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We all know pimples have their preferred spots—and some are stranger and more painful than others. A perfect example is the recurring breakouts near your mouth, which can be incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately, your mouth isn’t exempt from the T-zone (acne’s favorite area) due to the large oil glands and constant contact with food. To make things worse, every time you talk, chew, yawn, or even make a facial expression, you’re reminded of the inflammation.
To make matters even trickier, pimples can look a lot like cold sores (especially in appearance), which can lead to confusion for anyone dealing with a breakout. The good news? Pimples and cold sores are actually quite different, and it’s easy to tell them apart once you know what to look for. And while fighting blemishes around your lips may seem like an endless struggle, there are ways to handle those troublesome spots along your lip line.
With that in mind, we reached out to Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami and founder of Dr. Loretta skincare, to help distinguish between pimples and cold sores, and explain how to treat lip pimples when they occur.
Why Are My Lips Breaking Out?
Lip pimples are essentially like any other pimple on your face—except they're on your lips. They can be triggered by various factors. In addition to overactive oil glands that encourage the growth of acne-causing bacteria, Dr. Ciraldo mentions that one of the main offenders is scented lip products, including lipstick, gloss, and even lip balms. Some waxes in lip balms can clog pores, especially if the product spreads onto the surrounding skin near your lips.
If you're searching for a chapped lip treatment, opt for a product like Then I Met You Honey Dew Lip Mask, which is incredibly moisturizing and contains antibacterial properties that can help with both irritation and breakouts.
How to Deal with a Lip Pimple
Lip pimples are caused by the same pore-blocking bacteria as regular pimples, so the ways to treat them are very similar.
1. Resist the urge to squeeze
First and foremost, "as tempting as it may be, avoid squeezing!" advises Dr. Ciraldo. "Our lips are highly vascular, so squeezing a lip pimple could lead to deep bruising and bleeding (along with further bruising and scarring)."
2. Apply the appropriate acne products
Pimples can be treated with acne-fighting ingredients like bacteria-busting benzoyl peroxide and exfoliating salicylic acid, as well as topical retinoids such as tretinoin, adapalene, or tazarotene, explains Dr. Ciraldo. "Use a spot treatment and apply it with a cotton swab to any areas of your lip that look red or swollen." You can also apply a pimple patch to prevent picking and help remove the buildup inside.
3. Cleanse gently
"Make sure to remove all lip products before going to bed and wash your lips thoroughly," says Dr. Ciraldo. "The secret to preventing lip breakouts is exfoliation: Many people neglect to bring their exfoliators and cleansers all the way to their lips."
4. Consult a dermatologist for stronger treatments
While home remedies may help with the occasional lip pimple, if your lip breakouts are persistent or cystic, it might be worth exploring other treatment options such as birth control or Accutane. The takeaway? Lip pimples, though frustrating (and often wrongly seen as just a teenage issue), are completely normal and treatable. Don’t hesitate to meet with your dermatologist to find the best treatment plan for you.
What’s the Difference Between a Cold Sore and a Lip Pimple?
Lip pimples are similar to pimples on other parts of your skin, while cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Typically, your body will warn you of an impending cold sore with tingling, itching, or a burning feeling. These outbreaks are often triggered by internal factors such as colds, infections, hormone fluctuations, or stress. Since the virus is highly contagious, most people are exposed to it, though it only activates when triggered, says Dr. Ciraldo.
That said, there are physical differences between the two. "If you take a closer look, a cold sore will appear as a cluster of blisters, while a pimple is a single reddish-pink bump (or white if it’s milia) and never occurs directly on the lips," explains Dr. Ciraldo. "The pimple is also typically more tender, whereas cold sores tend to burn."
