Bubbles on the inside of the lip: causes, symptoms, treatment, photos

is a viral disease. One of the most well-known manifestations of a herpes infection is small, clear, painful blisters on the lips. Previously, in such a case they said “a cold on the lip popped up”, now they more often talk about “herpes on the lip”.

However, the family of herpes viruses is quite large. There are several types of herpes virus that can infect the human body. The most studied types are:

• herpes simplex virus type 1
  (HSV-1). It is he who is responsible for pimples on the lip. HSV-1 primarily affects the mucous membranes of the lips, oral cavity and nasopharynx. Herpetic rashes can also appear within the nasolabial triangle (in particular, on the wings of the nose), less often on the cheeks and other parts of the face. Recently, HSV-1 quite often becomes the cause of herpetic lesions of the genital area, where it is introduced through oral sex;
• herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) – genital herpes
  . Main manifestations: redness, the appearance in the area of ​​redness of bubbles filled with liquid, tending to merge, the appearance of erosions and crusts at the site of the bubbles, itching, headache and muscle pain, increased urination;
• chickenpox virus
  (varicella) is a type 3 herpes virus. In people who have already had chickenpox, this type of virus causes herpes zoster. Therefore, this type of herpes is also called Varicella-Zoster;
• Epstein-Barr virus
  (Epstein-Barr viral infection - EBVI) is a type 4 herpes virus. It is the causative agent of mononucleosis, causes malignant diseases of lymphoid tissue, and is considered the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome;
• cytomegalovirus
  – herpes virus type 5. The virus poses a threat to children during fetal development. May affect internal organs.

Causes of herpes

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can be transmitted through household contact. Airborne transmission is also possible.

The airborne route is the main route of infection with the varicella zoster virus.

Genital herpes and cytomegalovirus are transmitted sexually.

You can also become infected with herpes through blood or saliva. The virus can be transmitted through saliva through kissing. Small children who put things in their mouths every now and then are also very vulnerable. If at least one child in a children's group is infected, a rapid spread of the infection can be expected.

How to remove white dots on lips - treatment depends on the cause

What the white dots mean must be determined by the doctor - and only after that can treatment begin. Three methods are usually used: medication, surgery and folk remedies.

Drug treatment of whiteheads

Under no circumstances should you cut off, open with a needle or burn such formations on your lips yourself - this is fraught with the formation of wounds, ulcers and infection. The doctor will be able to select effective medications, taking into account the diagnosis:

• for Fordyce syndrome - Suprastin tablets, Fenistil gel, D-Panthenol cream;
• for herpes - Acyclovir ointment, Panavir gel;
• for dysbacteriosis - jojoba oil (to lubricate the lips), orally - "Acipol" or "Bifidumbacterin" (to restore intestinal microflora).

All medications are selected by the doctor, who also indicates the duration of therapy, and it can take several weeks.

Surgery

If conservative treatment does not give positive dynamics, then doctors can change the tactics of their work. How are white spots on the lips treated surgically? For this purpose the following are used:

• cryotherapy – removal of the problem area with liquid nitrogen; the procedure can be complicated by the formation of scars on the skin;
• electrocoagulation - “drying” white spots using high frequency current;
• laser therapy - the use of a laser beam that excises spots;
• Radio wave therapy is the most painless and non-traumatic method; after it there are no marks left on the skin.

The most difficult procedure is the one that uses liquid nitrogen. It is not only painful, but also requires multiple sessions. As a result, dense scars may form, which in the future will require the intervention of plastic surgeons.

Even if white spots on the lips do not bother you, you should seek help from a doctor and find out the true reason for their formation. The skin reacts to the slightest changes in the body; perhaps they are the first symptom of serious problems with the functionality of internal organs and systems.

Herpes symptoms

Currently, most people are infected with some type of herpes virus. It is believed that antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus can be detected in almost every adult (up to 98% of the adult population of the Earth). Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 are detected in 90% of the adult population of large cities.

However, as a rule, carriage of a herpes infection does not lead to the development of the disease. The herpes virus is activated when the body's defenses decrease. The weaker the immune system, the more likely the virus is to transition from dormant to active.

That is why the herpes simplex virus type 1 is popularly called “cold on the lip.” The appearance of herpetic rashes is usually preceded by a common runny nose, that is, ARVI. The disease weakens the immune system, which is what the herpes virus takes advantage of.

Symptoms of herpes simplex

When infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, the incubation period ranges from 1 to 8 days. Typical symptoms: chills, fever up to 39-40°C, headache, general weakness and drowsiness. Then redness appears, in place of which characteristic bubbles form. When the oral mucosa is affected, blisters are usually found on the inside of the lips, tongue, and less often on the palate, palatine arches and tonsils. Bubbles appear at the site where the virus enters the mucous membrane. Subsequently, the bubbles burst, leaving behind painful erosions.

The disappearance of symptoms does not mean complete recovery. The virus remains in the body and after some time (in conditions of decreased immunity) a relapse of the disease is possible. Relapses can occur 1-3 times a year for several years and even decades.

Symptoms of genital herpes

The incubation period of genital herpes lasts from 1 to 10 days, after which itching (burning) may be observed in the areas of future rashes. After which swelling appears, and then groups of bubbles appear on the mucous membranes of the genital organs. The inguinal lymph nodes are enlarged. The blisters burst and erosions and ulcers form in their place. The process can last from two to five weeks.

Relapse of the disease is possible within two weeks after the initial lesion. Relapses occur in at least half of those who have recovered from the disease.

Auxiliary symptoms

A blister that has appeared on the lip on the side of the mouth cannot but bother the owner. If the cause of the tumor is an injury, the patient will feel a gradually subsiding acute pain. The mucous membrane will begin to swell and turn slightly red. Slight hyperthermia (heating) of the tissue at the site of injury, burning and itching are possible. Some patients experience fever accompanied by chills.

Regional lymph nodes enlarge and may become too sensitive to touch. Such a symptom may appear immediately after a pimple appears on the oral mucosa.

The appearance of watery blisters on the lips is often accompanied by general weakness and lethargy. A person quickly gets tired and begins to refuse food. The blister can burst due to injury from teeth or food, as a result of which all the liquid pours out, and the blister itself begins to gain volume again.

Methods for diagnosing herpes

Diagnosis of herpes is carried out, first of all, on the basis of examination of the patient, since herpetic rashes have a certain specificity. However, your doctor may order laboratory tests. Laboratory tests can detect infection even in the absence of obvious manifestations.

Herpes test

Be prepared that if you suspect a herpes infection, the doctor will write a referral for a blood test, which will determine the presence of antibodies to the herpes virus in the blood. Based on the results of the analysis, it will be possible to judge not only the presence of the pathogen, but also its activity.

More information about the diagnostic method

Sign up for diagnostics To accurately diagnose the disease, make an appointment with specialists from the Family Doctor network.

Features of the appearance of white bubbles

Some patients develop white blisters on their lips, the reason for this is a change in the performance of the sebaceous glands. They are usually common among adolescents, which is explained by unstable hormonal levels during puberty.

Also, the occurrence of a pathological process can be observed due to the individual characteristics of the location of the sebaceous glands in the human body and smokers.

If the patient's gland ducts narrow, sebaceous secretions accumulate, causing white blisters to appear on the lips. When rashes appear, there is practically no pain, rarely burning or itching. These symptoms can go away without outside intervention.

If you press on the membrane of the bubble, this may cause liquid to appear. But the patient is strictly prohibited from squeezing it out on his own! Such attempts can cause infection and cause scarring on the lips.

Treatment methods for herpes

Treatment of herpes is aimed at suppressing viral activity, as well as increasing immunity. Oral and topical medications may be prescribed.

The selection of drugs is carried out by a doctor depending on the type of disease (type of infection), as well as on the location of the lesion.

It is impossible to completely eliminate the herpes virus from the body. That is why it is important to always maintain the body’s defenses at a sufficiently high level, and also to prevent re-entry of the virus.

Prevention of herpes

If a person close to you has manifestations of herpes (“a cold has popped up on the lip”), try to ensure compliance with the following hygiene rules:

• use an individual towel and personal hygiene products (soap, toothbrush, etc.);
• be careful with cosmetics: do not use lipstick of a sick person;
• If you have genital herpes, avoid sexual intercourse.

Make an appointment Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

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Blisters on the mucous membrane of the lips in children

Dropsy appears on the lips of children for the following reasons:

• In newborns, blisters are often caused by excessive sucking during feeding (“food blister”). Such formation disappears on its own without any consequences.
• Bubbles with purulent contents indicate aphthous stomatitis.
• A large number of small white blisters on a child’s lips indicates the presence of a serious illness: chickenpox, measles or rubella.

If a pimple appears on the mucous membrane of your baby’s mouth, you don’t have to wait for it to go away on your own. It is better to contact your pediatrician immediately.

What to do if a bubble is detected?

1. Determine the appearance of the formation.
2. Guess the time of its occurrence.
3. Suggest the reason for its occurrence.
4. Treat the oral cavity with local antiseptic preparations 4-5 times a day.
5. After 12-16 hours, evaluate the effect of antiseptics, and if the result is positive, continue treatment. If the result is negative, seek medical help.

You should not neglect treatment in such a delicate problem, since a person is a social creature and his appearance can greatly influence his fate.

Features of appearance and diagnosis of neoplasms

In order to determine the true cause of the elevation of the mucous membrane in the mouth, it is necessary to look at it from the outside in daylight, although often at first glance all the changes in the mucous membranes are very similar, but there are still differences.

The bubble occurs with scarlet fever, food allergies or when using low-quality toothpaste.

Types of skin changes that may occur on the surface of the oral cavity:

1. A spot is a change in skin color that does not rise above the surface of the skin. The cause may be a banal allergic reaction.
2. A papule is a small spherical formation on the mucous membrane that is completely filled with fluid. It often has a transparent color and is accompanied by a slight inflammatory process around it. The cause of this change may be an injection or scratch from mucous food.
3. A tubercle - in appearance it is very similar to a papule or vesicle, but does not contain liquid inside. Unsuccessful biting of the cheek between the teeth can provoke prolonged healing of the wound, which will lead to the formation of a tubercle.
4. A node is a dense formation that does not contain fluid and rises very much above the surface of the skin. On palpation, the node is clearly palpable and often has a spherical shape. This picture occurs with pathology of the salivary glands. It is worth contacting an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
5. A blister is a superficial formation, upon examination of which one can see the accumulation of fluid under the top layer of the skin. In the case of the oral cavity under non-keratinizing epithelium. This pathology occurs after a burn from hot food or air.
6. A vesicle is a papule that has a capsule of liquid on its surface. More often, this liquid is clear or white.
7. An ulcer is a round wound that has a depression inside and rough edges. Can be of various sizes. The cause of an ulcer can be a lot of local and general diseases, so if an ulcer does not heal for a long time, you should consult a dentist or surgeon.

Each of the formations has its own reason for its appearance, which greatly influences further treatment.

Requires sacrifices

It is better to avoid decorative cosmetics (lipstick, lip gloss). They dry out the lips and, in addition, can spread the infection to other places. To hide defects on the lip, it is better to use a pharmaceutical antiherpetic patch. But if you simply cannot imagine yourself without cosmetics, at least take the product with a cotton swab and immediately dispose of it after application. But it is better to use lip balms containing petroleum jelly and allantoin to moisturize and soften herpetic sores.

Also, during illness, it is better to abandon contact lenses and replace them with glasses. This will reduce the risk of inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye - herpetic keratitis, which can even threaten blindness.

It is believed (although this has not been proven) that a special diet helps reduce the incidence of herpes. You should limit, or better yet completely avoid, foods that contain large amounts of arginine: beef, nuts, chocolate, raisins and all flour products. Fatty and salty foods and sweet carbonated and caffeine-containing drinks are undesirable at this time. On the contrary, foods rich in l-lysine (an antagonist of arginine) are useful during this period. These include boiled or baked potatoes, dairy products, boiled pork, lamb and poultry, egg whites, soybeans, lentils, fish, fruits and vegetables. For drinks, preference should be given to pure water and tea without sugar (the body requires at least 1.5-2 liters of liquid per day).

Well, the last sacrifice that will be required during the treatment of an exacerbation of herpes is a temporary refusal from sex (as a last resort, you should use a condom and refrain from kissing).

Complications and prevention

Formations in the oral cavity are a sign of a serious health problem.
Therefore, if the condition does not improve within 24-48 hours, you must urgently contact your local physician, who will determine the cause of this symptom and refer you to the right specialist. Delay in providing medical care can lead to the spread of the inflammatory process into the subcutaneous fatty tissue of the neck, lymph nodes of the oropharynx and lower jaw.

Prevention is the best treatment for any disease, so using only washed vegetables and fruits, cleaning the mouth from food debris after eating, brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth 2 times a day will significantly reduce the risk of inflammatory processes.

What to do

For effective treatment it is necessary to diagnose the disease that causes this pathology and take timely preventive measures .

Treatment of acne with stomatitis

• Exclusion from the diet of hot, sweet and spicy foods.
• Rinsing the mouth with antiseptic drugs - Miramistin, Tantum Verde solution, Chlorhexidine.
• Rinse with herbal mixture Stomatofit.
• Application of gels – Cholisal, Metrogil-denta. These drugs have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects.
• Use of immunostimulating drugs .

Photo 2: To prevent stomatitis, you should rinse your mouth with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or calendula decoction. Source: flickr (Cyberchemist).

Treatment of acne that occurs after mechanical damage

• Rinse with chamomile decoction to disinfect the mucous membrane.
• Rinsing with oak bark decoction . This decoction has an astringent, which promotes rapid healing of wounds.
• Rinse with Miramistin (shows antibacterial and antimicrobial effects).
• The use of drugs that accelerate tissue regeneration. Such drugs include Solcoseryl dental adhesive paste.

Treatment of acne due to candidiasis

• Use of local antifungal drugs . These include Candide solution.
• The use of systemic antifungal drugs - Fluconazole, Pimafucin, Mycoflucan.
• Rinse with a solution of chamomile and sage .
• Use of immunomodulators .
• The use of antihistamines - Tavegil, Suprastin.

Note! With oral candidiasis in children, body temperature may increase and swelling of the gums may appear.

Treatment of acne with herpes

• The use of antiviral drugs specializing in the treatment of herpes - Acyclovir, Zovirax. You need to use both tablet forms and ointments.
• To eliminate the possibility of relapse , therapy should be carried out with drugs containing interferon - Viferon, Interferon, Genferon.

Photo 3: Rinsing with sage decoction for herpes promotes rapid healing of pimples and has an antimicrobial effect. Source: flickr (Vitaly Giragosov).