Plump and voluminous lips are more sought-after than ever but no one wants any part of that if the volume on the lips is caused by swelling. Because it’s a common concern, many often ask and wonder how to get rid of fat lips due to swelling.
Both a cold compress and hot water can decrease swelling. Natural and organic ingredients honey and aloe vera can also serve as a solution. You can make your own DIY solution paste with baking soda or turmeric. Lastly, you can concoct your own compress with black tea, apple cider vinegar, or saltwater.
Not all cases of swollen lips could be solved with easy DIY home remedies. Some may need the intervention of OTC topical and antibiotic ointments. And if the swelling on your lips still doesn’t seem to be resolving, a visit to your doctor may be warranted.
Below, we’ll go over our favorite home remedies for getting rid of fat and swollen lips. We’ll also take a look at what could possibly be causing them.
Fat Lip and Swollen Lip: Causes
Plump and voluminous lips are sought-after more than ever. While not all are gifted with naturally plump lips, many go to great lengths to achieve precisely that.
Lip augmentation treatments and procedures like lip fillers are especially abundant and readily available today to help anyone reach their lip goals.
However, it’s a totally different story if you end up with big fat lips due to swelling. You can experience swelling only on your upper lip or lower lip or even both.
Swollen lips can leave behind more than fat lips. There could be discoloration or some rash-like redness on the lips. In some cases, they could also appear chapped, dry, and cracked.
A variety of factors could cause swollen lips:
Injuries
Minor cuts, injuries, and trauma to your lips could cause swelling. This could be due to blunt force against your lips or you accidentally biting down on your lips hard. Regardless, this can cause trauma to your lips, leading to swelling.
In the case of injury to the lips, an ice pack is a great immediate response and remedy.
If there are cuts or injuries, the lips could also present wounds or some degree of bleeding. If this is the case, you should address the wound first by washing your lips with water and gentle soap. This way, you can prevent infections due to dirt and bacteria.
Allergies
The lips can also swell as an allergic reaction. People are allergic to many different things including food, lip products (lipstick lip balm, lipgloss, etc.), spices and herbs, pollen, dust, medications, and many other allergens.
Swollen lips due to allergies and sensitive skin usually go down and resolve on their own with time.
Though you have to keep in mind that certain allergies to food items could cause not only lip swelling but also difficulty in breathing, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and more. And if this is the case for you, immediate medical attention is required and home remedies simply won’t do you any good.
Chapped and sunburned lips
When lips are dry and chapped or sunburned, you may end up with fat, swollen lips as well.
When lips feel dry, most people’s tendency is to lick their lips in an attempt to moisturize them. But this only worsens the problem.
Excess sun exposure or extremely dry winter winds can both cause chapped lips which could potentially turn to swollen lips if not intervened with early on.
Infection
A bacterial, viral, or fungal infection can cause lips to swell. It could also be because you picked at a pimple that you shouldn’t have. Learn how to remove blackheads and pimples from lips.
Some underlying conditions that can cause swelling on the lips are measles, herpes, and other oral or gum infections. If this is the case, you must visit your doctor first thing.
Insect bite
Bites or stings from insects can cause puncturing wounds that can make the lips swell.
Pressure on lips
Constant pressure on the lips can cause inflammation and make them look swollen and fat. This pressure can be due to biting down on the lips hard.
Mouth instrument musicians may find themselves using constant pressure on their lips while playing. This can also lead to inflammation and swelling of the lips.
How to Get Rid of Fat Lips
If you find yourself dealing with swollen and fat lips, here are every home remedies you can try to get the swelling down:
- Cold compress and ice pack
An effective and basic way to get the swelling of your lips down is with a cold compress or an ice pack.
Applying a very cold temperature on the swollen area will reduce blood flow to the area and shrink blood vessels. Cutting off and reducing blood flow may help the swelling go down.
To do this, grab a few ice cubes and wrap them in a clean washcloth. Then, gently press this cold compress over the affected area of your lips. Remember, do not press too hard. Do this for no more than ten minutes.
You can repeat this for about three to four times a day until the swelling goes away.
- Warm water
Increased blood circulation to the affected area may help with the swelling. It can also help with the pain associated with the swelling. Warm water should help with that.
To do this, grab a clean washcloth and soak it in warm water. Wring out and get rid of the excess water and place the washcloth on the swollen area for about ten minutes. Repeat this process every hour to get the swelling down.
- Baking soda paste
Baking soda has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. These can reduce swelling on the lips.
To make your paste, mix baking soda with water until you get a thick paste consistency. Apply a good amount to your lips and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing off.
- Turmeric paste
Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, which can help with swelling.
Mix turmeric powder and water until you have a thick paste. Apply the solution to the area and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
- Honey
Honey has healing, soothing, and anti-bacterial properties, plus it’s a natural and organic home remedy.
Simply apply honey to your lips and leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing off. You can do this for two to three times a day.
- Aloe vera gel
Aloe vera offers a soothing solution while helping with the swelling. For this home remedy, you need fresh aloe vera.
Extract and apply aloe vera gel to your lips. You can leave this on without washing it off. Do this about two times a day.
You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to maximize the effects.
- Saltwater solution
Salt is an effective solution to swollen lips. Moreover, it’s a great healing agent thanks to its anti-bacterial property.
Mix warm water and salt together. Then, get a cotton ball and soak it in the solution. Place it over the affected area and leave it on for a couple of minutes. Repeat this process at least twice a day.
This may sting especially if you have open wounds or cuts on your lips.
- Black tea compress
The caffeine and tannin components of black tea can help with inflammation and irritation on the lips.
Prepare hot water and soak a bag of black tea in it. Allowing it to cool down, grab a cotton ball and soak it in the tea. Gently press this on the affected area.
Do this about twice a day.
- Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider has anti-inflammatory properties which can help with the swelling of the lips.
Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water together. Then, get a cotton bowl and soak it in the mixture. Gently press it against the lips for a few minutes.
Do this about twice a day.
How Long Does Lip Swelling Last?
Swollen lips can usually last for a few days to about a day. It also typically goes away on its own without much intervention. But if it is becoming a problem, try any of the home remedies we have above.
If no home remedy works, medical treatments may be warranted. Antibiotic and over-the-counter topical ointments might help with the swelling, depending on what caused it.
When to See a Doctor?
You should see a doctor and seek medical attention immediately if:
- Your lip swelling is caused by an allergic reaction to any food item.
- You have a wide cut on your lips that causes the swelling.
- The swelling persists and does not go down for more than one to two days.
- You are experiencing fever or pain. This could mean there is an infection.
- You are experiencing other symptoms like fever, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.
Conclusion
Swollen lips are mostly not a major concern. They, however, can be irritating, mildly painful, and itchy. Moreover, they appear as fat lips and not in a plump and pretty way.
You can get rid of fat lips through a variety of home remedies. Two of the most basic yet effective ways are with a cold compress or hot water. You can also make your own DIY pastes with either turmeric or baking soda. Honey and aloe vera are natural and organic ingredients that can also help. Then, there are also options for a DIY saltwater, black tea, or apple cider vinegar compress.
And that has been our detailed guide on the query, “How to get rid of fat lips”. If you have more questions for us, hit us up right below!