Here we have collected eight lip symptoms and signs to help you know and recognize what they could mean for your health.
1. Cracks at the corners of your lips
When saliva gets caught in the corners of your mouth, it dries out skin that can crack. You might lick your lips often, heat and moisture in the corners create the perfect circumstances for infections. A well-known cause of these cracks is an infection. If it happens too often, please don’t hesitate to go to a doctor.
2. Dry and chapped lips
Dry lips can indicate a lack of moisture in the rest of the body. It also can happen due to dry weather, stress, lip licking, heavy use of cosmetics, and so on. In this case, drink more water and use moisturizing creams. Moreover, the reason for chapped lips can be an allergy, therefore, pay attention if you have some other symptoms such as itching, for example.
3. Bumps on the lips
Usually, most of us will not take those lip bumps seriously. In most cases, they can be painful or uncomfortable, but most of the time they are harmless and can disappear without any treatment. For example, they can be caused by an injury, reactions to food, stress, go through some hormonal changes, or you are exhausted. It is very often the case that the cause is a viral infection, like herpes, and it needs proper medical treatment.
4. Red ring around lips
One of the most common reasons for a red ring around the mouth is lip licker’s dermatitis. Repetitive licking of lips dries out the natural oils from the skin around the lips and makes them red and itchy. It can also be caused by allergies to various foods. You should eliminate that unwanted habit or change your diet, depending on what causes this issue.
5. Discoloration of the lips
In case you notice that your lips are pale, it may mean that you have poor oxygen circulation in the blood, especially if you have the same symptoms in your fingers and toes. This means you might be suffering from anemia, which actually requires medical attention. It is also possible that you have low blood sugar, liver problems, smoking, circulatory problems or vitamin deficiencies.
6. Swollen lips
Swelling lips can be caused by inflammation or sudden trauma, but some conditions like oral allergy syndrome or allergic reaction might cause it as well. If you noticed that your lips get bigger every time you use certain cosmetics, get rid of them. If your lips are getting bigger and bigger over a short period of time, you need to go and visit your doctor.