Swollen lips: more than just a passing condition?
What is the condition of swollen lips? What are the causes that may lead to infection? Should you worry? The most important information and details can be found in the following article.
Let us learn what follows about the condition of swollen lips and the most important information related to it.
What is the condition of swollen lips?
It is a term given to a condition in which the size of one or both lips is larger than normal.
The causes of swollen lips range from transient causes in which the resulting swelling is painless, to pathological causes that require a doctor's consultation, especially when the swelling is accompanied by pain and inflammation .
Although the condition itself is not dangerous, sometimes the conditions that cause it can be serious.
Symptoms of swollen lips
Symptoms include:
1. Symptoms of swollen lips
Include the following:
- redness.
- pain.
- touch sensitive.
- Chapped skin.
2. Symptoms of swollen lips caused by environmental sensitivity
Include the following:
- Swelling of the lips and other parts of the body.
- Wheezing.
- goosebumps
- sneeze
- blocked nose
3. Symptoms of swollen lips caused by food allergy
The most prominent symptoms include the following:
- vomiting.
- stomach cramps
- goosebumps.
- Shortness of breath and wheezing.
- Cough.
- swelling of the tongue;
- Difficulty swallowing.
- weak pulse
- Paleness and blueness of the skin.
- Dizziness.
4. Symptoms of swollen lips caused by severe allergies
Symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing: wheezing, sore throat, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and stuffy nose.
- Dizziness: pale or blue skin, weak pulse, light-headedness, and low blood pressure.
- Skin: hives, swelling, itching, warmth, redness, and rash.
- Gastrointestinal: nausea, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Types of swollen lips
There are two main types of swollen lips:
- Acute swelling of the lips, and this may be caused by things such as: allergies , burns, and some types of medicines.
- Chronic lip swelling, and this may be caused by some pathological conditions such as: acromegaly and hypothyroidism.
Causes of swollen lips
These are the main reasons that may lead to swollen lips:
1. Allergies of all kinds
In some cases, the cause of swollen lips may be an allergic reaction to a substance, and these are the most prominent types of allergies whose symptoms may include swollen lips:
- Food allergy, which is an allergy to certain types of food, and these are the most prominent types of foods that cause this type of allergy: milk, soy, wheat, pistachios, nuts, and fish.
- Allergies related to some environmental factors, the causes of this type of allergy are materials that may be present in the person’s surroundings and environment, such as dust.
- Allergies caused by taking some types of medicines, especially penicillin , which is a type of antibiotic.
- Allergies caused by exposure to stings or bites of some types of insects.
- Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a severe and serious allergic reaction that requires immediate medical treatment.
2. Angioedema
Angioedema is a condition that causes swelling in an area of the body in the tissues below the skin. Angioedema may affect various areas of the body such as the feet and hands, but it often affects the lips or eyes in particular.
These are some possible causes of angioedema:
- Allergies of all kinds.
- Genes and heredity.
- Take some types of medication.
The swelling caused by angioedema usually subsides within 48 hours, but in some cases angioedema may need medical intervention, especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms such as: dizziness and breathing difficulties.
3. Granulomatous cheilitis
Granulomatous cheilitis is an uncommon condition. As its name suggests, this condition appears as swelling of the lips. Some of its possible causes are Crohn's disease , sarcoidosis, and some types of cancer.
The resulting swelling is often hard and granular in texture, and the swelling may not be limited to the lip area, but may extend to other areas of the body as well.
It is possible for the disease to return in bouts, each of which is more severe than the previous one, and in some cases the lips may swell to a severe degree that may cause bleeding in the lip area.
4. Wounds and burns
Lip swelling may result from infection with the following:
- Wounds in the mouth or lips, but lip wounds usually heal quickly without medical intervention.
- Sunburn and tanning burns, as exposing the lips to bright sunlight for extended hours or to some types of lighting designed to give the body an artificial tan may cause the lips to burn and swell.
5. Other reasons
In addition to the above, swollen lips may be caused by other factors and causes, such as:
- Macromeria, a condition often seen in people of certain ethnic groups, may negatively affect a person's ability to lead a normal life.
- Infection with some types of bacterial or viral infections, such as infections that may result from infection with the herpes virus.
- Having some diseases and other health problems, such as: focal dystonia, oral cancer, tumors, and vitamin B2 deficiency.
- Other factors and reasons, such as: undergoing cosmetic surgery in the lips, and the presence of orthodontics in the mouth.
Diagnosis and treatment of swollen lips
Before starting, the doctor usually examines the airways to assess their health condition and make sure that they do not have any obstruction, and then the patient may be subjected to several tests to find out the cause of the swelling.
After reaching the diagnosis, here are some suggested treatment solutions:
- Treat the health problem that led to the swelling, or get rid of the stimulating factor that caused the lips to become sensitive and swollen.
- Applying some types of medication topically to the lips, such as corticosteroids, especially if the cause of the swelling is an allergy.
- Subjecting the patient to surgery to remove excess tissue from the lip area, a procedure that is used in some cases of chronic lip swelling.
When should you consult a doctor about swollen lips?
In many cases, swelling of the lips may be transient, and it will heal automatically without the need for any medical attention, but it is preferable to consult a doctor immediately and without delay in the event that the swelling is accompanied by some severe symptoms, which may indicate an allergic reaction or another health problem.