White bumps on the lips can be harmless or indicate a viral or bacterial infection. A dermatologist or other doctor can diagnose the cause and recommend treatment to remove them.

White bumps on your lips can have various causes. While most aren’t concerning, sometimes white bumps can indicate oral cancer. Seeking medical attention can ensure you stay as healthy as possible.

Numerous causes can lead to white bumps on the lips. These include:

Fordyce spots are harmless, tiny (1 to 2 millimeter) white bumps inside the lips that are visible sebaceous, or oil-producing, glands. A person may have one small bump or as many as 100 bumps on the lips, typically on the inner portion.

The spots are likely present at birth but become bigger and more visible beginning in puberty. Between 70% and 80% of adults have Fordyce spots.

Fordyce spots do not require treatment. However, if you don’t like their appearance, removal is possible. Doctors can remove them using techniques such as:

  • electrosurgery
  • laser treatments
  • cryotherapy, or freezing the spot off with liquid nitrogen
  • topical tretinoin cream
  • oral isotretinoin medication

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) can cause oral herpes that look like white bumps or cold sores on the lips. The virus spreads through contact with the sores or “shedding” the virus, which can occur when the sores are not present.

These may first appear as small sores and then become blistered and fluid-filled.

Antiviral medications can temporarily eliminate oral herpes symptoms or shorten the duration of an infection, but they can’t permanently cure the viral infection.

Some people may have multiple recurrences of oral herpes, but they may become less frequent or severe over time as the immune system produces antibodies for the virus.

Milia are small, white bumps formed when keratin, the skin protein, becomes trapped beneath the skin’s surface. While milia most commonly occur on the face, they also can appear on the lips.

In some people, they may be more likely to appear if you use certain skin care products, such as those containing petroleum and paraffin.

Milia typically resolve on their own. But if you do not like their appearance, a dermatologist can remove them. Techniques for removal can include:

  • cryotherapy
  • topical retinoid products
  • chemical peel
  • laser treatments
  • surgical procedures to remove the bumps

Oral thrush is a fungal infection most commonly caused by the fungus Candida albicans. It causes white and yellow-white lesions of fungal overgrowth on the:

  • lips
  • mouth
  • gums
  • tonsils

Doctors typically treat oral thrush with antifungal medications, such as a liquid solution you swish in your mouth and swallow.

It is more likely to occur in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer or who take immune-suppressing medications.

Oral cancer develops in the mouth or throat but may appear on the lips. A white bump with a flat or raised texture may also appear on the face. The bump may be painless at first but can eventually start to bleed or look like a sore.

Causes of oral cancer can include:

Oral cancers require different treatments based on the condition’s severity and if it has spread. Treatments can include:

  • surgical removal of the affected lesion
  • chemotherapy
  • radiation

Sometimes, white bumps on the lips are harmless genetic variations. Just as some people have moles or birthmarks, others may have white bumps on their lips.

White bumps on the lips are rarely a reason to seek emergency medical attention. However, you may wish to make an appointment with a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

  • bumps that are painful
  • bumps that bleed
  • feeling as if something is caught in your throat
  • jaw or neck swelling
  • numbness of your tongue
  • trouble chewing or swallowing
  • fever or sore throat

If you don’t have the above symptoms but your white bumps don’t go away after two weeks or you feel concerned about them, consider making an appointment to see your doctor.

A doctor typically takes a full medical history and conducts a physical exam to view the white bumps on your lips. They may feel your face and jaw for swelling and examine your lips and the insides of your lips. They can also examine your neck for lymph node swelling.

If necessary, your doctor may swab your lip to take a culture.

A laboratory can test the culture to determine if the bumps are caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. If your doctor suspects you may have oral cancer, a tissue sample may be collected to test for cancerous cells.

A doctor may be able to diagnose the white bumps on your lips by a visual examination. Blood tests can also determine if you have the herpes simplex virus, which may indicate oral herpes.

They can then recommend treatment, if needed.

Regardless of the cause of white bumps on your lips, avoid picking at them. This can cause the area to appear more irritated and increase the potential for infection.

A doctor may recommend applying an ointment to your lips or rinsing with warm salt water.

White bumps on the lips are typically harmless and may go away on their own. If you have additional concerning symptoms, consider talking with a doctor who can diagnose your bumps and recommend treatment.

Even if the bumps are harmless, you can have a dermatologist remove them with a procedure or prescribe a treatment to help them go away if you don’t like how they look.