Allergic Reaction on Lips & its Treatment

With the growing pollution, allergies have become a common health concern. For example, Allergic Contact Cheilitis (ACC) is a common allergic condition affecting the lips. This often occurs when your lips come in contact with specific cosmetics, balms, or food items.
When you have a lip allergy, your immune system reacts to specific allergens, causing your lips to swell or bleed. Identifying what triggers the reaction and implementing treatment as soon as possible can help relieve discomfort and prevent deterioration.
Are you suffering from a lip allergy? This article will help you learn about it and treat the issue properly!
Table of Contents
What is Lip Allergy?
Allergy is usually caused when your immune system finds an allergen harmful to your body and overreacts to it. For example, in the case of a lip allergy, coming into contact with such an allergen causes a type IV hypersensitivity reaction in your body. Like eczema, an inflammation of the outer lip or vermilion margin is seen. Patches of scaly skin might appear on your lips following this.
Types of Lip Allergies
Lip allergies can manifest in various ways, affecting individuals differently. Patients often suffer from the following types of lip allergies.
1. Eczematous Cheilitis

The most common type of allergy is associated with atopic diseases, including eczema, hay fever, and asthma. People already suffering from eczema are more likely to face this allergy. Eczematous cheilitis often result in dry, cracked, and inflamed lips, making them more sensitive to environmental triggers.
2. Angular Cheilitis

This type of allergy causes skin inflammation around the mouth. Usually, saliva is collected at the angles of the mouth. However, if the saliva dries out, the skin starts cracking. It can also lead to secondary infection. Older adults and people who have diabetes are more likely to develop this allergy. Moreover, children who drool and suck their thumbs are also at risk of developing this.
3. Actinic Cheilitis

Long-term sun exposure can cause this kind of allergy. It leads to severe symptoms and is often considered a precancerous condition. Light-skinned individuals are most likely to develop this condition. Moreover, people living in hot, dry climates might also be at risk.
What are the Causes of Lip Allergies?

There can be multiple causes of lip allergies. Allergens from various substances can trigger this condition when they come in contact with your lips, including the following.
Harmful Ingredients that Cause Lip Allergies
There are many potential sources of lip allergic reactions related to lipsticks and other lip cosmetic products, each composed of numerous ingredients. Although safety is guaranteed to many, unusual effects may appear.
What are the Symptoms of Lip Allergies?

According to medical researchers, a lip allergy can affect either of your lips. Allergic contact cheilitis is more likely to affect the inner mucous membranes of your lips. The following are the common symptoms of lip allergies.
How to Diagnose Lip Allergies?
Diagnosing a lip allergy is simple. Once you visit a healthcare setting after observing the symptoms, doctors might ask you to conduct patch testing. It is a series of tests, including allergens from cosmetics and toothpaste. The doctors use these products as allergens on the patient to observe the reactions on their skin and lips.
A Repeated Open Application Test (ROAT) is also used for this diagnosis. Doctors use personal products like toothpaste and makeup items to check their reactions. They might also order photopatch testing if the regular patch test results are negative. Moreover, a skin prick test is also conducted. Doctors use a needle to prick your skin and insert some allergens to check your reaction to these.
What is the Treatment for Lip Allergy?
Now, the question is how to treat a lip allergy. It depends on the causes of your allergy. Usually, doctors suggest patients avoid coming in contact with allergens. Other common treatments for a lip allergy include the following.
- Topical Corticosteroids: This method controls inflammation and heals chapped lips. Doctors rely on over-the-counter ointments, creams, and gels for this. Topical corticosteroids or Class II topical corticosteroids are commonly prescribed to patients. However, it would help if you did not continue hydrocortisone for more than a week unless your doctor prescribes it.
- Emollients: These are readily available in pharmacies and grocery stores as lotions, ointments, and leave-on products. Doctors mainly suggest them for healing itchy, dry, and scaly skin conditions. In addition, lip balms containing castor seed and hemp seed oil, petroleum, shea butter, mineral oil, ceramides, and sun-protective ingredients are safe for use in these conditions.
- Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors (TCIS): Doctors use nonsteroidal medications for treating lip allergies. Doctors use these to alter your immune system and prevent symptoms such as itching and inflammation. However, you should not apply these anywhere near your nose, face or mouth.
How to Prevent Lip Allergies?
The final question is how to get rid of lip allergies? The best way to prevent these allergies is by avoiding the allergens coming into contact with your lips. Apart from that, the following tips might help you avoid this allergy.
- Drink water and stay hydrated
- Avoid biting or licking your lips constantly
- Use a humidifier
- Avoid lip piercings and other metals around the lips
- Use a cool compress if lips start itching
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Therefore, a lip allergy causes swelling and itching in your lips, arising from various causes. As this article observed, this condition can affect anyone, but people suffering from diabetes, eczema, and being addicted to licking or biting lips are highly at risk. Diagnosing this condition is simple, and the only way to avoid it is by avoiding the allergens.
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