Nobody has perfect skin or oral health. Still, you probably aren’t very excited when you see small bumps forming on your lips or skin. But, how do you know whether that bump is just a pimple or if it’s a cold sore?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between cold sores and pimples since they may have similar appearances. Nevertheless, it’s important to distinguish the two so you can treat the issue properly – including finding possible pain relief remedies if you identify the bump on or inside your lips as a cold sore.
We’re going to discuss some of the telltale signs that can help you identify whether that bump on your lip is a cold sore or pimple. And, if the bump is inside your lip, we’ll help you understand whether you may have a mouth sore.
What Do Herpes Look Like on Lips?
The herpes virus causes cold sores (or fever blisters), which look like a cluster of fluid-filled blisters around the upper or lower lips – possibly both the upper and lower lips at the same time. It also generally appears in the same location(s) and often starts out red and swollen before beginning to ooze fluid.
Once a cold sore enters the healing stages, it will start to crust over and scab. It’s common to experience itching, cracking, and bleeding during the healing stages. Most cold sores tend to resolve themselves around 8-10 days – though you may still observe a reddish or pinkish tint on the skin where the sore occurred even after it has fully healed.
What Does a Lip Pimple Look Like?
A lip pimple will appear as a single, raised red bump – possibly at the corner of your mouth or around the lipline. A lip pimple is typically accompanied by a whitehead or blackhead in the center and may cause pain because of the sensitivity and number of nerve endings around your lips.
In addition to the lips, pimples can also form around your entire face. That’s because pimples occur anywhere you have blocked or inflamed pores, which may happen anywhere on the skin. So, you could also develop pimples on your chest, arms, or legs, in addition to your face.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Pimple and Cold Sore
The best way to tell the difference between a pimple and cold sore may be to remember whether you experienced any tingling, soreness, or redness before the bump on lips began to form. If that’s the case, you likely have a cold sore. Similarly, if you notice smaller clusters that may resemble a big bump, that’s a cold sore. But if you can clearly distinguish a single, raised bump on the lips, that’s a pimple.
Here's another distinct difference between cold sores and pimples: cold sores can appear on your lips, whereas pimples on the lips only form around the lipline. However, you should know that cold sores can also form between the mouth and nose or just below the lips slightly closer to the chin.
Herpes vs. Pimple: Other Differences to Note
We touched on the key characteristics of knowing whether the bump on your lip is a pimple or cold sore. Here are some other traits that distinguish the two:
- While cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), pimples result from clogged or inflamed pores or pimple-causing bacteria on the skin. You may have pimples on your lip because of a reaction to food, lip or skincare products, stress, sweat, and dirt.
- Fever blisters are strictly caused by the herpes virus. Cold sores are contagious, as the virus can spread through saliva or close contact – which may include kissing or sharing cups, towels, and other items. Pimples, including lip pimples, are not contagious.
- Most pimples will not ooze pus unless they are infected or popped. And, if they are popped, they’ll typically ooze a fluid-blood mixture. Cold sores, on the other hand, will typically ooze on their own and can have yellow pus.
You should never pop cold sores or blisters. Popping a cold sore can risk infection, and it does nothing to speed up the healing process. Similarly, popping a blister can cause scarring.
How to Treat Bumps on Lips
You can use warm and cold compresses to help treat cold sores or pimples on your lips. A heated compress can help increase blood flow to help promote healing, while a cold compress can help soothe pain and inflammation.
Some prescription and over-the-counter medications also work for bumps on lips. If you have a pimple, over-the-counter treatments with benzoyl peroxide can help unclog pores and kill bacteria contributing to the formation of the pimple – which might get rid of a pimple on your lip faster. Alternatively, treatments with salicylic acid can help reduce inflammation and dry out the pimple. If you have a cold sore, use Orajel™ cold sore treatments:
Your doctor may be able to prescribe you antiviral creams to help speed up the cold sore healing process. Otherwise, use Orajel™ cold sore treatments for topical temporary pain relief as needed while your cold sore heals.
*For temporary topical pain relief
What if I Have a Bump Inside My Lips?
If you have a bump inside your lips, you can rule out cold sores and pimples. However, it is possible you could have developed a canker sore.
Pimples and cold sores typically form as a bump on the exterior of your lip or lipline. They rarely form inside the mouth. This is a notable difference between cold sores and canker sores, since canker sores only form inside the mouth in areas like the inner lips, cheeks, or gums.
In the event you do have a canker sore, you can use Orajel™ mouth sore treatments for fast-acting pain relief:
- Orajel™ 3X Mouth Sores Gel offers instant relief from mouth sore pain from canker sores, cold sores, and gum irritation. It includes 20 percent Benzocaine to help relieve oral pain, plus Menthol to soothe gums and Astringent to help protect sores from irritation. Apply the gel directly to sores on your lips, gums, or cheeks.
- Orajel™ Mouth Sores Antiseptic Rinse helps kill bacteria and promote the healing of sores in the mouth. It has a soothing mint taste and can help relieve pain from canker sores in your mouth, whether on your lips, cheeks, or gums.
- Orajel™ Alcohol-Free Mouth Sores Antiseptic Mouth Rinse also helps kill bacteria and promotes the healing of mouth sores while easing gum irritation and soothing cheek bites, providing necessary pain relief from canker sores and more.
If you have a painless bump in your mouth or upper lip, you might also have a mucous cyst. These painless, thin sacs contain clear fluid and are often found on the inner surface of your lips or the floor of your mouth. Mucous cysts typically subside on their own, but consult an oral health professional if these cysts return or they become bothersome.
You might also discover painless white spots on your lips. These spots are called Fordyce spots, which can appear inside your cheeks or on the edges of your lips, as well as the genital area. Fordyce spots are essentially enlarged oil glands. They affect most adults, around 70 to 80 percent, and are not contagious. The important note is that Fordyce spots are painless and do not contain fluid or pus, which can help assuage any worries that you may have a pimple or cold sore.
But remember: if your bump inside the mouth looks like a small lesion and is accompanied by pain, you may have a canker sore or other mouth ulcer. Speak with your oral health professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment options.
Does Eczema Cause Pimples?
While you might know that skin conditions like acne can cause pimples, Eczema does not cause pimples. Eczema can cause inflammation and bumps on lips or other areas of the skin that may resemble pimples, but these bumps do not contain pus.
Similarly, acne breakouts and other pimples are often oilier than the bumps caused by Eczema. That’s due to the excess oil production and clogged pores, whereas Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition typically associated with itchy, red patches.
Will a Pimple Patch Work on a Cold Sore?
A pimple patch can help protect a cold sore by providing a barrier and preventing you from touching the fever blisters. But a pimple patch cannot provide topical pain relief for some of the symptoms associated with cold sores.
Consult with an oral health professional before using a pimple patch on a cold sore.
Bump Up Your Cold Sore Pain Relief with Orajel™
When it comes to that bump on your lip, the first step is figuring out whether you have a pimple or cold sore so you can treat the issue promptly and correctly. Turn to Orajel™ cold sore treatments when you need pain relief or, if you discover bumps inside your mouth from a sore or ulcer, try Orajel™ mouth sore treatments!
Disclaimer: Only put Orajel™ creams or gels around the gums. Do not put inside any cavity or open wound site.
