Have your lips suddenly swollen? Although swollen lips usually go away on their own, their sudden appearance can be irritating. Not only does it interfere with appearance, sometimes this condition also appears together with itchy lips. What caused it?
There are various causes of swollen lips
In the medical world, swollen lips certainly won’t just appear. Usually, this swelling is caused by inflammation of the mouth or accumulation of fluid in the lips.
For more details, here are some of the most common causes of swollen lips.
1. Allergies
Allergies can be a cause of swollen lips in some people. Usually. this condition is triggered by the reaction of the immune system to foreign substances that enter.
When a foreign substance enters, the body will release a chemical called histamine as a form of protection. Unfortunately, histamine can actually trigger a variety of allergic reactions, including swelling.
You may not realize that your body is exposed to allergens (allergy-triggering substances). You may be allergic to substances in the environment such as pollen, mold spores, dust or pet dander.
Apart from environmental allergies, food allergies can also be a cause of swollen lips. Well, this swelling usually appears shortly after you eat foods that can trigger allergies.
Food allergies usually cause symptoms such as swollen lips and face, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, stomach pain, and nausea.
Not only that, other factors that can also make your lips swollen are insect bites, insect stings, and certain medications.
If you are allergic to drugs, usually other symptoms that appear are rashes, itching, wheezing, swelling in certain parts, vomiting, and dizziness.
2. Angioedema
Angioedema is a condition when you experience swelling under the skin. This condition can be caused by various things, ranging from allergic reactions, non-allergic drug reactions, and even heredity.
Angioedema most often affects the lips as well as the eyes. In addition to the swelling, angioedema makes you feel pain and itching on the affected part of the body.
In general, this swelling is not dangerous and can disappear in 1-2 days without leaving a scar even if it is not treated.
However, sometimes treatment is also needed if the itching is excruciating or the symptoms don’t improve after a few days. This condition can be treated with antihistamines, corticosteroids, or epinephrine injections.
3. Injury or injury
Various injuries or sores to your mouth or face can cause your lips to swell. Injuries can arise due to bites, accidents, the effects of laser procedures, burns, and even being hit by a blunt object.
Even if the wound in the mouth is light enough, swollen lips will look red because the area has lots of blood vessels. However, most sores around the mouth heal quickly.
Treating swollen lips due to injury depends on the cause. For minor injuries, you can use an ice pack to help deflate it.
Meanwhile, if the swelling is accompanied by a wound in the corner of the lip or bleeding, try to treat it at the doctor.
4. Lips that are too dry
When lips don’t get the moisture they need, they can become so dry they can even crack. Chapped lips make it easy for germs to enter and infect. As a result, the lips may experience swelling.
For that, use a lip balm that contains petroleum jelly to keep it moisturized. In addition, use lip products that contain sunscreen so that your lips don’t get sunburned if you are doing outdoor activities.
You also need to get rid of the habit of licking your lips because saliva can actually dry them out even more. One more thing, don’t pick or bite your lips even if they feel dry and scaly.