What Could a Small, Red, Painless Bump on My Lip Be?

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

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

A small, red, painless bump on your lip might be a benign build-up of mucus called a mucocele (due to a clogged salivary gland). However, determining the cause depends on various factors, so having it looked at by a healthcare professional is a wise idea.

Explanation

Sometimes, a bump on the lip like this is due to a mucocele. Mucoceles are common and happen when a tiny salivary gland gets clogged, causing mucus to collect under your skin. In the case of a superficial mucocele, the mucus is closer to the surface of the lip, which can make the bump appear red. These bumps are usually small and do not hurt. They often resolve on their own and are typically painless. If you notice that the bump does not go away or changes in any way, it is a good idea to have it checked by a doctor or dentist. They can guide you on next steps in diagnosis and management.

(References)

Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560855/
Gudi SS, Sikkerimath BC, Puranik RS, Kasbe SS. Swelling on lower lip…not always a mucocele !!! Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2013 Jan;3(1):98-9. doi: 10.4103/2231-0746.110080. PMID: 23662271; PMCID: PMC3645623.
Venugopal DC, Warrier S A, S E, H T, Ramesh P. Superficial Mucocele: A Rare Presentation. Cureus. 2021 Sep 17;13(9):e18038. doi: 10.7759/cureus.18038. PMID: 34671526; PMCID: PMC8520584.

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