Painful Palatal Pimple: Canker Sore, Herpes, Abscess & Other Causes

A tender lesion on the hard/soft palate may be:

1. Canker sore (aphthous ulcer) – round, yellow-white base, red halo; self-limited.
2. Herpes simplex (HSV-1) – clustered vesicles → ulcers; recurrent; contagious.
3. Palatal abscess – fluctuant, painful; from dental infection or trauma.
4. Mucocele – mucus extravasation cyst; bluish, translucent.
5. Trauma/burn – hot food, sharp food.
6. Oral cancer – rare but persistent, indurated, non-healing.

See a dentist/ENT if lesion persists >2 weeks, worsens, or has atypical features.