Acne around Mouth
Acne around the mouth can be upsetting, especially since in most cases the skin on the rest of the face is clear. However, these persistent pimples around the mouth have clear causes, including the over-use of lip balm and other oral care products. The good news is that this is a skin condition that is 100% preventable, as long as you avoid certain products, including the fruity lip balms, for example.
Having breakouts around your mouth is unpleasant to say the least. Pimples are annoying wherever they appear but these, in the mouth area, are particularly challenging. The skin in this area is extremely sensitive and the presence of acne around mouth will impose a clear change of your daily cleansing ritual. Plus, you have to avoid popping those pimples, as you will only increase the chances of infection and scars. It is better to use proper healing products and let them to disappear on their own. Otherwise, you will only have more pimples to deal with.
Symptoms of Acne around Mouth
These are the most common symptoms of acne around mouth:
- Whiteheads – these appear when the skin pore is closed (plugged)
- Blackheads – these appear when the skin pore is partially open. The black tip is given by the excess sebum that has come into contact with the air, thus turning black
- Small and tender red bumps or papules
- Generalized skin inflammation or localized red patches on the skin
- Oily skin – this is also known as seborrhea and it appears because of the increased sebum production (often because of hormonal changes)
- Scarring – as it was already mentioned, popping pimples can lead to scars, as the skin is broken and it will repair itself in the wrong manner
What are the Causes of Acne around Mouth?
These are the most common causes that can lead to the appearance of acne around mouth:
- Extended and excessive use of lip balm – these contain a lot of irritating substances and, on the plus side, they also clog the pores around the mouth, making the area just prepared for acne
- Toothpaste can contain a substance that favors the appearance of breakouts around mouth. This substance is known as sodium lauryl sulfate and it is a sudsing agent. What happens is that it enters the tiny cracks in the skin and, together with the increased sebum, it can clog the pores and lead to pimples
- Constant, increased stress and hormonal changes can cause breakouts around the mouth as well
- If the breakouts extend to the chin, then most likely there are toxins that have accumulated into your body or you need more fibers into your diet (your small intestine suffers)
- Digestive system inflammation and food allergies or intolerance can lead to acne in that area
- Stomach hypo-activity with reduced production of hydrochloric acid
- Under-active liver function
- Overuse of face creams and other skin care products that are highly occlusive. Avoid products that contain petroleum and thick wax
- Constant exposure to sun, heat and wind is a favoring factor and a cause of acne around the mouth
Treatment
When it comes to treating acne around the mouth, it is enough to stop using certain irritating products and change your daily habits for the acne to clear on its own. These are the most common measures you can take:
- Replace your fruity, chocolaty or brightly colored synthetic lip balm with one that contains natural ingredients
- During the cold or windy season, do not let your lips become cracked and use a special balm for such situations, with natural ingredients as well
- Use a toothpaste that is made from natural ingredients. You will see that each toothpaste has a small square on the bottom, the square being green for the natural-based toothpaste
- Use a humidifier during the night, in order to keep the air in the room moist. Dry air can cause dry skin, contributing to the appearance of acne
- Use Aloe Vera gels, as these can help you reduce the irritation around the mouth
- Do not go to bed without cleaning your makeup. Throughout the night, the skin needs to breathe and if the pores are clogged with foundation, then you stand a very good chance to wake up and see pimples on your face, including around the mouth
- Use facial water that contains magnesium and selenium, as this can help calming the blemishes on the skin
- When cleaning your face, be sure to use a product that is not too powerful. Choose products that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid and make sure to apply it on pimples as well with the help of a cotton cue-tip
- Use a toning product in order to strengthen the pores
- Make sure that you keep your skin properly hydrated, by using an oil-free, natural moisturizer
- Take vitamin A derivatives in order to increase cell turn over and help the acne heal faster
Sometimes, it is not enough to take the measures above, as there is an underlying condition involved. In that situations, you need to address that problem through the following courses of treatment:
- Lifestyle changes and psychological counseling for stress
- Hormone therapy to address hormonal changes and possible imbalances
- Dietary changes (more fiber in the diet) and natural supplements in order to improve the functioning of the small intestine
- Oral medication for digestive system inflammation, including anti-acids
- Elimination of foods that cause allergies from the diet
- Oral medication to improve the activity of the stomach and stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid
- Natural supplements and oral medication to improve the oral functioning of the liver
- Topical creams for the protection of the skin against sun, heat and wind
When it comes to acne around the mouth, there is no guaranteed cure. Hopefully, by making a few changes to your lifestyle and treating any underlying condition, you will soon be able to forget about ever having acne.
Pictures of Acne around Mouth
Here are some of the collection of pictures of acne around mouth…