Causes of Swollen Lips

Swelling of the lips (also known as angioedema) is a medical emergency. The swelling may occur all over the lips or mainly around one lip. The swelling occurs when the small vessels (capillaries) under the skin become leaky and fill with fluid and become enlarged.

Swollen lips can be caused by:

Allergic reactions
Blockage of your salivary glands, which drain into the mouth
Certain medications like aspirin & nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Infections, such as HIV infection or HSV (herpes simplex virus)
Inhaled substances such as allergens or mould
Skin diseases such as eczema or rosacea
Some cancers such as lymphoma, leukaemia, and melanoma.

The swollen lip is a condition that is not something that people like to talk about, but it is a condition that most people will experience at some point in their lives.

There are many causes for swollen lips or enlarged lips. The most common cause of swollen lips is an injury to the lips. When you get cut on your lip by biting it or having something sharp, like rocks thrown at you, it can swell up. If your face is hit hard enough, the lips can be injured and swell up even more.

Another common cause of swollen lips is getting stung by bees or other bugs. A lot of the time when people get stung by a bee or wasp, they will get swelling as a result, as well as other allergic reactions.

Swelling from allergic reactions tends to be more prevalent during the spring as people begin to exercise outside and come into contact with more allergens.

One uncommon thing that can cause swollen lips is pregnancy.

Home Remedies for Swollen Lips

We present to you some tips on how to cure swollen lips at home, without resorting to the help of a specialist.

Proper utilization of chamomile tea will help reduce inflammation and swelling. Drink one cup of chamomile tea throughout the day.

Overly scalding by hot tea or coffee can lead to swelling of the lips. Such thermal burns, which are often likened to frostbite, are quite painful. When this happens, it is recommended to immediately put ice cubes on the affected part.

Stuffing in cold foods and drinks in the mouth when eating may also be the cause of the swelling. In this case, it is necessary to change your habits.

Allergic reactions, poor oral hygiene, dehydration and irritation from toothpaste, mouthwash or acidic food such as lemons and oranges can cause your lips to swell suddenly.

Lips swelling is a common problem these days. Many drugs contain chemicals that can make you allergic. Some of them can even cause serious problems.

Swollen or puffy lips are one of the most embarrassing conditions that make your beauty-conscious friends run for cover! Puffy lips are caused, in most cases, by cold weather, dry air, drinking carbonated drinks, smoking, spicy food etc.

The diet you follow can also be responsible for swollen lips. If you are suffering from swollen or puffy lips there are simple remedies that can help you get rid of them.

In some cases where the cause of swollen lips is usually sunburn, the condition can also be accompanied by dryness, chapping and cracking of the skin. Plant oils such as extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, natural fats such as shea butter or milk cream can be used to hydrate the skin and help restore the lost moisture to the dry, swollen lips.

Applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area (swollen lips) can often help in reducing the inflammation. Make sure you are not applying ice directly to your skin as it can worsen your condition.

Aloe vera lotion is another easily available remedy that can give some relief from swollen lips caused by sunburn.

Severe dryness, dark lips or cracked lips can be healed by using a mild moisturizing lip balm.

Preparing a turmeric paste and applying it to your lips can help in faster healing of swollen lips as the most bioactive compound in turmeric, known as curcumin, exhibits antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric can reduce swelling and pain and disinfect any open wounds to prevent secondary infections.

When you eat very hot spicy food, the spicy hotness of it leads to inflammation in your lips. So, along with these remedies, you also need to avoid spicy food and certain medications that you might be allergic to.

The proper way to reduce swollen lips is to keep your face hydrated, drink hot herbal tea and eat ripe papaya as these things help in flushing out the toxins from your body and reduce swelling as well as pain. But if swelling persists one should immediately see a doctor as these symptoms might be a symptom of something serious like cancer or other such diseases.

Take Away

Lip swelling and inflammation are caused due to many reasons like a bacterial or viral infection, allergic reaction, cuts and bites, burns, irritants and allergies, and dermatitis. If the swelling is unbearable, you should visit your doctor for medication.