Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Responding to serious situations
• Part 2 of 3: Using home remedies
• Part 3 of 3: Treating a cut or cracked lip
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

If your lip is swollen from an injury, it may still be susceptible to infection during the healing process. Keep your swollen lip clean and control swelling with cold and warm compresses. If you don't know what caused the swelling or if you suspect an allergic reaction or infection, see a doctor right away.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Responding to serious situations

1. Respond quickly to an allergic reaction. Sometimes swollen lips are caused by an allergic reaction, which can be fatal. Get medical help right away if this has never happened before and your lips are badly swollen, you are short of breath, or your throat is swollen. If you've had a similar allergic reaction before and know these are mild symptoms, take an antihistamine and keep your inhaler or dose of epinephrine handy.
   • Get immediate medical attention if the reaction is caused by an insect bite.
   • If you are not sure what is causing the swelling, take precautions as if it were an allergic reaction. In many cases, the cause of an allergic reaction is never discovered.
   • In "mild" cases, the symptoms can persist for several days. See a doctor if the swelling has not subsided after a few days.
2. Treat mouth infections. You may have an infection in your mouth if you also have blisters or cold sores on your lips, your lymph nodes are swollen, or you have flu-like symptoms. This usually concerns the herpes simplex virus. See a doctor for a diagnosis and a prescription for antiviral drugs or antibiotics. In the meantime, it is important not to touch your lips, kiss, engage in oral sex, or share foods, drinks, or towels with people.
3. If you don't know what's causing it, make an appointment with your doctor. If you don't know why your lips are swollen, see a doctor to find out. This is especially important if the swelling does not subside within a few days. Here are some possible causes:
   • Severe swelling during pregnancy can be a sign of pre-eclampsia. This is a serious condition, so see your doctor right away.
   • Antidepressants, hormone treatments and medicines for high blood pressure can also cause swelling.
   • Heart failure, kidney failure, and liver failure usually cause swelling in more than one area, rather than just in the lips.
4. Monitor the swelling and pain every day. See a doctor if your lips are still swollen after two or three days. Also see a doctor if the pain suddenly gets worse.

Part 2 of 3: Using home remedies

1. Clean the area. When your lip is swollen and painful, it can easily be injured. Gently pat your lip with a damp sponge several times a day or whenever your lip gets dirty. Do not pick or swipe it.
   • If your lip is swollen after an injury, disinfect it with an antiseptic. Do this especially if you have a fall.
   • If your lip is swollen from a piercing, follow the advice of the piercer who treated your lip. Do not remove the piercing unnecessarily. Wash your hands before handling your piercing.
   • Don't clean your lip with rubbing alcohol, as this can make the problem worse.
2. Use a cold compress on the day of the injury. Wrap ice in a towel or use an ice pack from the freezer. Gently place the cold compress on your swollen lip. This can reduce swelling caused by a recent injury. After the first few hours, the cold is usually ineffective unless you want to ease the pain.
   • If you don't have ice cream at home, freeze a spoonful for 5 to 15 minutes and place it on your swollen lip. You can also nibble on a popsicle.
3. Switch to warm compresses. After the initial swelling has subsided, heat can promote the healing process. Warm up water until it is hot, but still cold enough to touch. Dip a towel in the water and squeeze out the excess water. Hold the towel against your lips for 10 minutes. Repeat this once every hour and apply a compress to your lips several times a day, or until the swelling subsides.
4. Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are drugs that reduce pain and swelling. The best-known over-the-counter variants are acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen.
5. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated and prevent them from cracking or swelling even more.
6. Protect your lips with lip balm. Such an agent moisturizes your lips so that they do not crack and dry out even more.
   • There are many ways you can make your own lip balm. Try mixing 2 parts coconut oil with 2 parts olive oil, 2 parts grated beeswax, and a few drops of essential oil for the fragrance.
   • If you have nothing else, dab a little coconut oil or aloe vera gel on your lips.
   • Do not use lip balms that contain camphor, menthol, or phenol. Do not use too much petroleum jelly, as this remedy can cause health problems if you use it in large amounts. It also doesn't add a lot of moisture.
7. Do not cover or press on the lip. Applying pressure can make the injuries worse and you can experience much more pain. Try not to cover the swollen area and expose it to the air.
   • The healing process will take a lot longer if it hurts to chew food. Replace certain foods with healthy smoothies and protein shakes and drink them through a straw.
8. Have a healthy diet. Don't eat salty foods that are high in sodium. These can make the swelling worse. A healthy diet with enough vitamins and proteins will generally promote the healing process.
   • Avoid acidic foods as they can cause pain.

Part 3 of 3: Treating a cut or cracked lip

1. Check your teeth and lips after you get injured. If you've been hit in the mouth, check it for injuries. If your teeth are loose, see a dentist right away. See a doctor if you have deep cuts. He or she can stitch the wound to prevent scarring or give you a tetanus shot.
2. Disinfect the wound with saline solution. Dissolve 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of salt in 250 ml of warm water. Dip a cotton swab or towel in the saline solution and lightly dab the wound. This will sting at first, but will make you less likely to get an infection.
3. Apply cold and warm compresses. As described above, a towel-wrapped ice cube or ice bag will reduce swelling on the day of injury. When the initial swelling has subsided, switch to warm, wet towels to stimulate blood flow to the wound and aid the healing process. Hold the cold or warm compress against your lips for ten minutes and then take an hour break before putting the compress back on.

Tips

• This generally works for most cases of lip swelling, whether the swelling is from a piercing, wound, or cut.
• An antibiotic ointment prevents an open cut from becoming infected and fights bacterial infections. However, such an ointment will not work against viral infections (such as herpes), can cause skin irritation in some people, and can be harmful if swallowed. Talk to your doctor before using an antibiotic ointment.

Warnings

• Get medical attention if your lip is still swollen after two weeks. You probably have an infection or some other serious condition.
• Over-the-counter ointments and herbal remedies can be dangerous because you may be able to swallow them. There is no strong evidence that arnica and tea tree oil help, and tea tree oil in particular can be very dangerous if you ingest the oil.

Necessities

• Ice or ice bag
• Towel
• Lip balm
• salt
• Water