11 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Swollen Lips

July 16, 2018 by Kushneet Kukreja

ISSA Certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition

Every woman dreams of having pout-worthy lips. But, what if your lips are unnaturally swollen? The abnormal enlargement of lips becomes easily noticeable by anyone and everyone around you. And then, they start bombarding you with questions about what happened. So annoying! While the condition might not always be painful, it is definitely stressful and scary. So, before it gets worse, you should try the amazing remedies listed in this article to get rid of swollen lips. Read further to know more.

As the saying goes, ‘every problem has a solution’, there is a solution for this problem too. And the best part is you need not purchase chemically treated products for curing swollen lips. They might backfire and have harsh side effects as well. So, it’s always better and safe to opt for natural ways of treatment. Read on to know the reasons for your lips swelling up and some simple remedies for swollen lips.

Causes Of Swollen Lips

Though swelling may happen due to any trauma to the soft tissue, there are various other reasons for swollen lips. Some of the common reasons are as follows:

Nutritional deficiencies
Dehydration
Viral infection
Dryness
Injury or cut
Allergic reaction to a food product
Insect bite
Bad lip care products
Extreme climatic conditions

Most of the times, swollen lips are accompanied by cuts and bleeding too, which makes it difficult for a person to eat, drink or talk properly (1, 2, 3). Use the remedies listed below to treat this condition.

How To Get Rid Of Swollen Lips

Home Remedies For Swollen Lips

1. Ice Cubes

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

1-2 ice cubes
A soft washcloth

What You Have To Do

Wrap the ice cubes in the washcloth and press this pack gently over the swollen area for 8-10 minutes.
Take a break of 10 minutes and repeat the process.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat after a few hours if required.

Why This Works

Using ice cubes is one of the most common ways to heal swollen lips. Applying ice is known to reduce edema by reducing the amount of blood flowing to the affected site (4).

Caution

Do not use ice cubes directly as it may result in mild frostbite or soreness.

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2. Warm Water

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You Will Need

Warm water
A washcloth

What You Have To Do

Soak the washcloth in warm water. Take it out and wring it to remove the excess water from the cloth.
Now, place it on your lips for 8-10 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

If required, repeat this process after an hour.

Why This Works

Warm water is another effective way of curing swollen lips. It reduces swelling by promoting circulation. It also soothes the pain you might experience due to the swelling of your lips (5).

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3. Turmeric Powder

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon fuller’s earth
A pinch of turmeric
Cold water

What You Have To Do

Make an herbal ointment by mixing turmeric powder with fuller’s earth and cold water. Mix it well and apply it all over the swollen area.
Allow it to dry completely.
Wash your lips with lukewarm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this process twice a day.

Why This Works

Turmeric powder has anti-inflammatory compounds, mainly curcumin, that reduce the swelling. It is also known for its antiseptic and healing properties (6).

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4. Aloe Vera

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You Will Need

An aloe vera leaf

What You Have To Do

Cut open the leaf and remove the aloe gel present inside.
Take a small amount of this gel and gently massage it on the affected area.
Leave it on for as long as possible.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in reducing the burning sensation on the lips, thus curing swollen lips (7). If your lips are swollen due to a mosquito bite, insect bite or any allergic reaction, freshly extracted aloe vera juice or gel works best to cure the condition.

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5. Baking Soda

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon baking soda
Water

What You Have To Do

Mix the baking soda with some water.
Apply a thick coat of this paste on the swollen area.
Keep it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once again after 3-4 hours if the swelling doesn’t reduce.

Why This Works

Very few people know that baking soda is a very effective home remedy for curing swollen lips. If the problem occurs due to fever blisters, allergic reaction, an insect bite or a mosquito bite, use baking soda. It is an antiseptic agent with anti-inflammatory and soothing properties (8, 9).

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6. Honey

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon honey
Cotton ball or cotton swab

What You Have To Do

Dip a fresh cotton ball in the honey. Apply it directly to the affected area.
Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this two to three times a day.

Why This Works

We all know that honey has natural healing and antibacterial properties. It is one of the fastest ways to get rid of swollen lips. It soothes any itching or irritation that accompanies the swelling (10).

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7. Witch Hazel Extract And Salt

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon witch hazel extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

Mix the salt with the witch hazel.
Apply this on the lips with a cotton ball and let it sit for 30 minutes.
Rinse it off with cool water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat once or twice for best results.

Why This Works

Witch hazel is a widely used astringent that cleans and disinfects the skin’s surface. It also reduces inflammation and soothes the swollen and sensitive skin on your lips (11).

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8. Tea Tree Oil And Aloe Vera

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You Will Need

1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
A few drops of tea tree oil

What You Have To Do

Add the tea tree oil to the aloe gel and mix well.
Apply this mixture on the lips and massage gently for a minute or two.
Leave it on for 10-12 minutes and then rinse with cool water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this once or twice a day depending on how quickly the swelling reduces.

Why This Works

While aloe vera gel can be used by itself to treat swollen lips, you can make the remedy more potent by adding some tea tree essential oil to it. Tea tree oil is a strong antimicrobial agent, and it can help reduce swelling caused by infections and insect bites very quickly (12).

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9. Coconut Oil

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You Will Need

Organic coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Massage a few drops of coconut oil on the swollen lips.
Leave it on for a couple of hours.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat application if the swelling doesn’t go down.

Why This Works

Organic coconut oil is a boon when it comes to treating skin ailments. It has antimicrobial properties that eliminate any harmful bacteria, fungi, or virus while absorbing all the impurities from the skin pores. It is also a great emollient and keeps the skin nourished and supple (13, 14).

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10. Epsom Salt

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon Epsom salt
1 cup warm water
Washcloth

What You Have To Do

Mix the Epsom salt in the water.
Dip the washcloth in this water and place it on the swollen lips for 15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this procedure a few times until the swelling subsides.

Why This Works

The warm Epsom salt water soothes your skin and relieves pain. If there are any cuts or bruises on your lips, they will heal quickly with the Epsom salt compress. Epsom salt also reduces the swelling as it has anti-inflammatory properties (15).

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11. Apple Cider Vinegar

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon water
Cotton ball

What You Have To Do

Dilute the apple cider vinegar and apply it on the lips with the cotton ball.
Leave it on for a couple of minutes.
Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice a day.

Why This Works

Apple cider vinegar can reduce swelling due to edema and inflammation (16). It is also an excellent antiseptic (17).

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So, these were the best home remedies to cure swollen lips. You should eat a balanced and healthy diet that is rich in vitamins to avoid swollen lips. However, if your lips swell up regularly, consult a doctor immediately.

Expert’s Answers for Readers Questions

What are the symptoms of swollen lips?

The main symptom is a localized swelling of lips that may or may not be accompanied with pain. As a result of this, you may experience difficulty in talking, eating, drinking, and even opening your mouth. Some other symptoms that may accompany include chapped skin, blisters, lip discoloration, and headache. You may also experience fatigue and tiredness.

How long does it take for your lip to heal if you cut it with your tooth?

A bruise or cut may develop at the site of injury on the lip. Depending on how badly your lip is injured, the healing time differs. It may take a week to 15 days for it to completely heal.

Why is my lip piercing making my lip swell?

When a lip is pierced, there are chances that harmful bacteria were introduced at that site. This causes an infection, which leads to your lips swelling up and also hurting. It is essential to give this immediate attention and maintain proper oral hygiene.

Can too much kissing cause swollen lips?

When the kissing is too intense, it can cause irritation and also damage the blood vessels in your lips, causing them to swell.

Watch this video to know ice cubes & turmeric help to treat swollen lips

Now that you know how to get rid of swollen lips, what are you waiting for? Try our simple and quick natural remedies and let us know which one worked for you. Do let us know your feedback by commenting below.