Swollen lips can be simple, common and easy to treat, but they can also be a symptom of a more serious health problem.
The appearance of the lips, in addition to being very important in terms of aesthetics, can also be an indication of health problems. Therefore, changes in lip color, size or surface should be investigated. Swollen lips may even be common in the case of irritation or aggression, but if the swelling lasts for a long time, it is a warning sign.
Many times, swelling on the lips does not necessarily mean something serious, but in some cases it can be a symptom of an illness or infection. Any change in our body must be investigated. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to your lips, especially when lesions and persistent changes appear.
Therefore, today we will better understand what can cause swollen lips, and what to do in each case.
Swollen lips
Generally, when a person has swollen lips it is an allergic reaction, which can appear immediately or up to 2 hours after coming into contact with the substance that caused the irritation. It could be a specific medicine, a food or drink, cosmetic products and even irritating particles in the air. Another common cause is due to strong aggression in the mouth area, such as a slap or hit, for example.
However, other than these cases, swollen lips can be an indication of a health problem, such as cold sores, mucocele, among other inflammations in the mouth. Conditions such as hereditary angioedema can also cause swelling of the lips. As well as other diseases such as erythema multiforme, burns, whether from the sun or cold weather, and trauma that can change the size of the lips.
In any case, the ideal is to see a doctor to investigate the cause of swollen lips and start treatment, especially when the symptom persists for more than three days. Because treatment depends on the cause of the swelling in the lips. Depending on what it is, after starting treatment, whether with medication or corticosteroid creams, the lips return to their normal volume.
However, in more serious cases, surgery may be necessary to remove excess tissue on the lips and improve their appearance.
Main causes of swollen lips
As we have seen so far, many things can make lips swollen, let’s find out the main causes and what to do in each situation. Check it out below:
Allergy
Food allergy is by far one of the main causes of swollen lips. In addition to the increase in lip volume, the allergy also causes coughing, an uncomfortable sensation in the throat, difficulty breathing and redness in the face. In addition to food allergies, other products can also cause this on the lips, especially cosmetic makeup products, as well as medicines and even plants.
In this case, which is simpler and more common, the treatment consists of using anti-allergy medications prescribed by a doctor. If there is difficulty breathing, you should seek hospital as soon as possible. It is also worth taking an allergy test to identify which substances can cause allergic reactions in the body. If you are allergic to lipstick or makeup, I recommend stopping using it.
Herpes
Herpes is another common case that can cause swelling of the lips, accompanied by blisters and a sensation of tingling and numbness in the area. However, other infections such as candidiasis can also cause this symptom.
In this situation, the doctor must be consulted to assess the problem and identify what caused the infection and then begin treatment, which can be done with ointments and/or pills.
Burn
Sunburn, hot food, acidic foods or even the cold can make your lips swollen. As well as chemical reactions caused by caustic substances present in cleaning products, for example. Generally, symptoms that include pain, blisters, burning and changes in lip color last 1 to 2 days.
This is a common and not very serious case. Therefore, to reduce swelling and discomfort in the lips, you can use moisturizing cream, lip balm with cocoa butter or Vaseline if they are very dry and burned, or even a cold compress. In the case of cuts on the lips, it could be a sign of a third-degree burn, and therefore requires medical attention.
Clean him up
Mucocele is the name given to a benign, asymptomatic cystic lesion caused by rupture of the salivary gland duct in the oral cavity. This injury causes slight swelling of the lips, especially after a bite or blow to the mouth.
Mucoceles usually go away on their own without the need for treatment within 1 to 2 weeks. Therefore, if symptoms persist beyond this period, it is recommended to see a doctor to assess the severity of the injury and the possibility of draining the cyst.
Tooth abscess
Dental inflammation, caused by cavities or tooth abscess, can cause swelling in the gums, which can extend to the lips. As it is a more serious infection, the person may feel a lot of pain around the tooth, experience bleeding and even have a fever.
The treatment must be carried out by a dentist, who will prescribe painkillers, antibiotics and, if necessary, even a dental surgical procedure. To relieve pain and reduce swelling in the lips, it is recommended to apply a compress with warm water, as well as taking anti-inflammatory medications.
Trauma
Trauma is another very common cause of swollen lips, most often resulting from a fall, blow or blow directly to the mouth. This happens because the skin on the lips is very thin and sensitive, so when it suffers strong aggression, blood accumulates in the affected area, causing swelling. Normally, the lip is very sore and marked, depending on the intensity of the blow, it can even cause a cut.
To reduce swelling and relieve pain in the area, the ideal is to apply a cold compress or place an ice cube directly on your lips. Do this 2 to 3 times a day and it is enough to solve the problem.
Other causes of swollen lips
In addition to all these more serious causes, other simple things can also cause lip swelling. Such as:
- Bug bite;
- Pimples and blackheads;
- Folliculitis;
- Inflamed piercing;
- Canker sores;
- Use of dental braces;
- Very spicy foods;
In these cases, the discomfort and swelling in the lips disappears on its own over time. However, if symptoms persist for more than three days and the cause cannot be identified, it is important to see a doctor. Especially if the swollen lips are accompanied by a swollen tongue and difficulty breathing.
Anyway, what did you think of this article? In fact, take the opportunity to also check out Lips – Dryness, sensitivity and lip health.
Sources: Atlas da Saúde Tua Saúde Colgate
Images: Minha Saúde Hapvida Vix eHow Oral Dents
