Duration of lip swelling

The duration of lip swelling depends on the cause. If there are no accompanying symptoms and the causes are harmless, lip swelling can disappear again in a short time. If the cause is harmless, the lip swelling will have subsided within a few days at the latest. If the lip swelling lasts longer or occurs repeatedly, a doctor should be consulted

Various localizations

Due to its shape and size, the lower lip is particularly vulnerable to sunburn. The lower lip can swell as a result. All events that have happened directly on the lower lip, such as an insect bite, an injury, for example a bite on the lower lip, can trigger a lower lip swelling.

Even a lower lip piercing can swell up to two weeks in the normal healing process. If the swelling lasts longer or there are accompanying symptoms, a doctor should be consulted. In the context of an allergic reaction, swelling of the inner side of the lips can occur.

This swelling is only present in contact with the triggering substance, the so-called allergen. If the lip swelling is permanently present, a mucocyst, a so-called mucocele, can be the cause. In this case an ENT-doctor should be consulted.

Inflammatory changes of the oral mucosa can also cause swelling of the inner side of the lips. The mucous ulcers, so-called aphthae, are usually 2-4 mm in size and roundish. Mostly the affected persons report pain.

The cause of these ulcers can be caused by viral infections, traumas, but also by stress, hormonal imbalance or vitamin and mineral deficiency and due to unknown cause. After 1-2 weeks the symptoms should have subsided. If this is not the case or if lip mucus ulcers occur more frequently, a doctor should be consulted.

In addition to the various causes of lip swelling, which often occurs only on one side, for example an insect bite, it can also occur in the context of the so-called Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. This inflammatory disease can occur in attacks at irregular intervals. It is characterized by a swelling of the lips, a wrinkled tongue and facial paralysis.

In most cases, the facial paralysis is one-sided. The corner of the mouth and the cheek usually hang down. Facial expressions cannot be performed on the entire affected side.

Frowning is also not possible, since it is a so-called peripheral facial paralysis. This means that the cause of the damage is probably not in the brain. The paralysis symptoms in Melkerson-Rosenthal syndrome can often disappear spontaneously and, if they reoccur, may affect the other side.

The lip swelling can affect one or both lips and is indentable. Also the cheek and eye, as well as the neck lymph nodes may be swollen. Often young adults are affected.

The exact cause is still unknown. The Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome can occur in connection with a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, the so-called Crohn’s disease. Therefore, appropriate examination measures should be taken by a specialist to exclude Crohn’s disease.