Blue lips are a fairly harmless symptom at first glance. Blue lips are most often not perceived as a sign of any disease, but are associated with exposure to low temperatures on the body. It is not possible to unambiguously explain why lips are blue, since a change in their color is not always associated with cold. Blue lips during hypothermia are explained by a narrowing of the blood vessels, and as a result, they are not filled with blood. This reaction is protective - the body provides nutrition to vital organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys, etc.
Blue lips can also be observed with cardiovascular pathology, lack of oxygen, anemia, etc.
Yusupov Hospital is a powerful medical institution that provides medical services at a decent level twenty-four hours a day. Doctors not only know all the reasons why a person’s lips turn blue, but they also know how to examine correctly, without missing important elements. Significant is the fact that specialists have at their disposal all the necessary equipment - the hardware of the Yusupov Hospital puts it at a level higher than other clinics in Moscow. If this symptom is the result of a serious illness that threatens the patient’s life, it is necessary to transfer to the intensive care ward, which in the Yusupov hospital is equipped with mainline oxygen, the patient is connected to a cardiac monitor, and, if necessary, artificial ventilation, defibrillation and cardioversion are performed, both portable and stationary devices. You can make an appointment by phone or online.
general information
From an anatomical point of view, human lips are musculocutaneous folds surrounding the oral cavity. They consist of the orbicularis muscle, skin and mucous membrane. The upper and lower lips are connected to each other by commissures (commissures) at the corners of the mouth.
Lips are constantly exposed to external and internal factors and act as a platform for the manifestation of various diseases. An indicator of pathological changes in the body is, in particular, a symptom that is simply called “white lips”.
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In normal condition, the lips stretch without pain, have a pink or light red color, and a smooth surface. White lips in a child or adult are a leading sign of various diseases, to which dryness, swelling, soreness, and cracking may be added.
Lips are an important detail that affects the aesthetic perception of the face and performs many other functions. The lips are involved in the formation of facial expressions; they contain receptors responsible for different types of sensitivity. In addition, they serve as an indicator of a person's health status.
When a pathological process occurs in the body, the lips can change their size, become less elastic, lose sensitivity, become covered in rashes, and turn white. Consulting a dermatologist will help eliminate these manifestations or prevent them.
Classification of cheilitis
Primary (independent)
- Glandular
This lip disease is caused by acquired or congenital enlargement of the minor salivary glands and their infection. Most often it affects people over 30 years of age. It is worth noting that the upper lip is affected 2 times less often than the lower lip. At the beginning of the development of the disease, patients are concerned about peeling and slight dryness of the lips. If left untreated, pain may occur due to cracks and erosion.
- Exfoliative
This disease affects only the red border of the lips and is accompanied by peeling.
In most cases, women suffer from this disease. In the dry form, scales form on the lips, a feeling of dryness and burning appears; in the exudative form, swelling and abundant crusts form, making it difficult to eat and speak.
- Contact allergic
This disease is caused by a delayed allergic reaction to various irritants upon contact with the red border of the lips. In most cases, this disease affects women over the age of 20. Signs include redness of the lips, swelling, burning and severe itching. With repeated contact with the irritant, the disease worsens. If treatment for cheilitis is not started in a timely manner, the lip becomes covered with small blisters, after which cracks and erosion appear.
- Meteorological
This disease is caused by increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, wind or cold. In most cases, it affects men aged 20 to 60 years. The exudative form is characterized by itching, burning of the lips, and the appearance of erosion. Small bubbles may appear, after opening which crusts form. In the dry form, erythema of the lips is observed, small white-gray scales appear. If left untreated, abrasions and erosion may develop in the future.
Secondary (symptomatic)
- Atopic
It is believed that this type of disease is one of the manifestations of atopic dermatitis. Patients complain of slight swelling of the red border of the lips, while adjacent areas of the skin are involved in the inflammatory process. Also, manifestations of the disease include damage to the corners of the mouth. When acute inflammation begins to subside, the lip begins to peel off. As a result of dryness in the corners of the mouth, cracks form. In the absence of comprehensive treatment, peeling of the facial skin is possible.
- Eczematous
This disease develops against the background of eczema, which results in inflammation of the surface layers of the skin. In the acute stage, patients complain of redness of the lips, burning and itching. In this case, each lip swells, erythema and pathological changes in the skin are observed. If there is no comprehensive treatment, the disease becomes chronic. In this case, acute inflammatory phenomena (hyperemia, edema) decrease, inflammatory infiltration develops, and nodules and scales may form.
- Hypovitaminosis
This disease in most cases develops against the background of hypo- or avitaminosis of group B. Symptoms of cheilitis include burning and dryness of the tongue, lips and oral mucosa. If the disease is not treated, vertical small cracks appear on the red border of the lips, which often bleed. The tongue may increase in size, and teeth marks are often visible on it.
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Why are lips white
Human lips, their surface, mucous membrane, and surrounding skin very often display pathological changes that fall within the scope of consideration of several areas of medicine. As a rule, these are deviations that require dermatological, dental, therapeutic care, and the attention of infectious disease doctors.
Only a qualified specialist will be able to determine whether, in your case, white lips are an external sign of illness or a temporary cosmetic problem.
The main reasons why a person’s lips turn white are as follows.
- Manifestation of anemia. The lips and their mucous membranes lose their natural color and turn white due to a decrease in hemoglobin content in the blood. Such changes are observed mainly in iron deficiency or anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B12. The change in color is often accompanied by a deterioration in general health, headaches, burning and painful sensations in the lips, and their dryness.
- Oral candidiasis. More common in young children. It develops when infected with yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. First, white dotted spots appear on the lips, later they merge and form a continuous film.
- Leukoplakia. A chronic disease accompanied by increased keratinization of the epithelium and inflammation of the mucous membrane. The color of the lesions on the lips can vary, including whitish or white-gray.
- Smoking. Under the influence of nicotine, foci of whitish hyperkeratosis may appear.
- The influence of meteorological conditions (dry air, wind, low temperatures). In such situations, a short-term change in color is observed, followed by restoration of normal tone when the provoking factor is eliminated.
If the natural color of the lips is not restored within several days, they are sore, there are rashes on the surface, or a deterioration in the general condition, you need to consult a doctor - a therapist or a dermatologist. He will study your complaints, conduct anamnestic information collection and a physical examination. If there is a suspicion of a systemic or infectious disease, he will refer a specialist of the appropriate profile for consultation.
Homeopathic medicines
Homeopathy will help eliminate the unpleasant symptoms manifested in pale skin. Homeopathic medicines for the symptomatic treatment of pale lips act on the cause that caused the symptom:
- Calendula (Calendula) – eliminates the consequences of aggressive environmental influences;
- Bryonia (Bryonia) – prescribed for dry mouth;
- Calcium phosphoricum (Calcium phosphoricum) – for candidiasis, leukoplakia, dental problems;
- Arsenicum album (Arsenicum album) – for heart problems accompanied by a feeling of pressure in the chest; works as a short-term cardiac stimulant;
- Antimonium tartaricum (Antimonium tartaricum) - helps with plaque in the mouth, with a feeling of emptiness in the chest in adult patients with heart problems;
- Carbo vegetabilis (Carbo vegetabilis) - for heart problems, cyanosis, accompanied by pale skin; also for gastrointestinal diseases;
- Oxalicum acidum (Oxalicum acidum) - in case of cyanosis on the face in adults;
- Arnica montana (Arnica) – for physical weakness with anemia, pallor of the skin;
- Hamamelis (Witch hazel) – from anemic symptoms after the flu, blood loss, diarrhea, also helps with a tendency to bleeding;
- Ferrum phosphoricum (Ferrum phosphoricum) - from weakness caused by anemia, with exhaustion of the body, loss of strength caused by this disease of various etiologies.
White lips in adults and children: diagnosis and treatment
In cases where anamnesis and visual examination of the affected areas of the lips are not enough to make an accurate diagnosis, laboratory and instrumental studies are prescribed. Usually this:
- clinical blood and urine analysis;
- blood chemistry;
- microscopy of lip plaque, histological examination of the selected material;
- Ultrasound, CT, MRI - if necessary, assess the condition of internal organs.
After the diagnosis is made, measures are taken to eliminate the causes of the disease. For some, the doctor will recommend getting rid of bad habits, preventing the adverse effects of the environment, and reviewing their diet in order to saturate it with vitamins and microelements. Others will need drug therapy with systemic and local medications. The choice of medications is carried out taking into account the characteristics of pathological changes in the lips and the nature of the body diseases identified during diagnosis.
Application of METROGYL DENTA®
METROGYL DENTA® is used in the complex treatment of most infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, since it has a direct antibacterial effect on pathogenic microorganisms that contribute to the development of inflammation. METROGYL DENTA® does not mask the symptoms of the disease, but helps eliminate the cause of inflammation (pathogenic bacteria). METROGYL DENTA® helps cope with the treatment of cheilitis in adults over 18 years of age.
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The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional advice from a doctor. To make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, consult a qualified specialist.
Localization Features
The cause of plaque can be determined by taking into account its location.
| Localization | Most likely causative factors |
| Corners of the mouth |
|
| Outer lips |
|
| Inner lips |
|
A sticky coating on the surface of the lips in the morning indicates a pathology of the stomach or esophagus.
Pathological causes
If plaque appears regularly even after oral hygiene, this may indicate a more serious pathology, namely:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- scarlet fever;
- respiratory tract diseases;
- lichen planus;
- stomatitis;
- diabetes mellitus, in which you constantly feel thirsty;
- exacerbation of herpes infection.
An undesirable symptom may also appear in the morning due to dental diseases (caries, periodontal disease).
Hyaluronic acid - a recipe for elastic and full lips
If you are concerned about disappearing lip contour or asymmetrical shape, you can use hyaluronic acid treatment, i.e. lip augmentation. It is a compound that occurs naturally in human skin and ensures proper tension and hydration. Over time, there is less and less hyaluronic acid in the tissues, and the skin dries out. The procedure gives immediate results and will help you get the lips you dream of.
What woman would not want to have firm and moisturized lips? In our Aesthetic Medicine Center you can correct the shape of your lips and give them volume. Treatment with hyaluronic acid is not called injections of youth for nothing. The procedure will also help if you want to moisturize your lips without sculpting them. After the procedure they become more elastic.
Treatment of lips with hyaluronic acid before and after the procedure
How is treatment carried out when plaque appears in the oral cavity?
To prescribe effective treatment, the doctor must first determine why plaque appears on the lips. The faster and more accurately he makes a diagnosis, the easier the therapy will be. Treatment will differ in each individual case. A universal technique is to rinse the mouth with soda and potassium permanganate.
Treatment of candidiasis can be local and systemic. Suitable therapy is selected taking into account the stage of development and form of the disease. Local treatment of the affected areas is carried out using antifungal and antiseptic drugs - sprays, rinses, gels, etc.
Systemic treatment of candidiasis is carried out in the chronic form of the disease and its spread to other organs. It involves taking special polyene antibacterial drugs, which are active against most fungi and some protozoa, or antimycotic substances. The following remedies are often prescribed:
- "Nystatin" is a polyene antibiotic characterized by moderate toxicity;
- Fluconazole is a highly effective antimycotic drug;
- "Nizoral" is an antifungal agent that copes with candidiasis in a few days.
An addition to the main therapy can be rinsing the mouth with decoctions of sage, chamomile, and yarrow. To eliminate an undesirable symptom, it is important to adjust your diet, drink enough fluids, and humidify the air in the room. It is also necessary to sanitize the oral cavity and constantly maintain its hygiene at a high level.
On average, treatment takes three weeks. It is carried out until the symptoms disappear completely and then extended for another week.
