Why do white spots appear on the lips?
White spots can appear for a variety of reasons. This may be due to genetics, certain diseases, or poor nutrition. Poor personal hygiene may also play a role. One of the most common causes of white pigment spots is hormonal imbalance. Typically they appear:
- in pregnant women;
- after termination of pregnancy;
- after menopause;
- due to long-term use of hormones;
- during puberty.
Often they do not cause physical discomfort, there is no pain. There are many diseases that can cause white spots on the lips.
Pityriasis versicolor (lichen versicolor)
This is an infectious fungal disease that affects the skin and has a chronic course. White spots form at the beginning of the disease, after which their color sometimes changes. In addition to the lips, formations can appear on the shoulder blades, neck, armpits, and chest. They have clear outlines, stand out against the background of healthy areas of the skin, and sometimes become covered with scales and peel off. These spots don't hurt. With this disease, the lymph nodes become inflamed. In winter, these spots may darken, and in summer, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, they turn white again.
Ringworm is treated with antifungal ointments. The disease appears due to a yeast-like fungus, which is normally present in everyone, but the development of the disease occurs due to the following factors:
- insufficient hygiene;
- diabetes;
- excessive sweating;
- in case of hormonal imbalances and gastrointestinal diseases, the fungus manifests itself due to changes in the acidity of the skin;
- immunodeficiency - either due to illness, or due to weakened protection due to long-term use of certain medications: cytostatics, glucocorticoid hormones.
Not so long ago, doctors were sure that it was almost impossible to become infected with pityriasis versicolor from a patient, but studies were conducted that refuted these conclusions of scientists. Now dermatologists assure: you can get pityriasis versicolor not only by contacting a sick person, but also by using other people’s household items (bed linen, towel, washcloth, clothes, shoes, razors).
Vitiligo
On the lips it appears as light spots of various sizes with unclear outlines. Scientists have found that the disease occurs due to a pigmentation disorder, but the exact cause has not been found. Not so long ago, doctors were sure that the spots were caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Harmful bacteria penetrate the human body, releasing substances that destroy melanin. But modern medical luminaries, after much research, have concluded that vitiligo develops due to disturbances in the functioning of the immune system, so the body treats its cells as foreign and seeks to destroy them.
The white spots on the lips are clearly demarcated and do not peel off. In addition to the lips, they can appear on the arms, in the groin area, and on the elbows. Over time, they increase in size, can merge into one spot, and affect an increasingly larger area. Hair on damaged parts of the skin becomes discolored, sweating is impaired, the skin becomes less sensitive, and solar dermatitis develops.
To successfully treat white spots on the lips, dermatologists prescribe a course of external corticosteroids. These latest generation medications are absolutely safe, most of them are approved for the treatment of young children. It is also recommended to include foods rich in copper and zinc in your diet.
Hypomelanosis
Most often, young children get it. It appears in the first months and years of life, and the likelihood of the disease increases if the child suffers an infection. However, as they get older, they become less pronounced. Most often they disappear by adolescence. This disease is dangerous due to accompanying symptoms - epilepsy, mental retardation. The exact cause of this disease is unknown.
White spots on the lips are treated with retinoids (medicines that contain vitamin A). In addition to taking vitamin complexes, excellent results are achieved by undergoing a course of various physiotherapeutic procedures that significantly improve metabolism in the skin. Experts recommend cryomassage and hardware phototherapy. Some dermatologists consider hypomelanosis to be a form of vitiligo, but most doctors believe that it is a separate skin disease, only similar in appearance to vitiligo.
To date, doctors have not been able to identify the mechanism of development of the disease and the reasons why the child has white lips.
Other reasons
In addition to the above reasons, white pigment spots on the lips can occur due to the following factors:
- changes in hormonal levels;
- diseases of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract;
- taking hormonal medications;
- severe skin damage;
- excessive use of the solarium.
White spots on the lips sometimes disappear on their own; eliminating the causes of their appearance is sometimes not necessary. For example, a spot appeared during pregnancy, and after childbirth the hormonal levels returned to normal, and the problems on the lips went away. If they do not disappear, then it is necessary to treat. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, as this will only make the situation worse. It is imperative to visit a dermatologist.
White spots in a child
When a neonatologist detects white dots on a child’s lips under the skin, this is associated with:
- candidal stomatitis. A disorder occurs as a result of the active activity of the Candida fungus;
- bacterial stomatitis, affecting the oral mucosa, in which white spots appear on the inside of the lips;
- herpesvirus, which can be transmitted from mother to baby through the birth canal during breastfeeding. Painful rashes are observed both on the outer and inner sides of the lip, in the nose, near the eyes;
- allergic stomatitis, in which the child’s oral mucosa exhibits hypersensitivity to irritants. In this case, a white rash forms on the inside of the lip.
Diagnostic methods
If white spots appear on your lip, you should definitely consult a therapist or dermatologist. After the initial examination, you may need to visit a venereologist and infectious disease specialist.
There are different diagnostic methods. The examination is carried out by a dermatologist who will examine the shape, color and areas of the skin where the spots have appeared. Laboratory testing is usually a blood test. The method helps to check whether pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, fungi, bacteria) are present. Sometimes doctors order urine and stool tests to check for parasites.
A biopsy is performed quite rarely. If the doctor was unable to visually classify the white spots on the lip, then this procedure is performed (a piece of the affected skin is examined histologically).
How to get rid of white spots on lips
In order to prevent the appearance of white spots on the lower lip and remove them, you should definitely consult a doctor. If the doctor has not identified any contraindications to their removal, then treatment can begin. If white spots appear due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, they are removed with lightening ointments, while taking vitamin supplements. An excellent result in eliminating white spots can be achieved by taking B vitamins and applying ointments that contain fruit acids and retinol. Budget medicines are sold in pharmacies, for example, balms based on bodyaga or salicylic ointment.
If ointments, creams and vitamins do not help, then it is necessary to undergo a course of photochemotherapy. This is the irradiation of white spots with ultraviolet light. At the same time, the patient takes medications that will make the skin more sensitive to these rays. You should undergo several courses of photochemotherapy. But the method has several contraindications:
- age (the procedure is prohibited for children under 7 years of age and elderly people over 65 years of age);
- oncological diseases;
- pregnancy or lactation;
- diseases of the cardiovascular and genitourinary systems, gastrointestinal tract;
- increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation.
The safest method is helium-neon laser treatment; it has almost no contraindications. The procedures need to be done every other day for several months. After this period, if the results are insufficient, the course can be repeated, but most often the white spots on the lips disappear in a shorter time. Laser therapy is more expensive and effective, but there is a chance of getting burns.
If none of the above methods worked, then it is necessary to remove white spots on the lips surgically. In this case, an operation is performed and the person’s affected area of skin is removed and donor skin is transplanted in its place.
Most often, extreme measures in the form of surgical interventions are not necessary; you can easily remove white spots on the lips with the help of elos therapy. They are removed by exposure to light rays and current pulses, pointwise to the spot. The duration of the course is determined by the attending physician individually. After Elos therapy sessions, the spot may become darker, but after a week a crust will appear in its place. When it falls off, the white spot on the lip will disappear. As a rule, about 10 procedures are needed with a 10-day break between them.
Prevention of white pigmentation on lips
Dermatologists advise first including foods high in vitamins A, B, E, and folic acid in your diet. In some cases, it is possible to get rid of white spots on the lip by replenishing the vitamin deficiency.
Quitting smoking and alcohol is recommended.
It is necessary to use hygienic lipstick to protect your lips from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and spend less time in the sun at midday. If you need to be outside at this time, you should wear a cap that will cast a shadow on your lips. You need to use only high-quality cosmetics.
You should not delay going to the doctor at the first signs of illness; it is important to undergo the course of treatment on time.
White spots on the lips can appear due to prolonged contact with household chemicals and other chemicals, so you need to handle these substances carefully.
After an injury (the same applies to tattooing or piercing), the skin of the lips must be provided with proper care, and during healing it is worth minimizing exposure to direct sunlight.
Prevention of the problem
To prevent the occurrence of such a problem, you should adhere to certain preventive measures:
- It is necessary to eliminate bad habits from life, stop smoking.
- Balance your diet. It should include fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, dairy products, and fish.
- Avoid fatty, smoked and canned foods, fast food, fried foods, and alcohol.
- Learn to cope with stress.
- Include moderate physical activity in your daily diet. This doesn’t have to be going to the gym; you can go walking or swimming.
- Observe basic rules of personal hygiene. This will prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Take care of the delicate skin of your lips, use special cosmetics to protect it. Especially in adverse weather conditions.
- Establish a sleep and rest routine. Sleep at least eight hours a day.
- Establish a drinking regime. This will allow the skin, blood vessels and internal organs to be cleansed faster.
And remember that you cannot squeeze out pimples on your lips or around your mouth yourself, this can lead to infection and the development of an inflammatory process. If unpleasant symptoms appear, seek help from a qualified specialist, as they may indicate the development of pathologies in the internal organs. This means that it is not enough to simply eliminate the external defect. In this case, complex therapy with medications will be required.
Chief author and editor-in-chief: Makarskaya S.E., 29 years of experience.
Last revision: 03/05/2019
