How To Stop Lip Bleeding | Causes & DIY Methods

Clinical treatments like fillers and laser therapy may be the solution for your bleeding lips.

Reviewed by Vaibhavi Gupte, Makeup Artist
Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE
Edited by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature)
Fact-checked by Anu Pallavi, BA  • 

If you are someone with bleeding lips or fine lines on and around your lips, this one’s for you. To find out how to stop bleeding lips, you must first find out what caused it. No matter how expensive your products are, getting the basics right for perfectly luscious lips is important. So, keep reading to find out about the causes of bleeding lips and how you can take care of them. Scroll down!

protip_icon Keep In Mind
  • For Pink Lips: Applying lemon juice mixed with almond oil, beetroot juice, milk, and turmeric paste can help make the lips pink and supple.
  • Best Oils:  Coconut, peppermint, and wintergreen essential oils are best for optimal lip health.
  • Home Remedies:  Apply an ice pack, try a saltwater rinse, or press a moistened tea bag between the lips to control lip bleeding.

Bleeding Lips Causes

There are many simple yet noticeable causes of bleeding lips which we tend to ignore most of the time. Here is a list.

  • Licking of lips
  • Dehydration
  • Allergies
  • Mouth breathing or snoring
  • Dry arid air
  • Skin care products that don’t suit you.

A blogger shared her experience with chapped, bleeding lips. She explained, “If your lips are chapped, you probably lick at them quite a bit. When they’re so chapped they’re prickly, you probably even bite at those prickles, sometimes drawing blood. But it’s okay, because every time you roll your lips (which is a lot), that pokey feeling of dried skin is gone. The red patch is better than that damn pokey feeling (i).”

protip_icon Quick Tip
Licking your lips can damage the protective film that shields the lips from moisture loss, leading to cracks. Also, saliva contains digestive enzymes, which may draw moisture from the lips and can irritate them.

Bleeding Lips Treatment

Lip Augmentation

Lip augmentation can create plumper, fuller lips or reduce fine lines around the mouth. There are many options for lip augmentation and your doctor can recommend the one that best suits you.

Laser Lip Rejuvenation

Laser treatments stimulate the growth of new collagen and remove layers of dead old skin. This is effective for treating fine lines but not for plumping the lips. Laser lip rejuvenation takes a couple of days to recover from, but usually only one treatment is necessary.

Fillers

These treatments have few side effects and generally no downtime although the effects wear off with time.

WITHOUT GOING FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE, YOU CAN TRY THIS AT HOME

Step 1

Wrap your upper and lower lips over your teeth. Biting down, move your lips from side to side, as though blotting. Without causing pain, apply enough pressure that the movement almost feels uncomfortable. Continue “blotting” for around one minute. You should notice an improvement in the appearance of your lip wrinkles immediately. Perform the exercise once or twice daily for maximum results.

Step 2

Sit in an erect position. Press your lips together. Do not purse your lips. Maintain your teeth in an unclenched relaxed position. Tap the center of your lips with your index finger, and visualize trying to crush a pencil between the center of your lips. Slowly pull your finger away from your lips and visualize your pencil growing longer. Continue to press your lips together without pursing. You should not see creases in your lips when performing this exercise. When you feel your lip muscles begin to burn, tap the center of your lips rapidly while counting to 30. When performed twice daily this lip training exercise will plump out thin lips and smooth out lines above the upper lip.

Step 3

Glycolic acid may prevent bleeding lips
Image: Shutterstock

Wash your face. Pat your skin dry and apply glycolic acid. This acid will encourage the removal of old skin cells that have assembled into lines and replace them with smoother cells underneath. Smooth the glycolic acid up to your lip line, but do not smooth it on the lip line or on the lips, as it could irritate the delicate skin and burn.

As a home remedy, you may also make a paste with a pinch of baking soda and water to create a gentle exfoliant that helps remove dead skin and promotes healing. This DIY solution can help alleviate dryness and chapping, and prevent those annoying lip bleeds. Baking soda’s natural antibacterial properties also aid in preventing infections (1). Just apply the paste to the affected areas for a few minutes, then rinse off. Baking soda also helps balance pH levels, supporting overall lip health (2). It is not a magic fix, but adding baking soda to your lip care routine can be a simple step to keep the lips happy and bleed-free!

protip_icon Quick Tip
You can also opt for lactic acid instead of glycolic acid. Lactic acid is milder and is suitable for beginners.

Step 4

A woman applying lip balm to moisturize her lips
Image: Shutterstock

Apply a moisturizer. Massage it into the skin above your upper lips to further reduce lines. Opt for a moisturizer that has a sun protection factor of at least 15. This will help prevent future lines and stop existing lines from worsening.

Apart from these methods, you can also try rubbing ice cubes, biting on a gauze or a soaked tea bag, applying petroleum jelly or vitamin K cream, or using a salt water rinse as a mouthwash to manage lip bleeding.

Infographic: 4 Remedies To Manage Bleeding Lips At Home

Cracked and dry lips appear unflattering and may also bleed if ignored. Since the skin on your lips cannot produce natural oils, you need to take extra care to prevent it from cracking and bleeding. Thankfully, a lip balm is not the only option to keep them moisturized. The infographic below has a list of easy home remedies that will help heal cracked and bleeding lips and ensure that your pout stays soft and nourished. Check it out.

lip bleeding diy and medical treatments (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Drinking plenty of water can keep you from having bleeding lips. So do not ever forget to stay hydrated. It is essential for your lips and for maintaining your overall health. Other than this, apply suitable lip products to protect the lips and avoid habits like licking your lips. There could be many other causes behind lip bleeding. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions to prevent worsening your lip condition. Follow the steps mentioned above religiously and give your lips the necessary care and protection and consult a doctor if nothing works. If the situation worsens, you might require immediate medical attention.

WELL I HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a lip to stop bleeding?

A split or cracked lip usually stops bleeding within 5-10 minutes of applying pressure or a cold compress on it.

Is Vaseline good for lips?

Yes, vaseline has moisturizing properties, which makes it a good remedy for dry, chapped, and cracked lips.

Can I put Neosporin on my lips?

Neosporin is meant for external use only and you should avoid putting it in the mouth or on the lips to prevent the risk of ingestion.

Is coconut oil good for lips?

Yes, coconut oil is good for lips as it can act as a nourishing moisturizer and heal dry and chapped lips.

Key Takeaways

  • Causes of lip bleeding include lip licking, dehydration, allergies, snoring, and unsuitable skin products.
  • Some lip bleeding medical treatments include lip augmentation, laser lip rejuvenation, and fillers.
  • Blot your lips by biting them under your teeth to reduce bleeding and improve lip wrinkles.
  • Apply glycolic acid on a clean face to remove old skin cells in lines and replace them with smoother cells.


Delve into the science behind chapped lips. Click on the video and explore the factors, from environmental conditions to personal habits, that contribute to this common issue, and uncover effective remedies for smooth and healthy lips.

Personal Experience: Source

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. Antibacterial activity of baking soda
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11524862/
  2. The effect of sodium bicarbonate oral rinse on salivary pH and oral microflora: A prospective cohort study
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773983/
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