Did you wake up in the morning and find that your lips are swollen? Swelling of the lips can occur due to a number of reasons. As the skin on the lips is quite delicate, they tend to dry faster and can get chapped or swollen even due to weather conditions. If you woke up with swollen lips one morning, do not panic. Just know why it might have been caused, check for other symptoms and try out some amazing home remedies before you head to a clinic.
Why Did I Wake Up with Swollen Lips?
Like we already mentioned, the lips have a very delicate layer of skin. Lips are nothing but fleshy folds of our tissues that are soft and can be moved. Due to this, lips do not have sweat glands and hence they do not get lubricated with body oils. As a result of this, our lips tend to dry out faster. Lips can also swell all of a sudden due to an abnormal immune response. A swollen lip is a condition that can be treated with ease once the cause is known. Also, swelling can also happen to be a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
Let us now Learn about the Reasons For Lip Swelling
Allergy: One of the main reasons for swollen lips is an allergy. If you are exposed to any allergens, be it dust or a food allergy, the very first reaction is often seen on the lips. Foods like eggs, peanuts, cow milk, and wheat and so on are some of the quite common allergens. If you are allergic to foods that release histamines lips tend to swell as well.
Contact Dermatitis: This is a kind of condition which occurs when you have a direct content with the irritants that cause swelling, redness or itching. Lips can also have an allergy when you make use of low-quality products on your lips. This condition is also called as Angioedema. If you have a sudden swollen lip, contact dermatitis can be the reason.
Oral Herpes: This is a kind of an infection that is mostly caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. You know you are suffering from the same if you have cold sores on your lips or towards the corners. If you woke up with swollen lips and blisters, it can be due to oral herpes.
Facial Cellulitis: Cellulitis often refers to the condition where the body tissues are inflamed. Facial cellulitis is a condition where the inflammation occurs in the tissues located under the skin’s surface on the face.
Trauma: Swelling of the lip can also occur due to an external trauma. If you have piercings on the lips, it can also get infected at times.
How to Get Rid of Swollen Lips?
In most of the cases, the lip can be swollen due to food allergies. So, it helps to identify the kind of foods that are causing this allergy. You can even consult a doctor who would prescribe antihistamines to treat the same.
If the swelling is due to an existing medical condition, patients can also be put under steroids or even anti inflammatory drugs for a certain time. In worst cases, certain foods can cause reactions like anaphylaxis, which is known to be life-threatening.
If you woke up with swollen chapped lips, you can even try some simple home remedies that provide a quick relief. If you are unable to know the reason for the swollen lips, you need to seek medical help and you might have to administer antibiotics for the same.
Home Remedies For Swollen Lips
Everyone wishes to have nice soft lips and this is very much true when it comes to women. Swollen lips can be quite a problem, but as the saying goes, “even problem has a solution” and the same applies to this condition as well.
Let us have A Look at Some of the Home Remedies to Treat Lip Swelling
Ice: If you have a swollen upper lip, you can use ice cubes to soothe the burning sensation. Just take 2 or 3 ice cubes and wrap them in a soft fresh cloth. Just dab it over the swollen area. You can repeat this after every few hours to get relief. Make sure you do not use the ice cubes directly as it can cause further damage.
Turmeric Powder: You can make a herbal paste using turmeric powder to treat swollen lower lip or upper lip. Just take about a tbsp of fuller’s earth and add a pinch of turmeric powder to it. Make a paste using cold water. Apply this paste over the lip and allow it to dry. Once dried you can clean it up using lukewarm water. You can follow this two times a day. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties present in turmeric help in the overall healing process.
Aloe Vera: Known as a wonder herb, aloe vera can be used to treat swollen or cracked lips. All you need is a fresh aloe vera leaf. Just cut the leaf open and remove the gel from inside. Gently massage the lips using this gel and leave it on for some time. As aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces the burning sensation and also helps cure swollen lips.
Honey: Another natural product that can be used to treat swollen lips is honey. Just take a tablespoon of honey and dip a cotton ball in it. Apply honey using a cotton ball over the lips and leave it for at least 20 minutes. Wash it off using cold water once it starts getting dry. Honey aids in natural healing and also prevents any irritation. You can use this for 2-3 times a day.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is easily available in every household. You need to use pure coconut oil for this. Massage your lips using coconut oil and let the oil soak in. You can repeat it for few times in a day for relief.
If you woke up with swollen lips, use the above home remedies without delay. If you observe that your lips are swollen f, it is advised to consult a doctor.
Medically Reviewed By
Maanasi specializes in health topics including diet and nutrition. A mother of an untiring seven year old, she enjoys nurturing her love affair with English. She is often found nestled with a book, plopped against a dozen pillows, smiling away at the brink of finishing yet another book of the many dozens, that adorn the shelves of her Mini Library!
