How to Deal with Whiteheads on the Lip Line

Having clear and smooth skin is a dream that many accomplish by regular, routine care. There are so many products that you can use to help treat various areas of your face to make them smooth and flawless looking, it’s become overwhelming. 

But what if your problem area is near the mouth? What can you do with the whiteheads on the lip line? 

Although you want your skin to be perfectly smooth, sometimes whiteheads can appear around the lips or on the lip lines. There are a few things that could cause these to appear and there are also things you can do to remedy them. 

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Pimple vs Cold Sore

If you ever find whiteheads on the lip line, the best thing to do would be to first identify whether it is a pimple or a cold sore. 

Pimples are bumps that appear on your skin. They could have a black or white tip, or no tip at all. If you touch your pimple, it could feel a little bit sore or painful.

Cold sores, on the other hand, also appear as spots but are smaller than the pimples. Sometimes they could also be in clusters in a single area. 

These are caused by a virus and could feel very itchy or burn if you accidentally scratch them. 

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What Causes Whiteheads On The Lip Line?

There are several causes of having whiteheads on the lip line. They may be one or a combination of the following:

1. Allergic Reaction

One of the reasons why pimples could appear on the lip line is because you are allergic to something that you applied to that area. An example would be your lip balms. 

You don’t normally place lip balms on other areas of your face so if you find the whiteheads on your lip line only, it could be the culprit. 

Sometimes, the ingredient could also be in the toothpaste that you are using. If you’ve recently changed your toothpaste and started to develop the whiteheads, you should try to stop using that toothpaste and see if it gets better. 

2. Your Makeup 

Sometimes, it’s not necessarily an allergy to certain ingredients but simply exposure to the chemical ingredients that are found on makeup or other lip products. 

Even if you only placed the product on your lips, the chemicals can still react to your skin as the substances or ingredients are absorbed. That could lead to whiteheads not only in the area but also on the skin that surrounds your lips — as well as other areas on your face.

3. Hormones

Sometimes, the fluctuation of hormones could also lead to increasing the risk of developing pimples or whiteheads around the lip line. 

This could affect both men and women, especially when they are at the puberty stage when the hormones are still balancing out. 

4. Improper Hygiene

To avoid developing whiteheads on the lip line or any other part of your face and body, you should know how to properly cleanse the area. 

Of all the areas in the body, the skin on the face is possibly the most sensitive one. Cleansing it should be done for proper hygiene but you also have to make sure that you don’t use something that’s too harsh. Micellar water can be an excellent option.

If you don’t cleanse it properly or handle it with dirty hands, you could develop pimples or whiteheads on your face even on the lip line. 

5. Oily Skin

Another reason why you could develop whiteheads on your lip line is oily skin. When your skin produces too much oil, it is more likely for the pores to get blocked and form pimples not only on the face but the lip line too. 

6. Due To Hair Removal

Another reason why you could develop whiteheads on your lip line, especially your upper lip is due to hair removal.

Waxing is a great way to remove hair but it can also be irritating to the skin, especially the sensitive skin surrounding the lips.

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Get Rid Of Whiteheads On The Lip Line

1. Take Care Of Your Skin

One of the best things you can do to help prevent developing whiteheads on the pimple line is to have a skincare regimen and follow it rigorously. 

Cleansing the skin is the first step but it doesn’t stop there, you also have to moisturize your skin so it doesn’t feel too dry that it overcompensates and produces more oil. Also, make sure to use a gentle cleanser  to avoid overdrying the skin.

2. Exfoliate Your Skin (But Not Too Much!)

Developing pimples or whiteheads on the skin can also be due to blockage due to the buildup of dead skin cells. Your skin will benefit well from regular exfoliation. 

There are various ways to do that. You can use gentle chemical exfoliants or get a facial that offers microdermabrasion as well.

You can consult your dermatologist to know which exfoliation best suits you. Usually for home exfoliation, there are cleansing brushes or liquid exfoliant  that you can use. Avoid over-exfoliating your skin because it can cause irritation as well as scarring.

Avoid over-exfoliating your skin because it can cause irritation as well as scarring.

3. Avoid Touching Pimples

It can be very tempting to pop out that pimple! But most dermatologists will advise you against it. Popping it could worsen it especially if you are unsure whether it is really a pimple or a cold sore. 

The improper popping of pimples may also cause the pimple to spread. The bacteria could also affect the surrounding pores. That will lead you to develop more pimples on your lip line. 

4. Use a Cold Compress

Pimples along the lip line are known to be painful that’s because of how sensitive the skin is in that area. 

In some cases, you can help the pimple pop out faster if you use a hot compress on it. However, that should not be done when you have a pimple along your lip line. 

Instead, you should use a cold compress to relieve the pain and swelling. Attempting to pop it out prematurely can cause pain and could open it up and end up in a scar.