Swollen lips are caused by an allergic reaction, an injury, or pre-existing conditions such as herpes. They are associated with unpleasant discomfort and must be treated quickly. However, serious complications or late effects are rare.
What are swollen lips?
When the lips swell as a result of an allergic reaction, injury or infection, the condition is called swollen lips. This involves more blood flow to the lips than usual, resulting in externally visible swelling. This is often associated with accompanying symptoms such as pain or sensory disturbances in the area of the lips. The swelling itself is usually harmless and subsides on its own after a few hours or days. Nevertheless, a medical examination should always take place. Since swollen lips usually have clear underlying causes, they can be well prevented. Treatment options are also effective and bring rapid relief of symptoms. In addition to medical preparations, home remedies and self-help measures also help against swollen lips and any accompanying symptoms.
Causes
Swollen lips can have a number of causes. They often occur after an injury in which the tissue on the lips is damaged, resulting in swelling. Typical causes include a bite to the lips, violence from blows or pressure, and infections. Excessive sun exposure can also cause swelling of the lips by drying and irritating them. So can cold weather and strong winds. Regular contact with salt water can cause lip swelling, but this is usually unproblematic and subsides after a short time. Spicy food increases blood flow to the lips, which also causes mild swelling and numbness around the lips. In the case of inflammation, the swelling increases in size within a short time, and often other accompanying symptoms such as pain or sensory disturbances then occur. However, the main cause of swollen lips is allergic reactions triggered by insect bites, the consumption of certain foods or other contact with an allergen. In many patients, contact allergies to certain skin care products or foods are causative. Swollen lips can also be caused by an infection. For example, a herpes infection causes swelling, blisters, loss of sensation, and other discomfort around the lips.
Diseases with this symptom
- Sports injury
- Contact allergy
- Cold sore
- Quincke’s edema
- Insect venom allergy
- Aphthae
Complications
Swollen lips usually do not cause serious complications. If they are treated promptly, the swelling subsides quickly without further discomfort. If an injury is the cause, complications can arise from any accompanying symptoms. For example, after a blow to the head, deformities, bleeding and scarring may occur in the area of the lips and in the surrounding tissue. As a result, problems with food intake, bleeding anemia, or psychological complaints such as social anxiety or inferiority complexes often present themselves. After a severe injury, life-threatening traumatic brain injury may also occur in some cases. If the swollen lips are due to Quincke’s edema, swelling may also occur in the hands and feet, and occasionally the genital area is affected. In addition, breathing difficulties and other reactions in the area of the mucous membranes, the eyes or the cardiovascular system occur as a result of edema. An allergic reaction can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal if left untreated.
When should you see a doctor?
In any case, if the swollen lip is due to an injury or an allergic reaction, the family doctor or directly an allergist or internist should be consulted. Initially, you can wait and see if the swelling goes down on its own. If this is not the case or if the lip continues to swell, medical advice is required. If accompanying symptoms occur, such as breathing problems, circulatory problems or a general feeling of malaise, a doctor’s office must also be consulted quickly.Other injuries such as a broken jaw, nosebleed, or signs of concussion are best evaluated at the hospital. In case of anaphylactic shock and other medical emergencies, the emergency physician must be called. Individuals suffering from food intolerance, severe allergy or herpes are among the risk groups – the doctor in charge should be informed quickly about swelling and other warning signs, otherwise initial complications may occur, further affecting the patient’s well-being and delaying recovery. The same applies if a serious cause is suspected behind the swollen lips. Thus, if an infection or side effects of a medication are suspected, the patient should speak with his or her primary care physician. Depending on the suspected cause, a swollen lip is the responsibility of the family doctor, allergist, dermatologist or internist. Parents who notice swollen lips in their child are best to take the child to the pediatrician immediately and have the symptoms clarified quickly.
Diagnosis
Swollen lips are diagnosed by those affected themselves. Determining the cause is also usually done by the patient, as the swelling is often clearly due to an allergic reaction, injury, or other trigger. During the conversation with the doctor, the patient discusses all symptoms as well as possible causes, from which the physician can already make a tentative diagnosis. The anamnesis is often sufficient to make the diagnosis and initiate therapy. A visual examination of the lips enables a definite diagnosis if the medical history does not provide any information about the cause, especially if the medical record does not contain any information about existing diseases and risk factors. If the trigger cannot be determined by history and physical examination, further diagnostic procedures such as an allergy test or a blood test may be considered. If a serious illness is suspected, an ultrasound examination is performed. In any case, other injuries must be ruled out or diagnosed. If internal injuries or fractures are suspected, a computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is indicated. After the cause has been determined, treatment can be initiated directly. At the same time, if necessary, another patient interview is conducted, in which the patient is informed about taking the prescribed medication as well as the measures to be taken in an emergency situation.
Treatment and therapy
If a mild allergic reaction or injury is responsible for the swollen lips, it is usually sufficient to rest the lips and cool them regularly. An open wound must be disinfected by a physician and closed if necessary. The physician will prescribe the patient an antiseptic ointment, which must be applied regularly in the following days. If the swelling is due to a severe allergy, medication must also be administered to reduce the discomfort. Usually, anti-allergic drugs and mild painkillers or sedatives are used. If not already done, an allergy test is performed to accurately determine the causative allergens. Therapy focuses primarily on determining the causes and avoiding renewed contact with them. In addition, the doctor prescribes the patient an emergency medication such as antihistamines or glucocorticoids. If herpes is the cause, the doctor applies a special ointment. This prevents the pathogens from spreading further and thus contributes to rapid healing.
Outlook and prognosis
Swollen lips usually subside quickly. If the affected lip is adequately rested and regularly cooled, the swelling should have subsided after only two to three days. After a week, it is usually no longer visible and any accompanying symptoms have subsided. If the swelling is caused by an allergy, it may develop into a chronic problem. Particularly in the case of food allergies or intolerances, each contact with the triggering substance results in renewed swelling, which must be treated again. If the trigger for the swelling is a fall on the head or a comparable cause, it occasionally takes several days to weeks for the swelling to subside completely.If the lip is injured, the injury must first be repaired before the swelling can be treated. In general, however, the prognosis for swollen lips is very good. Long-term consequences usually do not occur and the quality of life is also not significantly reduced by swelling.
Prevention
Swollen lips cannot be effectively prevented. Allergy sufferers should avoid contact with the allergen and also carry the necessary emergency medication. However, if swelling does occur, immediate cooling can prevent the swelling from spreading. As a general rule, dangerous situations should be avoided. Anyone who regularly rides a bicycle, engages in martial arts or other activities that expose the lips to the risk of shock or impact should wear a suitable mouthguard. To avoid swollen lips in winter, lips can be regularly treated with a grease pencil or ointment. A healthy diet and regular exercise strengthen the immune system and thus the health of the lips. Lastly, avoiding strong, external stimuli also helps. Typical triggers such as intense sunlight, cold or drafts should be avoided. Affected people are best to consult their family doctor and find out about other ways to avoid swollen lips.
What you can do yourself
If the swollen lips occur in conjunction with an allergic reaction, a doctor should be consulted promptly. Before that, a number of first aid measures will help relieve the swelling and lessen any accompanying symptoms. Cooling relieves acute swelling, while warm compresses and overlays promote blood flow to the lips, speeding healing. If the pain or itching is severe, a mild painkiller can be taken. Alternatively, home remedies such as cottage cheese or calendula ointment can be used. Lemon balm soothes the lips and relieves pain. If the swelling is due to a herpes infection, sage or black tea can be applied. In the following days, the swelling should be observed. If it has not subsided after two to three days, the family doctor’s office should be consulted. A positive healing process can be supported by carefully caring for the lip. The application of an antiseptic disinfects any skin tears and prevents inflammation. In addition, the swelling should be cooled several times a day. Drinking plenty of fluids and applying lip balm will help moisturize the lips and ensure a speedy recovery.