how to get rid of lip pimples

Pimples can pop up on any part of your body and face. Some of the common areas where pimples usually show up are the back, chest and on the t-zone of the face. However, sometimes a pimple may appear in the most unpredictable of places and be quite bothersome. Your lip line is one such place where a pimple may appear, while it's rare, a pimple on the lips can be painful and unsightly. A red bump with a white centre is a result of bacterial infection in the pore around your lip. While your first impulse will be to pop or squeeze it, avoid doing that, as it may result in scarring. Pimple scars take several months to fade. Instead, learn how to deal with a pimple on the lip with home remedies.

In this article, we will tell you a number of natural and effective ways to get rid of a lip pimple. But before that, it is important to first identify its type so you can treat it better. Sometimes a cold sore can also look like a pimple, so you need to take a closer look to understand what you are dealing with. Here are a few signs to help differentiate between the two.

1. Difference between lip pimples and cold sores
2. How to get rid of pimples on your lips
- Turmeric
- Honey
- Tea tree oil
- Tomato
- Castor oil
3. How to prevent lip pimples
4. FAQs about pimples on lips

1. Difference between lip pimples and cold sores

Lip pimples

Painful to the touch
Single blackhead or whitehead at the centre
Filled with white or yellowish liquid

Cold sores

Has an itching, burning or tingling feeling
Looks like one or many blisters
Clear liquid discharge

2. How to get rid of pimples on your lips

After reading the signs mentioned above, if you have identified what you have as a lip pimple, then let's see what you need to do next. Just like any other part of your face, the pimples on your lips can also be treated with natural and easy home remedies. To reduce the risk of scarring your skin and lips, here are a few simple DIY solutions you can use.

- Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, which gives it a rich yellow colour. Curcumin contains antioxidants in abundance, which makes turmeric an excellent ingredient for topical application. Since pimples on the lips are a result of bacterial growth and are usually accompanied by inflammation, applying turmeric can heal it faster.

How to: In order to treat a lip pimple with turmeric, add a few drops of water to turmeric powder to make a paste. Apply directly over the pimple with clean fingers or a Q-tip and leave it on for a few minutes. Wash off with warm water and repeat twice a day for best results.

- Honey

Honey contains superior healing and antimicrobial properties. This makes it an amazing natural ingredient for the treatment of various skin problems. Right from acne and skin irritation to blackheads and premature ageing, this sweet ingredient can tackle them all. Its antimicrobial properties fight bacteria and reduce the appearance of pimples.

How to: To get rid of pimples on the lips, you will need pure organic honey. Take honey in a small spoon and apply it on the pimple using clean fingers or a Q-tip. Let it stay for 30-60 minutes, then wash it off. Repeat 2-3 times a day for effective results.

- Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a blessing for anyone with acne-prone skin. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties in tea tree oil can heal pimples and correct blackhead formation with regular use. This is why a lot of skincare brands have started adding this wonderful ingredient in their products to fight bacteria and skin problems associated with it.

How to: Essential oils are potent and therefore should never be applied directly on the skin. Mix it with a little bit of jojoba oil or your moisturiser before applying on the lip pimple. If used carefully, the topical application of tea tree oil shouldn't cause any skin issues, however, a patch test is recommended.

- Tomato

Tomato is rich in salicylic acid, and if you are a skincare enthusiast, you would know the benefits of salicylic acid for the skin. It is a potent BHA which helps unclog pores filled with dirt and bacteria to treat a pimple. It is a common ingredient prescribed by dermatologists and a lot of skincare products contain it too, but if you are looking for a natural remedy, you can do so with the help of tomatoes.

How to: Take a small piece of ripe tomato and crush it with a fork. Apply the pulp directly on your lip pimple and let it stay for 10 minutes. Repeat thrice a day for best results.

- Castor oil

Using a thick oil like castor oil for a pimple may sound weird, but hear us out. Apart from being a rich moisturiser, castor oil contains ricinoleic acid that has anti-inflammatory properties. Topical application of this oil repairs skin tissues and prevents the buildup of dead skin cells, thereby preventing pimples.

How to: Take a drop of castor oil and apply it directly on the pimple. You can keep it overnight and wash it off in the morning. If you have oily skin, you may find the oil a little too heavy, so it is best avoided on oily skin.

3. How to prevent lip pimples

Prevention is better than cure, and while pimples are unpredictable, you can avoid them by adopting clean and healthy skincare habits. To ensure you don't get pimples around your lip area, here are a few tips you can follow.

i) Wash your face twice a day

No matter how busy or tired you are, wash your face twice a day, everyday, to remove dirt, oil and bacteria that get collected on your face throughout the day. If you don't have the time to wash your face, use micellar water to cleanse the skin.

ii) Use mild skincare products

Harsh, chemical-laden facial cleansers can make your skin too dry and invite skin problems. Heavy moisturisers can also invite pimples on the lips once they get mixed with sweat and bacteria. Therefore, use mild skincare products throughout the year if you have acne-prone skin.

iii) Avoid harsh scrubs

While exfoliation is good for removing dead skin cells and unclogging the pores, using harsh scrubs can damage the skin. Carefully exfoliate the area around the lips as it is delicate and use gentle motions while scrubbing. Use DIY home remedies like gram flour or an in-clinic treatment like a chemical peel to keep lip pimples at bay.

iv) Remove lipstick before going to bed

Your makeup products contain a lot of ingredients that are not good for your skin. Lipsticks contain artificial colours that can damage the texture of your lips and the area around them. Therefore, make sure to remove every trace of lipstick or any other lip product before going to bed at night.

v) Keeps hands off your face

Your hands contain more bacteria than you can see, therefore avoid touching your face often. Wash your hands thoroughly before applying any skincare product to prevent the transfer of bacteria. Clean the screen of your phone frequently as it can also be the reason for pimples on your face.

vi) Don't pop the pimple

No matter how bad the pimple looks, never try to pop or squeeze it. Whether it's a pimple on the lip or anywhere else, popping it can transfer the bacteria to the nearby pores and give rise to more pimples.

4. FAQs about pimples on lips

1) Why are lip pimples so painful?

A. Lip pimples appear on the outline of your lips, and since the area is delicate, it is far more painful than the pimples that appear on other parts of the face.

2) How to shrink a pimple overnight?

A. Using toothpaste is considered to be the most effective way to shrink pimples overnight, however, we strongly advise against it. You can use a spot treatment or tea tree oil to accelerate the healing process.

3) Should I pop a pimple on my lip?

A. We strongly advise against popping pimples on any part of your face or body as it can make it worse. Not only will it scar the skin, but will also transfer the bacteria onto the nearby pimples and invite more pimples.

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