What causes bumps on lips and how do we cure it?

Do you notice pimple like spots on your lips? If yes, then this article is for you.

Most people are not concerned about such bumps on lips as it is common, but they are not. Even though many of those lip bump attributes are harmless, some of them are associated with more serious conditions. You may have bumps on your lips due to allergic reactions, particular infections, and skin diseases.

Here we have briefly explained the causes, diagnosis, treatment procedures, and home care remedies to get rid of such tiny bumps on lips.

Causes

The possible causes of such swollen bumps on lips include:

• Oral Thrush – It is a fungal infection that occurs in the soft tissues in the mouth like lips, cheeks, tongue, etc. The fungus Candida albicans is the main reason for oral thrush and it causes white patches, redness over the fleshy organs in mouth when the fungus is overgrown.

• Syphilis – Syphilis is a bacterial infection and it occurs in the genitals. In certain cases, syphilis happens in the mouth. It exhibits mild discomforts in the initial stage and requires timely treatments else it leads to serious problems.

• Milia –  It is a white cyst that developed over the skin. This commonly occurs on chin, cheeks, mouth linings and lips. It occurs because of the accumulation of dead cells inside a pocket over the skin surfaces. It is a harmless condition and does not require medical treatment as it heals on its own.

• Mucoceles – It happens with the blockage of salivary glands. Sometimes, it occurs with biting the lips accidentally. However, it is not a harmful condition and goes on its own.

• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) – It is a viral infectious condition that is common in children under 5 years. It exhibits various discomforts like appetite loss, rash on fingers, soreness and red spots in mouth, etc.

• Perioral Dermatitis – This is a skin condition similar to rash and it frequently occurs around the mouth. It has been found it occurs with the allergic reactions triggered with certain cosmetic appliances and toothpaste containing fluoride for some people.

• Oral Cancer – In rare cases, lip bumps are occurred because of oral cancer. They occur because of the tumor growth on lips and mouth linings.

Besides these, certain other factors that trigger swollen bumps on lips include lip dryness, oral herpes, canker sores, sunburn and stress.

Shall we need dental treatments to cure such lip bumps?

As mentioned earlier, the bumps over the lips heal over time. If the bumps happen as a side effect of any existing disorders, consult your doctor to cure the dilemma.

Meanwhile, seek dental support when the bumps do not heal for a long time and when you encounter the following troubles following the bump on lips:

• Bleeding in lips

• Sudden swelling in lips

• Jaw swelling

• Numbness in tongue

• Difficulties in breathing

• Broaden bumps

How are bumps on lips diagnosed?

When you consult the dentist, he will inquire about your exposure to any allergens, smoking, sun exposure, new medications, or other risk factors for lip bumps.

Then he will do a physical examination to diagnose the bumps, and you may also be asked about when you first noticed them and how painful they are. 

They may recommend further tests such as,

• taking a blood test to identify the virus or bacteria 
• testing for cancer in the skin cells (through a biopsy)
• imaging with an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to look at the mouth and jaw for any abnormalities.

What are the treatment options available to cure bumps on lips?

Diagnosing the root cause of lip bumps includes analyzing the medical history to detect whether the problem occurs because of medications, hereditary problems, allergens or other factors. In certain cases, blood tests, MRI Scanning, testing the skin cells are necessary for diagnosis.

The procedures to treat swollen bumps on lips vary depending on the cause. Here are the most commonly prescribed treatments for this disorder:

• Antiviral medications, Antifungal medications are suggested if the problem arises due to infectious conditions.

• If the bumps occur with allergic reactions or inflammatory conditions, then antihistamine medications will fix the issues.

• Pain killers, Over the counter medications, creams are recommended if the bump on lips happen with oral problems like canker sores.

Advanced techniques like electrosurgery or laser treatments are also utilized if the underlying cause is more complex.

Bottom line

Lip bumps are harmless in most cases, and they will go away by themselves. Meanwhile, a bump on your lips might be a warning sign of any serious problem if the pimple-like lesion exists for many days.

You should consult a dentist if they do not go away in a couple of weeks or develop along with other bothersome symptoms. Apart from treatments and home remedies, you should follow proper oral hygiene practices and certain self-care measures recommended by dentists.