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Swollen lips can be a source of discomfort and embarrassment for many people. This condition, also known as labial edema, is generally caused by fluid accumulation within the lips, specifically in the spaces between tissue cells and blood capillaries.
Localized edema, or swelling, typically occurs as a response to an ongoing inflammatory process. When the tissues of the lips encounter an inflammatory stimulus — such as an insect bite, exposure to an allergen, or a burn — they respond with a series of changes aimed at limiting and repairing the damage.
This process necessitates the delivery of cells and substances necessary for immune and reparative processes to the affected area. This results in increased blood flow and capillary permeability. The tiny blood vessels in the lips then allow immune cells and plasma (the liquid part of the blood) to pass through them more easily, leading to an accumulation of material known as exudate. This accumulation causes the lips to swell.
Swollen lips are a common symptom of many allergies. For individuals who are sensitized, contact with even minuscule quantities of an allergen can trigger the typical symptoms of an allergic reaction, including lip edema, within minutes.
Allergens commonly associated with lip swelling include certain foods (such as nuts, shellfish, eggs, sesame seeds, and soy), cosmetics (like lipsticks and lip balms), animal hair, insect bites, pollen, latex, and certain medications.
A systemic allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis, is a reaction that extends to a large part of the body, with severe and generalized symptoms. These symptoms can include hot flashes, skin redness, itching and hives, swelling of the lips, tongue and/or throat, runny nose, swollen eyes and watery eyes, changes in blood pressure and heart rhythm, and coughing or difficulty breathing.
Anaphylaxis is considered a medical emergency. If lip swelling is accompanied by severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, immediate medical attention is necessary.
In pseudoallergic reactions, the individual is sensitive to the effects of certain substances, known as vasoactive substances, found in some foods. These substances are similar to those produced by some white blood cells during an allergic reaction, and exposure to large quantities can produce symptoms similar to those of an allergic reaction, even though the immune system is not directly involved.
Sudden onset lip swelling, accompanied by a sense of local tension, can be a symptom of Quincke's angioneurotic edema, more commonly known as angioedema. This form of edema also involves the deeper tissues and is generally caused by allergic reactions.
Red and swollen lips could be a sign of inflammation, a condition called cheilitis. Factors that could potentially cause cheilitis include biting or wetting the lips, exposure to cold and wind, local trauma, substances contained in lip cosmetics, bacterial, fungal or viral infections, faulty dentures, insect bites, and deficiency of B vitamins and states of malnutrition.
Swollen lips can also be a result of the injection of fillers (like hyaluronic acid, collagen, polylactic acid, etc.) for aesthetic purposes. Depending on the case, the resorption of these lip fillers can occur within a few weeks, be slow, or even impossible. In such cases, medical intervention might be required to rectify the aesthetic defect caused by overly swollen lips.
In conclusion, swollen lips can be caused by a myriad of factors ranging from allergic reactions to the application of cosmetic fillers. Understanding the potential causes can help in managing and treating this condition effectively. If you experience persistent lip swelling, it is recommended to seek medical advice to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.