Why is my upper lip suddenly swollen?

The tissue that forms the lips is of the loose type, that is, it has a large liquid content and is susceptible to swelling easily, among the most common causes we can mention allergy.

Some people overreact to different elements of the environment or food, producing what is known as angioedema . It is common for it to appear with a certain type of food (such as shellfish or nuts), medications, insect bites, beauty products (for example lipsticks), among others. It can spread to other areas of the face, it can even reach a picture as serious as glottis edema .

So if it has happened to you that after eating a food or using a new beauty product, your lip swells (or another part of your face, or you have some kind of skin reaction), it is better that you consult your trusted doctor because this situation may continue to recur and get worse.

Inflammation of the upper lip may be due to herpes. It is very common and is accompanied by other symptoms:

• It begins with pain, itching, or numbness in the area (but no change is seen in the affected lip).
• After a couple of days, small blisters appear with clear fluid inside.
• As the blisters break, they cause a scab to form at the site.
• The affected area may swell.

These types of episodes tend to occur over and over again, since the virus “sleeps” in a nerve near the affected area and is usually reactivated with sun exposure, low defenses, stress or trauma.

It is quite contagious, especially when the blisters are present, although it can continue to be contagious when the period of scabs is present, and not only is transmitted as cold sores, but that virus can cause infection in other areas of the body, such as: genitals, system respiratory, skin and neurological system, among others.

You can learn more about this condition in the article Cold sores: contagion, symptoms and treatment .

As has been said in another section, the lips are made of loose tissue, highly susceptible to inflammation. That is why a simple trauma can trigger a sudden inflammation of that area.

Simply, ice wrapped in a cloth or towel should be applied , and just as it swelled suddenly, it will also deflate, and a bruise or bruise may remain in the area for a few days.

Granulomatous diseases are accumulations of abnormal tissue (granulomas) in the area where the swelling is seen. This is a rare problem and the cause is not well understood. In addition to inflammation of the upper lip (called granulomatous Miescher cheilitis), it can be accompanied by swelling of other areas of the face, such as the lower lip, one or both cheeks, the eyelids, or one side of the skin of the scalp. The inflammation is soft and not painful.

This type of inflammation usually occurs again and again, sometimes accompanied by fever and general malaise, the healthy person being in the middle of these episodes. Although as you suffer them, over and over again, the area that becomes inflamed tends to remain more and more inflamed permanently.

This type of condition can occur as part of a more complex disease called Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome, in which in addition to swelling of the face and lips, there is facial paralysis and changes in the shape of the tongue.

Ascher syndrome is a disease in which the upper lip (and rarely the lower lip as well) becomes increasingly inflamed over time, forming what is known as a “double lip.” It can also be accompanied by elongation of the skin of the eyelids (blepharochalasia) and an increase in the thyroid gland (non-toxic goiter).

In a rare disease , but it greatly alters the social life of the sufferer because the swelling does not return but is increasing.

In case of sudden upper lip swelling, it is important that you take into account measures such as the following:

• If it is an allergic person, it is advisable to go to the doctor. If symptoms continue to advance, call 911 or local emergency number. If the person has an allergy medicine, it can be given.
• Always trying to regain the health of the body , the swelling of the lip can be part of a warning that the body is giving. Drink water, eat fruits and vegetables, especially raw, seeds and legumes. Avoid foods that generate accumulation of toxins in the body, such as meat, dairy, alcohol, cigarettes, processed foods, sugar and refined flours. The most natural can help the body to recover.
• Avoid sun exposure while the lip is swollen, this will help it return to normal more quickly.
• In the face of repeated swelling of the upper lip, you should also go to the doctor, since the pathologies that can cause this problem are very different and, therefore, so different are the treatments that can be followed.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why does my upper lip suddenly swell? , we recommend that you enter our category of Teeth and mouth .