on the lips and oral herpes

Some of you may be worried that the pimples on your lips are a sign of oral herpes. Even though they look similar, actually acne and oral herpes have quite visible differences.

First, the type of pimple in the area of your mouth usually contains pus. Meanwhile, oral herpes contains clear fluids. In addition, the causes of the two are different. Acne is caused by bacteria, whereas oral herpes occurs due to the herpes virus.

From this it can be seen that the treatment of the two will be different considering that the causes are not the same. Treatment for acne usually uses anti-bacterial drugs and oral herpes is treated with the help of antiviral drugs.

If you are not sure that your acne is a common skin problem, you should check with your doctor to be more certain.

How to get rid of pimples on the lips

Acne on the lip area, both above and below your mouth area, can certainly be annoying. Apart from lowering self-confidence, acne in this area also tends to be more painful.

Therefore, you certainly want to quickly get rid of acne in the mouth area, right? Here are some ways you can treat this non-contagious skin disease.

Apply acne medication

Actually, there are many effective treatments for dealing with acne, including acne on the lips. One method that is quite effective in getting rid of acne in this area is topical acne medications, such as creams and ointments.

Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is a powerful acne medication that can treat inflamed acne. This is because the ingredients that are often found in acne medications help fight acne-causing bacteria.

In addition, benzoyl peroxide can also help the skin control oil so that the pores don't get clogged and worsen acne conditions.

Retinoids

Not only benzoyl peroxide, retinoids are also often an option for treating acne in this area. Generally, the ingredients of this drug are used to unclog pores, reduce oil production, and prevent skin inflammation.

Antibiotics

In addition to the two drugs mentioned above, antibiotic creams that are antibacterial can be used to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Some acne medications can be purchased at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription, but many effective acne creams require a doctor's prescription. Always use the medicine according to the instructions on the label or as directed by your doctor.

If you use the acne medication at night, don't forget to apply some moisturizer the next day. This aims to prevent facial skin from feeling dry after using the drug.

Compress pimples

Not only using drugs, you can also do some natural ways to help treat acne on the lips. One method that is often used is compressing pimples, either with ice cubes or warm water.

A cold compress with ice can help relieve swelling and redness in the skin. It also helps to conceal your pimples. In addition, compresses with ice also relieve annoying pain.

Compresses with warm water can also be used to remove oil and dirt that clog pores. In fact, this method is quite helpful on infected pimples because it can help drain the pus. As a result, the pain and redness are reduced.

Try to compress the pimples for about a minute twice a day. You can repeat this method as needed, especially if the acne hurts.

What about natural remedies?

Many of you may have heard that certain natural ingredients, such as tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar can help treat acne on the lips.

Some people may feel that these natural ingredients to treat acne are quite effective for them. However, of course there are limitations to the natural way, both in terms of potency and side effects.

Therefore, you should first consult with your doctor before routinely using natural ingredients to treat your acne.

Tips to prevent pimples on the lips

Even though it is quite annoying, the appearance of pimples on the lips can certainly be prevented. In order not to get confused, here are some habits that can help you prevent acne around the mouth.