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Published on: 3/5/2025

What Might a Small Red Bump on My Lip Indicate?

Dr_Kenji_Taylor

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

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

A small red bump on your lip is usually not serious. It could be acne, Fordyce spots, cheilitis, or another vascular or inflammatory condition.

answer background

Explanation

A small red bump on your lip can be caused by several different conditions:

  • Acne: Acne can appear on or around the lips, just as it does on other parts of the face. These bumps occur when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, leading to inflammation and redness.
  • Fordyce Spots: These are small, painless, yellowish-white bumps that can appear on the lips. They're actually enlarged sebaceous (oil) glands and are completely normal. When irritated, they may appear reddish.
  • Cheilitis: This is inflammation of the lips that can cause redness, swelling, and the formation of small bumps. There are several types of cheilitis with different causes, including allergic reactions, sun damage, or infections.
  • Vascular Lesions: These are formed by blood vessels and can appear as red bumps on the lips. They include conditions like hemangiomas or vascular malformations.

If you have a persistent red bump on your lip, especially if it changes in appearance, bleeds, or doesn't heal within a few weeks, it's important to consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

(References)

  • Winston MH, Shalita AR. Acne vulgaris. Pathogenesis and treatment. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1991 Aug;38(4):889-903. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(16)38158-5. PMID: 1831256.

  • Lee JH, Lee JH, Kwon NH, Yu DS, Kim GM, Park CJ, Lee JD, Kim SY. Clinicopathologic Manifestations of Patients with Fordyce's Spots. Ann Dermatol. 2012 Feb;24(1):103-6. doi: 10.5021/ad.2012.24.1.103. Epub 2012 Feb 2. PMID: 22363169; PMCID: PMC3283840.

  • Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T. Differential Diagnosis of Cheilitis - How to Classify Cheilitis? Acta Clin Croat. 2018 Jun;57(2):342-351. doi: 10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16. PMID: 30431729; PMCID: PMC6531998.

  • McNamara KK, Kalmar JR. Erythematous and Vascular Oral Mucosal Lesions: A Clinicopathologic Review of Red Entities. Head Neck Pathol. 2019 Mar;13(1):4-15. doi: 10.1007/s12105-019-01002-8. Epub 2019 Jan 29. PMID: 30693460; PMCID: PMC6405795.

  • Bhutta BS, Hafsi W. Cheilitis. [Updated 2023 Aug 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.

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