Lip Allergy - Definition, Types, Symptoms & Treatment Explained

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. When you have a lip allergy, your immune system reacts to specific allergens, causing your lips to swell or bleed.

Are you suffering from a lip allergy? This article will help you find out all about it and treat the issue properly!

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.

Patients often suffer from the following types of lip allergies.

• 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.
• 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. 
• Actinic Cheilitis: Long-term sun exposure can cause this kind of allergy. It leads to severe symptoms, often considered a pre-cancerous condition. Light-skinned individuals are most likely to face the risks of developing this condition. Moreover, people living in hot, dry climates might also be at risk.

According to medical researchers, a lip allergy can affect either one 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.

• Dryness leading to chapped lips
• Scaling or fissuring
• Crusting at the corners of the mouth
• Burning on the lips
• Itching and redness
• Swelling of lips
• Brown-black discolouration of the lips

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.

• Perfume and fragrances
• Lipstick or lip balm
• Chemicals in nail polish
• Latex products
• Toothpaste or mouthwash
• Certain metals
• Fruits like mango or cinnamon
• Propylene glycol
• Sunscreen 

Various ingredients in lipsticks can cause allergic reactions, including castor oil, colophony, shellac, sesame oil, ozonated olive oil, preservatives, etc. Moreover, living in a cold and dry environment can trigger such 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, such as 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.

Now, the question is how to treat a lip allergy ? It depends on the causes of your allergy. Usually, doctors suggest patients to avoid coming in contact with allergens. Other common treatments for a lip allergy include the following.

• Topical Corticosteroids: This method is used to control inflammation and heal chapped lips. For this, doctors rely on over-the-counter ointments, creams and gels. Commonly, topical corticosteroids or Class II topical corticosteroids are prescribed to the 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 across pharmacies and grocery stores in the forms of lotions, ointments and leave-on products. Doctors mainly suggest these 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): These are the nonsteroidal medications that doctors use 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.

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

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.