How to Treat Acne Around the Lips Fast

Medically reviewed by Mohiba Tareen, MD

Last Updated: August 27, 2020 References Approved

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Quick Remedies for Acne Around the Lips

1
Use benzoyl peroxide. This is considered a very effective acne treatment.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} 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]
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- 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]
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2
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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3
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]
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- Make sure you use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled juice may contain preservatives that can irritate your skin.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Preventative Treatments for Acne Around the Lips

1
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.
2
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]
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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.
4
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]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Treating Acne with a Prescription

1
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.
2
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]
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3
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]
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4
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]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} These can act as an anti-inflammatory, cutting down inflammation and killing bacteria that causes pimples.^{[15]
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5
Ask your doctor about hormone treatments. Often, acne in adults is caused by fluctuating hormone levels.^{[16]
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Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} If this is the case with you, your doctor may prescribe an oral treatment to help bring your hormones back into balance.^{[17]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What's a quick way that I can treat my acne?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
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.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

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You 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.
Question

How do I get rid of back acne?

Jennifer Boidy, RN
Registered Nurse
Jennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse in Maryland. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Carroll Community College in 2012.

Jennifer Boidy, RN

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

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The 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.
Question

What do you do when your pimples on your lip line continually ache?

Jennifer Boidy, RN
Registered Nurse
Jennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse in Maryland. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Carroll Community College in 2012.

Jennifer Boidy, RN

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

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First, 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.

Warnings

Do not pick at your acne. This will irritate your skin further and can even cause a serious infection.

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Try not to use multiple facial scrubs or washes at the same time, as this may only irritate your skin further.

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Make sure you follow any directions from your doctor for prescription medication.

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