- Use a cold compress to reduce swelling and pain or take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.
- For natural remedies, try rubbing a baking soda and water paste, aloe vera gel, or honey on the swollen lip and rinsing it away after several minutes.
- Seek medical attention if the swelling is caused by a severe allergic reaction, does not go down within 24 hours, or if pain and redness worsen.
Home Treatments for Swollen Lips
Apply a cold compress right away if the swelling is from an injury. Wrap ice in a towel or use an ice pack from the freezer. Place it gently on your swollen lip and apply light pressure for no more than 20 minutes. This will reduce swelling for a recent injury. After the first few hours, cold is not typically effective, except to relieve pain. If you don't have ice, freeze a spoon for 5-15 minutes and put that on your swollen lip. Alternatively, suck on a popsicle or ice chips.
Try a warm compress for swelling from sores or chapping. Warmth may soothe pain and encourage blood flow to the lip, which stimulates healing (especially if bruises are present). Dip a clean cloth in warm (not hot) water, then wring out the excess. Hold it to your lips for 10 minutes. Repeat once an hour, several times a day or until swelling reverses. If the swelling is from an injury, use ice or a cold compress for up to the first 24 hours. Then, switch to warmth to encourage further healing.
Use over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are medications that decrease pain and swelling, and may be effective for swollen lips caused by injury, piercings, dryness or chapping, and mild allergic reactions. Common OTC NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), aspirin (Bayer, St. Joseph), and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Take only the recommended dosage, and consult with your healthcare provider before trying an NSAID to ensure it won’t adversely interact with any prescription medications you take. If the lip is only painful and not swollen, try acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Rinse the swollen lip with water throughout the day to keep it clean. While your lip is swollen and sore, it is more vulnerable to infection (especially if you have a cut, scrape, or sore that is causing the swelling). Remove dirt or food particles by running the lip under a faucet or by sponge it with water gently several times a day or whenever it gets dirty. Do not pick at it, wipe it, or scrub it harshly. Additionally, rinse your mouth and lips with warm salt water after meals. Mix and dissolve 1 tsp (5.7 g) of salt in 1 cup (237 mL) of warm water, then swish the mixture around in your mouth for several seconds to dislodge food bits and clean any lip and mouth wounds. If the lip swelled after an injury, especially a fall, disinfect it with an antiseptic or by gently washing it with water and antibacterial soap. If the lip is swollen due to a piercing, follow the aftercare advice from the person who did the procedure. Leave the piercing in your lip and wash your hands before handling it. Do not clean the lip with rubbing alcohol or peroxide, which can further inflame and irritate the lip.
Keep your lips moisturized with lip balm, chapstick, or moisturizer. These treatments moisturize your lips, preventing further cracking and drying that can sustain or worsen swelling. They’re especially helpful for swelling caused by sunburn, dryness, or chapping. Dab or rub the product gently onto your lips as indicated in the product instructions. If you want to make your own lip balm, combine 2 parts coconut oil, 2 parts olive oil, 2 parts grated beeswax, and a few drops of essential oil for scent. Avoid balms that contain camphor, menthol, or phenol. Use petroleum jelly sparingly, as it may not add much additional moisture and can block fresh air from reaching injuries or cracked skin.
Keep the lip uncovered and pressure-free to encourage healing. Pressure can cause more injury and a lot more pain, and it’s unlikely an adhesive bandage or other covering will stay on the lip. Keep swollen, bruised, cut, or chapped areas uncovered and exposed to fresh air for faster healing.
Avoid acidic, spicy, or high-sodium foods. Acidic or spicy foods and drinks, like hot sauce or lemonade, can irritate the injured or swollen lip and hamper healing. Likewise, salty, high-sodium foods can encourage additional swelling. To speed up healing and prevent irritation, center your diet on cool, bland, low-sodium foods and beverages. Drink plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated and avoid further cracking or swelling. If chewing hard or crunchy food hurts or causes irritation, healing will take longer. Replace some of your diet with healthy smoothies and protein shakes through a straw. In general, a healthy diet with enough vitamins and proteins may aid recovery.
Use a baking soda paste for swelling from blisters or mild allergic reactions. Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water to form a paste, then apply gently to the swollen lip (making sure to cover any visible blisters or insect bites). Leave the paste for 15-20 minutes, then rinse away with cool water. Repeat several times a day. Baking soda reduces pain, inflammation, and itching.
Mix and apply a turmeric paste up to two times a day. Add a few drops of cold water to a spoonful of turmeric powder to create a thick paste, then apply the paste to the swollen lip. Wait several minutes for the paste to dry, then wash it away with lukewarm water. Repeat up to 2 times a day. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce swelling. However, it may also interfere negatively with superior anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or aspirin.
Massage aloe vera gel into the swollen lip. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties and helps your lips and skin retain moisture, which prevents drying, cracking, or chapping that may cause or worsen swelling. Extract aloe from an aloe vera leaf or use 100% pure aloe vera from the store. Gently massage the aloe in your lip and the surrounding skin until it’s fully absorbed. Optionally, add a drop or two of tea tree oil to the aloe to help curb or prevent infection. Tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties that can disinfect your lip and skin. Apply the aloe and tea tree oil mixture carefully to avoid spreading it inside your mouth. Aloe alone is not dangerous to ingest in small quantities, but tea tree oil is toxic when consumed.
Use honey to reduce inflammation and moisturize the lip. Honey has antibacterial properties that help prevent infection and can also help soothe swelling and pain. Use a cotton pad or your clean fingertips to spread honey over the lip and leave it to sit for 20 minutes. Then, rinse the honey away with cold water. Repeat 2-3 times a day.
Treating a Cut or Split Lip at Home
Assess damage to your teeth, lips, and mouth after an injury. If your teeth are loose, chipped, or missing, see a dentist right away rather than going to the ER. If you have cuts that are longer or deeper than ½ inch (13 mm), an object has pierced a hole, the injury is bleeding profusely after 10 minutes, or you were struck by a rusty or dirty object, visit your doctor. They may sew the wound closed to prevent scarring or give you a tetanus shot to prevent infection. Because of the many blood vessels in and around the mouth, cuts often seem worse than they really are at first. Thankfully, the numerous blood vessels also encourage fast healing.
Flush the wound with cold water and apply gentle pressure to stop bleeding. Rinse and swish cold water around your mouth and lips to remove debris and blood. Then, gently press a clean cloth or gauze to the cut to stop the bleeding. Initial bleeding usually stops in 5-10 minutes. An antibiotic ointment is often not necessary. If you’re at home or have access to salt, disinfect the wound with salt water. Dissolve 1 tbsp (15mL) salt in 1 cup (240mL) warm water. Dip a cotton swab or towel into the water, then dab the cut lightly. This will sting at first, but it reduces the risk of infection.
Apply ice or a cold compress to numb the pain and reduce swelling. Use an ice cube or ice pack wrapped in a towel to reduce swelling once the injury is cleaned. Apply the ice on and off as needed for 10-20 minutes at a time until the pain and swelling are manageable. Have young children with an injury suck on a popsicle or ice cubes to numb the pain and limit swelling. Once initial swelling is over, try switching to warm, wet towels to stimulate blood flow and healing. Hold the compress to your lips for ten minutes, then leave it off for one hour before your next use.
Monitor the cut for swelling, discharge, fever, or worsening pain or redness. A typical lip injury should heal itself or show significant improvement in 3-4 days. If the lip is still swollen, bleeding or leaking discharge, or you experience worsening symptoms after this time, seek medical attention. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat an infected cut or wound, or apply stitches if it’s too large to close and stop bleeding on its own. Follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions.
Getting Medical Attention for Swollen Lips
Seek medical care ASAP for severe allergic reactions or unknown causes. Some swollen lips are caused by allergic reactions (angioedema) to certain foods, cosmetics, or insect bites, which can potentially be fatal. Seek medical care right away if this has never happened to you before, if your lips are severely swollen, if the swelling affects your breathing, or if your throat swells. If you've had similar allergic reactions in the past and know that these are mild symptoms, take an antihistamine and keep your inhaler or epinephrine shot nearby. If the reaction was caused by an insect bite, seek emergency services immediately. If you wake up with a swollen lip, it may be from going to bed dehydrated, sleeping in dry air, or mouth breathing. If you have no other symptoms of an allergic reaction and the swelling subsides after moisturizing and using ice, medical attention is likely not necessary. If you have braces or other dental fixtures and they were recently adjusted, you may experience trauma-related swelling in your gums, mouth, and lips as you adjust to the new position or tightness. If your lip came into contact with a household cleaner or other irritant, the swelling may be from a chemical reaction. Flush the lip with water to clean it and use the methods above to reduce swelling. If your lip is only swollen or is drooping on one side only, there is a chance you’ve had a minor stroke or are developing a neurological condition such as Bell’s palsy. Seek medical care immediately.
Visit a doctor to diagnose and treat possible mouth infections. If your swollen lips also have blisters, cold sores, red pimple-like bumps, swollen glands, or you experience flu-like symptoms, you may have a mouth infection, most commonly the herpes simplex virus. Visit a doctor for a diagnosis and prescription antiviral or antibiotic medication. In the meantime, avoid touching your lips, kissing, oral sex, and sharing food, drink, or towels.
Make an appointment if you do not know the cause. If you don't know what caused the swelling, see a doctor to find out. This is especially important if the swelling does not reduce within 24 hours. Here are a few possibilities: Severe swelling during pregnancy may be a sign of pre-eclampsia. This is a serious condition, so visit the doctor right away. Antidepressants, hormone treatments, and blood pressure medication may lead to swelling. Heart failure, kidney failure, and liver failure usually lead to more widespread swelling, not just the lip.
Seek medical attention if the swelling persists after 24 hours. Check on swelling and pain each day. If the swelling persists for more than a day or if other symptoms like pain, redness, discharge, or fever and flu-like symptoms develop or worsen, see a doctor immediately. These symptoms may be signs of a developing infection or other illness that must be treated as soon as possible.
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