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This article was medically reviewed by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.
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Many adults and teenagers suffer from acne. Pimples and breakouts around your lips and mouth can be a particularly tricky problem to fix. You may be wary of putting creams or facial washes so close to your mouth. With the advice on this list, you can proactively treat acne around your lips in a safe and effective way.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Quick Remedies for Acne Around the Lips
Use benzoyl peroxide. This is considered a very effective acne treatment.[1] It works by killing any bacteria in the area and can clear up pimples quickly. This is an OTC product and should be easily available at drug stores.[2]- Be cautious when applying this around your mouth. If your acne is directly on your lips, you may want to forgo this treatment and use some of the non-chemical treatments below.
- Call your doctor if you develop a rash, itching, blisters, burning sensation, redness, or swelling.
- Benzoyl peroxide may cause dryness or peeling
- Strength ranges from 2.5% to 10% benzoyl peroxide. Start with the lowest strength and work your way up if needed.[3]
Hold ice on your pimples. Ice helps fight the inflammation and redness from acne. It also constricts the blood vessels, which can force out some of the oil and bacteria and speed up recovery.- Wrap an ice cube in a towel or napkin and apply it to the affected area. Remove it after a few seconds.
- Wait a few minutes and repeat. Go through the process a few times.
- Repeat this treatment several times daily for maximum effect.[4]
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Apply lemon juice to the pimple. The acidity of lemon juice will simultaneously kill bacteria and dry out the pimple. Dip a sterile cotton swab in the juice and apply it to your pimple before bedtime.[5]- Make sure you use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled juice may contain preservatives that can irritate your skin.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Preventative Treatments for Acne Around the Lips
Stop using lip balm/gloss. There are many ways that these products can cause and exacerbate acne around the lips.- The wax from lip balm clogs your pores. This traps dirt and bacteria, causing pimples to form.
- The fragrances in these products can stimulate sebum production. The increase of oil and sebum, coupled with clogged pores, is a good recipe for an acne breakout.
- The lip balm may spread the bacteria that causes pimples. If this happens, you are re-infecting yourself every time you use it.
- If you can't stop completely, use a fragrance-free product instead. This will still clog your pores but won't stimulate sebum production.
Wipe your mouth after eating and drinking. Crumbs or food residue left around your mouth is a feeding ground for bacteria, and may cause breakouts.[6]
Use a flavor and fragrance-free toothpaste. Just like with flavored lip balm, chemical flavoring in toothpaste can irritate the skin and increase sebum production. Some fragrance-free toothpaste brands are Burt's Bees, Biotene, Sensodyne, and Tom's of Maine.
Drink more water. This can help flush out your system and cleanse your skin from the inside out. Increase the amount of water you drink to help reduce acne overall.[7]Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Treating Acne with a Prescription
Visit the doctor. If acne around your mouth is a persistent problem you can't shake, you should visit your doctor or dermatologist. There are a multitude of prescription treatments that they may suggest to help.
Use creams containing retinoids. Retinoids, derived from vitamin A, help unplug follicles and pores. This can get rid of existing pimples and stop new ones from forming. They can also cut down on the inflammation from acne. As an added bonus, these creams can also help fight wrinkles. Some prescription retinoids are Retin-A, Differin, and Tazorac.[8][9][10][11][12]
Use topical antibiotics. These creams help kill bacteria that causes pimples and can also cut down on inflammation. Some common creams doctors and dermatologists prescribe are erythromycin, metronidazole, and clindamycin.[13]
Take oral antibiotics. It may not be possible to apply topical treatments to acne so close to your mouth. Oral antibiotics may help because they work systemically. Your doctor may prescribe a prescription antibiotic.[14] These can act as an anti-inflammatory, cutting down inflammation and killing bacteria that causes pimples.[15]
Ask your doctor about hormone treatments. Often, acne in adults is caused by fluctuating hormone levels.[16] If this is the case with you, your doctor may prescribe an oral treatment to help bring your hormones back into balance.[17]Advertisement
Expert Q&A
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- QuestionWhat's a quick way that I can treat my acne?
Mohiba Tareen, MDMohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.
FAAD Board Certified DermatologistYou can try using benzoyl peroxide washes to help dry out your blemishes. Massage the wash into your skin, leave it on for up to 30 seconds, and then rinse it off. - QuestionHow do I get rid of back acne?
Jennifer Boidy, RNJennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse based in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to her nursing career, she also works as a Healthcare Content Strategist & Writer, helping businesses and non-profits market their products and services to healthcare provider organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and other healthcare services vendors. Jennifer’s areas of expertise include pharmaceuticals & life sciences, health technology, medical devices & diagnostics, health insurance & managed care, and healthcare services & facilities. Her certification as a Registered Nurse was issued by the Maryland Board of Nursing. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Marketing and Finance. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Carroll Community College in 2012.
Registered NurseThe acne on your back should be treated just like facial acne. Keeping the area clean with good skin care is essential and using and over the counter acne cream may be all you need to do to keep it under control. If these measures don’t help, consult with a dermatologist to discuss other options. - QuestionWhat do you do when your pimples on your lip line continually ache?Jennifer Boidy, RNJennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse based in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to her nursing career, she also works as a Healthcare Content Strategist & Writer, helping businesses and non-profits market their products and services to healthcare provider organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and other healthcare services vendors. Jennifer’s areas of expertise include pharmaceuticals & life sciences, health technology, medical devices & diagnostics, health insurance & managed care, and healthcare services & facilities. Her certification as a Registered Nurse was issued by the Maryland Board of Nursing. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Marketing and Finance. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Carroll Community College in 2012.
Registered NurseFirst, you want to determine if it is actually a pimple or a cold sore. A cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), is contagious, and will generally go away without treatment in about 2-4 weeks. While a pimple may be tender and painful to the touch, a cold sore may itch, burn or tingle in addition to being painful. Applying ice or a cold compress can help with the discomfort of a pimple or cold sore. For a cold sore, you can use an OTC cream with lidocaine or benzocaine for pain relief. You may want to see a doctor, who may prescribe a prescription oral antiviral cream to speed up the healing process. In either case, avoid picking or squeezing the lesion. This is particularly important for a cold sore, since this can spread the virus.
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Tips
- Make sure new face washes you are buying are gentle, hypo-allergenic, and correspond to your skin type. Ex. Don't use a face wash for oily skin if you have dry skin and vice versa.Thanks
- Be patient. There is no magic cure for acne. Making some manageable lifestyle changes, however, can lead to huge results over time.Thanks
- Try not to touch your face with your hands. This can make acne worse by exposing your skin to oil and dirt on your hands.Thanks
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Warnings
- Do not pick at your acne. This will irritate your skin further and can even cause a serious infection.Thanks
- Try not to use multiple facial scrubs or washes at the same time, as this may only irritate your skin further.Thanks
- Make sure you follow any directions from your doctor for prescription medication.Thanks
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References
- ↑ Mohiba Tareen, MD. FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/acne-treatments-that-work
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/tc/acne-treatment-with-benzoyl-peroxide-topic-overview
- ↑ http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/5-simple-ways-get-rid-pimples.html
- ↑ http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/5-simple-ways-get-rid-pimples.html
- ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/advice/a30911/things-your-pimples-say-about-your-health/
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/lifestyle
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/mild-acne?page=3
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/adult-acne-is-treatable?page=2
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/retin-a.html
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/differin.html
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-3329/tazorac-topical/details
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/mild-acne?page=2
- ↑ Mohiba Tareen, MD. FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/adult-acne-is-treatable?page=2
- ↑ Mohiba Tareen, MD. FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
- ↑ http://www.everydayhealth.com/acne/adult-acne-treatment.aspx
About this article
Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
This article was medically reviewed by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology. This article has been viewed 922,270 times.
Co-authors: 20
Updated: August 27, 2020
Views: 922,270
Article SummaryX
If you're looking for a fast way to treat acne around your lips, try holding an ice cube on the affected area, then removing it after a few seconds. Repeat the process several times, making sure to wait a few minutes between each application, to reduce inflammation and force out the oil and bacteria. Alternatively, dip a cotton swab in fresh lemon juice and apply it to your acne before bedtime to help kill the bacteria and dry out your acne. You can also try using use an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide product to help clear up pimples quickly. For tips from our Medical reviewer on how to prevent acne around your lips, keep reading!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 922,270 times.
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