What Could a Bump on My Lip Be If It's Not a Cold Sore?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

There are several harmless conditions that can cause a bump on your lip. It might be a mucocele, fibroma, or a small blood vessel growth, and each one is usually not dangerous.

Explanation

When a bump on your lip isn’t a cold sore, it could be one of several things. One common option is a mucocele, which happens when saliva gets trapped under the lip. Mucoceles are usually soft, fluid-filled, and can appear after a small injury like accidentally biting your lip. Another possibility is a fibroma, which is a small, firm bump that can grow from repeated rubbing or irritation. A bump may also be a cherry angioma, which is a tiny, bright red growth made of small blood vessels that can sometimes appear on the skin, including the lips. It’s important to know that these bumps are usually benign, meaning they are not harmful. However, if you notice any changes in size, color, or feel, it’s a good idea to have them checked by a healthcare provider. They can examine the bump and decide if any treatment or further testing is needed.

(References)

More CB, Bhavsar K, Varma S, Tailor M. Oral mucocele: A clinical and histopathological study. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2014 Sep;18(Suppl 1):S72-7. doi: 10.4103/0973-029X.141370. PMID: 25364184; PMCID: PMC4211243.
Fernandez-Flores A, Colmenero I. Campbell de Morgan Spots (Cherry Angiomas) Show Endothelial Proliferation. Am J Dermatopathol. 2018 Dec;40(12):894-898. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000001216. PMID: 30024413.
Maymone MBC, Greer RO, Burdine LK, Dao-Cheng A, Venkatesh S, Sahitya PC, Maymone AC, Kesecker J, Vashi NA. Benign oral mucosal lesions: Clinical and pathological findings. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Jul;81(1):43-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.09.061. Epub 2018 Nov 14. PMID: 30447312.

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