Most people associate white spots on the lips with STDs however this symptom can be associated with other conditions as well. White spots on the lips may be due to a viral infection. Herpes, the human papilloma virus, as well as other viruses can cause white spots on the lips to increase. Apart from these, some other reasons for white spots appearing on the lips are oral herpes (can also be caused due to common colds), low immune levels, chickenpox, lymphomas, measles, rubella, mumps, and viruses that infect the salivary gland and mouth tissues.
White spots or patches on the lips can also appear due to vitiligo, a condition where the skin loses its melanin. There are natural home remedies to help treat white spots and curb pigmentation problems. For this you will need to:
Painless white spots on the lips can also be the sign of Fordyce’s condition. The spots are quite unsightly and occur in both men and women. Fordyce spots appear when there is excess oil or pus in the ectopic sebaceous glands. This condition is neither harmful nor contagious. In order to treat this problem, the amount of sebum in and around the affected area should be reduced. Anti-sebum therapy is available in the market; however, it is essential that you consult your dermatologist before trying out any new products, mainly because Fordyce spots don’t cause irritation or pain, but treating it without medical advice might result in the area getting inflamed.
In children, the cause of white spots could be due to mouth sores which normally appear on the insides of the lips and the cheeks. These sores that bring about white spots on babies’ lips are invariably due to hand, foot and mouth disease (Coxsackie virus), herpes virus or canker sores. Oral thrush is another reason for white spots on the lips in babies. It is quite a common condition that is caused by a yeast infection. Oral thrush is usually harmless but in some cases it can be painful and become challenging when nursing. Consult your child’s pediatrician who will need to treat both mother and child, if the mother is breastfeeding. A common treatment prescribed will be the use of a topical anti-fungal cream. Home remedies for white spots on a baby’s lips include the use of organic yoghurt on the yeast spots, or the gentle cleaning of your baby’s mouth and lips with mineral water that contains a small amount of sodium bicarbonate. Keep in mind that it is very important to consult a medical expert before you try any home remedies, as there could be possible interactions with your current medications.
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Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.