What Could Cause Tiny Bumps on My Lips to Feel Like Sandpaper?

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

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Tiny, rough bumps on the lips can be a sign of cheilitis or similar skin changes, which may be caused by irritation, sun exposure, or habits like excessive lip licking or picking.

Explanation

When your lips have little bumps that feel like sandpaper, it might be a type of cheilitis, which means the skin of your lips is irritated or inflamed. This irritation can happen for a few reasons. For example, constant licking, picking, or rubbing of the lips can lead to a condition called lichen simplex chronicus. Also, exposure to irritants or even too much sun can change the skin on your lips, sometimes making it rough or scaly. In some cases, it might appear as tiny keratotic (thickened) bumps. This is similar to what happens in some people who have other skin conditions, and sometimes even in organ-transplant recipients more susceptible to skin problems. Exfoliative cheilitis is one such form where the skin peels and may feel rough. If you notice these changes on your lips, it might help to avoid behaviors or substances that irritate your lips, use a gentle lip balm, and protect them from the sun. If the problem continues or worsens, talking with a healthcare professional would be a good next step for further evaluation.

(References)

Bouwes Bavinck JN, Euvrard S, Naldi L, Nindl I, Proby CM, Neale R, Abeni D, Tessari GP, Feltkamp MC, Claudy A, Stockfleth E, Harwood CA; EPI-HPV-UV-CA group. Keratotic skin lesions and other risk factors are associated with skin cancer in organ-transplant recipients: a case-control study in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. J Invest Dermatol. 2007 Jul;127(7):1647-56. doi: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700776. Epub 2007 Mar 22. PMID: 17380113; PMCID: PMC2478722.
Bhutta BS, Hafsi W. Cheilitis. [Updated 2023 Aug 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Santos LR, Dick TN, Candreva MS, Marques LC, Milagres A, Rozza-de-Menezes RE, Junior AS, Cunha KS, Conde DC. Challenging of treating patients with exfolliative cheilittis: Report of two cases. J Clin Exp Dent. 2023 May 1;15(5):e431-e436. doi: 10.4317/jced.60326. PMID: 37214748; PMCID: PMC10198695.
Charifa A, Badri T, Harris BW. Lichen Simplex Chronicus. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet].

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