Are White Lip Bumps Contagious? Dermatologists Fact-Check the 6 Common Causes
The lips occupy a delicate transition zone between two distinct tissue systems. On the outside sits stratified squamous keratinized skin equipped with hair follicles and sweat glands. On the inside lies moist oral mucosal membrane. The distinct line separating these two zones is the vermilion border.
Because this margin lacks the protective thickness of standard facial skin, any minor alteration beneath the surface becomes visible instantly. While ordinary facial skin houses hair follicles that allow sebum to drain freely, the lips do not produce typical hair growth. When clogged sebaceous glands or trapped keratinocytes develop along this border, they have nowhere to go. They push upward against the semi-translucent skin, reflecting light as tiny white, cream, or yellowish bumps.
