What are Swollen Lips?

Swollen lips result from inflammation or fluid buildup under the skin, triggered by various factors like minor skin issues or severe allergies. Learn about causes, symptoms, and when emergency care is necessary.

Swollen lips, or lipedema, occur when inflammation causes enlargement of one or both lips. Various disorders, illnesses, infections, inflammation, trauma, or even malignant tumors can lead to this swelling.

Depending on the cause, lip swelling may be brief and go away quickly, for example, when you have sunburned and chapped lips. Lip swelling that develops over time and is accompanied by additional symptoms may be a sign of widespread infection or inflammation.

Since swollen lips can be a sign of a life-threatening illness, such as an anaphylactic reaction, see an emergency doctor if you experience swelling of the lips accompanied by difficulty in breathing, hives, rash, severe distress, fever, and redness or heat.

Swollen Lip Causes or Reasons

Allergies That Cause Swollen Lips:

• An allergic reaction by the immune system occurs when the body responds negatively to a particular substance.
• When a person has an allergic reaction, specific cells in the body produce and release a chemical known as histamine.

People can be allergic to a lot of things, but some common allergies that can cause lip swelling include:

Environmental Allergies

• Environmental allergies are allergic reactions to substances in the environment.
• Common allergies include pollen, mold spores, dust, and animal dander.
• Signs of an ecological allergy include:
• Swelling of the lips and other areas of the body
• Wheezing
• Urticaria
• To sneeze
• A stuffy nose
• Depending on the severity of the allergic reaction, an individual may often treat the allergy with an over-the-counter antihistamine. In more severe cases, a person may be given a series of allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, to help the body get used to the allergens.

Food Allergies

• The ACAAI reports that between 4 and 6 percent of children and about 4 percent of adults have a food allergy.
• Allergies occur in families, but it is impossible to predict whether a parent will pass an allergy on to their child.
• About 90% of food allergies involve the following foods:
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Peanuts and nuts
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Wheat
  • Soy

In addition to swollen lips, the ACAAI lists the following symptoms of food allergies:

• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Urticaria
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Cough
• Swollen tongue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Weak pulse
• Pale or blue skin
• Dizziness

The primary way to deal with a food allergy is to avoid the food that triggers it. This may involve carefully reading labels and asking questions about restaurant ingredients.

A dietitian or nutritionist can often advise you on the best course of action for a specific allergy diet.

Other Allergies

• Insect bites, stings, and allergies to specific medications can also cause the lips to swell.
• Some people are allergic to certain medications, with antibiotics, especially penicillin, being the primary culprit.

Other common symptoms of a penicillin allergy include:

• Rashes
• Itchy eyes
• Urticaria
• Wheezing
• Swelling of the tongue or face
• Feel sick
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache

If a person experiences these symptoms after taking a medicine containing penicillin, they should immediately stop taking it and consult their doctor. Other drug options are often available.

Other drugs that can cause an allergic reaction that may be like this include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, and drugs associated with chemotherapy.

Anaphylaxis

• Serious allergic reactions can present as an acute allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. When anaphylaxis is severe, a person can have an anaphylactic shock.
• This reaction can be dangerous and, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), even fatal. Some people may not even realize that they are allergic to something until they have anaphylaxis.
  • The AAAAI lists five groups of symptoms of anaphylaxis:
  • Breathing: Wheezing, tight throat, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, stuffy nose.
  • Circulation: Pale or blue skin, weak pulse, dizziness, low blood pressure.
  • Skin: Hives, swelling, itching, warmth, redness, rash.
  • Stomach (abdomen): Nausea, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea.
  • Others: Symptoms include anxiety, a headache, and itchy red eyes.

Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical treatment. The first course of action is to inject a dose of epinephrine, for example, through an EpiPen, and then go to the emergency room.

Other Causes of Swollen Lips

Aside from allergies, some other things can cause lip swelling. These include:

Angioedema

• This is usually a short-term condition that occurs when there is swelling under the skin.
• It often occurs as an unwanted side effect of a drug or in response to a trigger that causes an allergy.
• Angioedema often affects the lips and other parts of the body, including:
• Hands
• Feet
• Around the eye
• Language
• Genitals
• Angioedema is not considered a severe disease and will usually go away on its own within a few days.
• If an allergy causes angioedema, an antihistamine is the usual method of swollen lip treatment.
• If a medication causes it, a person may need to stop the current treatment and see their doctor for an alternative.

Injuries

• Minor cuts, sores, and lacerations to the lips can cause them to swell. The lips have a rich blood supply and are, therefore, prone to swelling.
• To treat lip injuries, clean the area and stop any bleeding with a clean cloth or bandage. It is also possible to reduce the swelling by applying an ice pack to the affected area.
• If the injury is large, caused by an animal bite, extremely painful, or shows signs of infection, the person should seek the help of a healthcare professional.

Rare Medical Conditions

• Granulomatous cheilitis is a rare disease that can cause swelling of the lips.
  • Miescher-Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is a recurring and lasting swelling of one or both lips (granulomatous cheilitis) with facial muscle weakness and a cracked tongue. There is no known cause, although genetics could be a factor.

Both conditions can usually be treated with prescription medication, although sometimes surgical reduction may be necessary. If there is an underlying cause, treatment should address it.