Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesPreventionHow to Clear AcneSimilar Conditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Causes
Prevention
How to Clear Acne
Similar Conditions
For most people, it takes a combination of good skincare habits, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medications to clear acne around the mouth.
What Causes Acne Around the Mouth?
Acnearound the mouth forms like acne in other areas. Normally, thesebaceous glandsconnected to hair follicles produce sebum (oil) that moves to the skin through the hair follicle pore. Skin cells that line the hair follicle shed and also move to the skin’s surface.
When someone has acne, the oil, skin cells, and hair get stuck in the pores. This prevents the movement of oil and skin cells to the surface. Bacteria grow inside the pore, and a pimple forms.
Hormone changes, particularly those that occur during puberty or around the time of your period are well known to cause acne flares.Whereas bacterial acne tends to form on oily skin regions, like the forehead and chin, hormonal acne often forms around the mouth and jawline.
Hygiene and lifestyle factors can also contribute to acne around the mouth,lips, and chin. You might have more acne in this area if you:
Stress,diet, and not enough sleep have been shown to worsen acne. However, it has not been shown to cause the condition.
The underlying cause of acne around the mouth is not always clear. If you aren’t sure why you’re breaking out or have any other acne concerns, reach out to a dermatologist or healthcare provider.
What Causes Pimples Around the Lips?There are several simple reasons why you might get pimples around your lips. For example, if you eat lots of greasy food and don’t clean around your mouth after, the grease may clog the pores around your lips and lead to a breakout. Other possible reasons include touching your lips frequently, using irritating lip balms, or hormone fluctuations.
What Causes Pimples Around the Lips?
There are several simple reasons why you might get pimples around your lips. For example, if you eat lots of greasy food and don’t clean around your mouth after, the grease may clog the pores around your lips and lead to a breakout. Other possible reasons include touching your lips frequently, using irritating lip balms, or hormone fluctuations.
Good skincare and lifestyle habits go a long way in preventing pimples from forming around your mouth, lips, and chin. To stop acne around the mouth:
Treatment
If you have made changes to your skincare routine and lifestyle and are still breaking out, talk to a dermatologist. Depending on the type and severity of your acne, your dermatologist may recommendover-the-counter or prescription acne treatments.
Over-the-counter treatments your provider may suggest include:
For more severe cases of acne around the mouth, your provider may prescribe:
Types of Acne Near The MouthAny type of acne blemish can be found near the mouth:Whiteheads: A white bump forms where a hair follicle is plugged under the skin.Blackheads: The plugged follicle is open to the surface of the skin, and the air darkens the oil plug.Papules: These are small inflamed bumps that can be tender.Pustules: A papule develops a raised head of pus. This is often called a pimple.Nodules: These are deeper in the skin, feel solid, and are painful.
Types of Acne Near The Mouth
Any type of acne blemish can be found near the mouth:Whiteheads: A white bump forms where a hair follicle is plugged under the skin.Blackheads: The plugged follicle is open to the surface of the skin, and the air darkens the oil plug.Papules: These are small inflamed bumps that can be tender.Pustules: A papule develops a raised head of pus. This is often called a pimple.Nodules: These are deeper in the skin, feel solid, and are painful.
Any type of acne blemish can be found near the mouth:
Conditions Similar to Acne Around the Mouth
Redness and bumps around the mouth may look like acne but can be another condition. The conditions commonly mistaken for acne include:
Summary
Acne around the mouth and chin is a common skin condition. That area sees a lot of touching and use, which can cause additional oil and bacteria on the skin. A dermatologist can help determine the best treatment plan to clear up the skin and prevent acne from recurring.
In many cases, a combination of lifestyle changes, good skincare habits, and sometimes medications is effective for clearing acne and preventing breakouts.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.Elsaie M.Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: An update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 Sep;9(1):241–248. doi:10.2147/CCID.S114830Bagatin E, de Freitas T, Machado M, Ribeiro B, Nunes S, da Rocha M.Adult female acne: A guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019 Feb;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: who gets and causes.Penn Medicine.What is acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sports equipment causing your acne?Spille J, Grunwald M, Martin S, Mueller S.Stop touching your face! A systematic review of triggers, characteristics, regulatory functions and neuro-physiology of facial self touch.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Sep;128(1):102-116. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.030Singh M, Pawar M, Maheswari A, Bothra A, Khunger N.‘Cell-phone’ acne epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2020 Oct;45(7):903–905. doi:10.1111/ced.14360Kutlu Ö. Karadağ A, Wollina U.Adult acne versus adolescent acne: A narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment.ABD. 2023 Jan;98(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2022.01.006Vural A.The development of acne vulgaris due to face masks during the pandemic, risk awareness and attitudes of a group of university students.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jun;2022(1):1-8. doi:10.1111/jocd.15120Ghani H, Rahman R, Liu K, et al.An investigation of makeup ingredients and their effects on acne cosmetica with dermatologic practice recommendations.J Cutaneous Med. 2021;5(5):474-481. doi:10.25251/skin.5.5.4Meixiong J, Ricco C, Vasavda C, Ho B.Diet and acne: A systematic review.JAAD Int. 2022 Mar;7(1):95-112. doi:10.1016/j.jdin.2022.02.012Gala M, Bhureddy S, Mucchala S, Aich B.Skin moisturizing and anti-acne effect of acne moisturizer in healthy adult subjects with mild-to-moderate acne-an open label, single arm clinical study.CosmoDerma. 2023;3(1):85. doi:10.25259/CSDM_88_2023Karwal K, Mukovozov I.Topical AHA in dermatology: Formulations, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and future perspectives.Cosmetics. 2023 Sep;10(5):131. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10050131Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: A comprehensive review.MA. 2023 Dec;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43Piquero-Casals J, Morgado-Carrasco D, Rozas-Muñoz E, et al.Sun exposure, a relevant exposome factor in acne patients and how photoprotection can improve outcomes.JCD. 2023 Jun;1919-1928. doi:10.1111/jocd.15726National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is that stubborn acne really acne?.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.Elsaie M.Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: An update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 Sep;9(1):241–248. doi:10.2147/CCID.S114830Bagatin E, de Freitas T, Machado M, Ribeiro B, Nunes S, da Rocha M.Adult female acne: A guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019 Feb;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: who gets and causes.Penn Medicine.What is acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sports equipment causing your acne?Spille J, Grunwald M, Martin S, Mueller S.Stop touching your face! A systematic review of triggers, characteristics, regulatory functions and neuro-physiology of facial self touch.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Sep;128(1):102-116. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.030Singh M, Pawar M, Maheswari A, Bothra A, Khunger N.‘Cell-phone’ acne epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2020 Oct;45(7):903–905. doi:10.1111/ced.14360Kutlu Ö. Karadağ A, Wollina U.Adult acne versus adolescent acne: A narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment.ABD. 2023 Jan;98(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2022.01.006Vural A.The development of acne vulgaris due to face masks during the pandemic, risk awareness and attitudes of a group of university students.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jun;2022(1):1-8. doi:10.1111/jocd.15120Ghani H, Rahman R, Liu K, et al.An investigation of makeup ingredients and their effects on acne cosmetica with dermatologic practice recommendations.J Cutaneous Med. 2021;5(5):474-481. doi:10.25251/skin.5.5.4Meixiong J, Ricco C, Vasavda C, Ho B.Diet and acne: A systematic review.JAAD Int. 2022 Mar;7(1):95-112. doi:10.1016/j.jdin.2022.02.012Gala M, Bhureddy S, Mucchala S, Aich B.Skin moisturizing and anti-acne effect of acne moisturizer in healthy adult subjects with mild-to-moderate acne-an open label, single arm clinical study.CosmoDerma. 2023;3(1):85. doi:10.25259/CSDM_88_2023Karwal K, Mukovozov I.Topical AHA in dermatology: Formulations, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and future perspectives.Cosmetics. 2023 Sep;10(5):131. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10050131Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: A comprehensive review.MA. 2023 Dec;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43Piquero-Casals J, Morgado-Carrasco D, Rozas-Muñoz E, et al.Sun exposure, a relevant exposome factor in acne patients and how photoprotection can improve outcomes.JCD. 2023 Jun;1919-1928. doi:10.1111/jocd.15726National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is that stubborn acne really acne?.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.Elsaie M.Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: An update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 Sep;9(1):241–248. doi:10.2147/CCID.S114830Bagatin E, de Freitas T, Machado M, Ribeiro B, Nunes S, da Rocha M.Adult female acne: A guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019 Feb;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: who gets and causes.Penn Medicine.What is acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sports equipment causing your acne?Spille J, Grunwald M, Martin S, Mueller S.Stop touching your face! A systematic review of triggers, characteristics, regulatory functions and neuro-physiology of facial self touch.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Sep;128(1):102-116. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.030Singh M, Pawar M, Maheswari A, Bothra A, Khunger N.‘Cell-phone’ acne epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2020 Oct;45(7):903–905. doi:10.1111/ced.14360Kutlu Ö. Karadağ A, Wollina U.Adult acne versus adolescent acne: A narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment.ABD. 2023 Jan;98(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2022.01.006Vural A.The development of acne vulgaris due to face masks during the pandemic, risk awareness and attitudes of a group of university students.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jun;2022(1):1-8. doi:10.1111/jocd.15120Ghani H, Rahman R, Liu K, et al.An investigation of makeup ingredients and their effects on acne cosmetica with dermatologic practice recommendations.J Cutaneous Med. 2021;5(5):474-481. doi:10.25251/skin.5.5.4Meixiong J, Ricco C, Vasavda C, Ho B.Diet and acne: A systematic review.JAAD Int. 2022 Mar;7(1):95-112. doi:10.1016/j.jdin.2022.02.012Gala M, Bhureddy S, Mucchala S, Aich B.Skin moisturizing and anti-acne effect of acne moisturizer in healthy adult subjects with mild-to-moderate acne-an open label, single arm clinical study.CosmoDerma. 2023;3(1):85. doi:10.25259/CSDM_88_2023Karwal K, Mukovozov I.Topical AHA in dermatology: Formulations, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and future perspectives.Cosmetics. 2023 Sep;10(5):131. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10050131Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: A comprehensive review.MA. 2023 Dec;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43Piquero-Casals J, Morgado-Carrasco D, Rozas-Muñoz E, et al.Sun exposure, a relevant exposome factor in acne patients and how photoprotection can improve outcomes.JCD. 2023 Jun;1919-1928. doi:10.1111/jocd.15726National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is that stubborn acne really acne?.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.
Elsaie M.Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: An update.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 Sep;9(1):241–248. doi:10.2147/CCID.S114830
Bagatin E, de Freitas T, Machado M, Ribeiro B, Nunes S, da Rocha M.Adult female acne: A guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019 Feb;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: who gets and causes.
Penn Medicine.What is acne?.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sports equipment causing your acne?
Spille J, Grunwald M, Martin S, Mueller S.Stop touching your face! A systematic review of triggers, characteristics, regulatory functions and neuro-physiology of facial self touch.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Sep;128(1):102-116. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.030
Singh M, Pawar M, Maheswari A, Bothra A, Khunger N.‘Cell-phone’ acne epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2020 Oct;45(7):903–905. doi:10.1111/ced.14360
Kutlu Ö. Karadağ A, Wollina U.Adult acne versus adolescent acne: A narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment.ABD. 2023 Jan;98(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2022.01.006
Vural A.The development of acne vulgaris due to face masks during the pandemic, risk awareness and attitudes of a group of university students.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jun;2022(1):1-8. doi:10.1111/jocd.15120
Ghani H, Rahman R, Liu K, et al.An investigation of makeup ingredients and their effects on acne cosmetica with dermatologic practice recommendations.J Cutaneous Med. 2021;5(5):474-481. doi:10.25251/skin.5.5.4
Meixiong J, Ricco C, Vasavda C, Ho B.Diet and acne: A systematic review.JAAD Int. 2022 Mar;7(1):95-112. doi:10.1016/j.jdin.2022.02.012
Gala M, Bhureddy S, Mucchala S, Aich B.Skin moisturizing and anti-acne effect of acne moisturizer in healthy adult subjects with mild-to-moderate acne-an open label, single arm clinical study.CosmoDerma. 2023;3(1):85. doi:10.25259/CSDM_88_2023
Karwal K, Mukovozov I.Topical AHA in dermatology: Formulations, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and future perspectives.Cosmetics. 2023 Sep;10(5):131. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10050131
Durairaj A, Elumalai K, Shanmugam A.Cystic acne treatment: A comprehensive review.MA. 2023 Dec;1(4):318-329. doi:10.1002/med4.43
Piquero-Casals J, Morgado-Carrasco D, Rozas-Muñoz E, et al.Sun exposure, a relevant exposome factor in acne patients and how photoprotection can improve outcomes.JCD. 2023 Jun;1919-1928. doi:10.1111/jocd.15726
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is that stubborn acne really acne?.
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