A fat lip can be embarrassing and painful. It may be accompanied by bleeding and cuts, and can cause difficulty eating, drinking, talking or even opening your mouth.
The swelling usually occurs due to some kind of trauma to the soft tissue of the lips. Other causes include extreme weather conditions, dryness, nutritional deficiencies, a viral infection, dehydration, an insect bite, an allergic reaction and using poor quality lip care products.
You can use over-the-counter or prescribed medicines to treat a swollen lip. But there are some excellent home remedies as well that will help get rid of it quickly.
In case your swollen lip is caused by an allergy, a medical condition, or some serious injury, do consult your doctor.
Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of a swollen lip fast.
1. Cold Compress
As soon as you notice your lip swelling, apply a cold compress. In fact, this is one of the best ways to help reduce the swelling caused by lip piercing.
- Wrap some ice cubes in a paper towel or washcloth. You can also use a bag of frozen peas or a cold spoon.
- Press the cold compress gently over the swollen area for 10 minutes, take a break and repeat.
- Do this until the swelling goes down and you get relief from the pain and discomfort.
Note: Do not apply ice directly on your lip as it can result in soreness or mild frost bite.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel has several anti-inflammatory properties that are very effective in reducing swelling as well as the burning sensation from a swollen lip. This remedy is best for swelling caused by insect or mosquito bites or some kind of allergic reaction.
- Apply freshly extracted aloe vera gel on the affected lip.
- Massage the area gently so the aloe vera is absorbed into the lip.
- Repeat two or three times a day.
3. Black Tea Bag
Black tea contains compounds known as tannins, which have excellent astringent qualities that can reduce swelling in the soft tissues of the lips.
- Soak a black tea bag in warm water for about 10 minutes.
- Remove it from the water and allow it to cool.
- Gently apply it over the swollen lip for 10 minutes.
- Repeat several times a day for quick results.
4. Honey
Honey has natural healing as well as antibacterial properties to effectively and quickly treat a swollen lip. It will keep your lips well moisturized, prevent infection and reduce inflammation, swelling and pain.
- Dip a cotton ball in one teaspoon of honey.
- Apply it on the affected lip.
- Leave it on for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse the area with cold water.
- Repeat two or three times a day.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric powder has antiseptic as well as healing properties to treat a swollen lip. The antiseptic properties will also prevent infection. You can make an herbal ointment with turmeric power.
- Mix a little turmeric power with one teaspoon of fuller’s earth and enough cold water to make a paste.
- Apply it over the affected area.
- Allow it to dry for some time and then clean the lips with lukewarm water.
- Repeat twice daily to get rid of pain and swelling.
6. Baking Soda
Baking soda is also highly recommended to treat a swollen lip caused by an allergic reaction, a fever blister, or an insect or mosquito bite. It will help reduce the pain as well as inflammation.
- Make a thick paste by mixing three teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of water.
- Apply the paste on the affected lip.
- Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse it off with cold water.
- Repeat a few times a day until the swelling subsides.
Great advice ice cubes did the trick
I would never recommend using ice on a bumped lip, even wrapped in anything. My daughter had an ice pack applied to her lip last week for a bump at school and it was too cold. She is now having to use anticortisone cream and antibiotics to treat it as it is very inflamed and sore. I’ve been told on a few first aid courses to avoid putting anything cold onto bumped lips as it can cause mild frost bite. Better to use a cool paper towel, flannel or offer a cool drink!
My dentist assistant hit my lip with something.
Then to help do anyone of those and u will get better.
Tried the ice/salt/honey remedies, one them worked
Cool
Thanks for the remedies!
when my mum came home with a swollen lip, I didn’t know what to do so I searched on the internet, until I came onto this site.
hey! My mum came back from work with swollen lips as well. I am here like you were here too.
Same
I was at Walmart where I bought a cup of unsweet tea
at their McDonald shop, before I left the store, my lip
began to swell. I visited the ER at the local hospital
and was given a shot of prednisolone and a
prescription to follow until I visited my primary
provider. So far my swelling has gone down some.
Was the cup polystyrene with some sort of soft, almost rubbery paint for the label? Because I had a reaction after using a different type of disposable cup at work.
i have a bad habit of chewing a part of my lower lip from my childhood,due to which now that part of the lip becomes swollen and in that region both the upper and lower lips grow slightly upward as compare to the other region.my whole face looks ugly due to this tilted lips and i feel uncomfortable for this,so please help me to cure this.it’s kind request
Me to how did you cure it!?
me too…on the upper lip, i had the habit of biting it and now it became permanently ,not actually swollen, but that part became of uneven shape than the rest of my lips. what to do??
The constant damage to the tissue has caused you to have scar tissue. It would eventually heal IF YOU LEAVE IT ALONE. You are coupling scar tissue with new trauma to the area. Scar tissue takes a while to “grow out” but eventually does. Stop causing damage to the area and it will slowly but surely produce new skin to replace the old, affected skin.
Hello..
I have my lower fuller lip…
Please tell me some home remedy to make my lower lip thinner… I have no pain.
I get cold sores but this one time my whole lip has inflated when I have a cold sore, it doesn’t seem to be going down, I have put salt on the cold sores to kill them but the swollen lip isn’t making a difference
Guyzz plzz help
……I hav my upper lip painfully and horribly swolen ,……………….I hav 2 go skul day after as I missed 2day fr d same reason…….help!!!!!!
do whtevr mntnd in da page
hahahaha ah the spelling – but try the above remedies
cold compression? 🙂
thnq vry mch 4 da infrmtn i’l try diz n c da rslt. thx agn
english, mate… english
hahahahaha !
Hi, I woke up 4:30am and saw my lower lip swallen… Looks funny at first… I tried to apply ice cube… But nothing’s happening… Can anyone help me what to do to make it normal again… I look like a half Angelina joli..
Me too what did u do to make it go away
1.wrap them in a bag or cloth
2.wait for ten mins
3.repeat two or three times a day.
note:do not put the ice directly on the lip as it can result in swellness or mild frostbite
I just got hit by my son and have a really bad fat upper lip… help what can I do for the swelling to go down quick
Why did your son hit you?
Use some ice to make the swallowing go away
The black tea bag workerd!!
thanks now i can go to the Easter play and
not look embarrassed!
the salt one worked really good, i used salt and the ice…. but don’t use them right after eachother hahaha, cuz it burns. but if you do the ice compression one listed above for a couple minutes at a time it goes down substantially within an hour
how did u apply the salt do you mix it with something or you just put it on
Me too how did it go down though
Wow! The hot water compression just worked; now i can go to work with no dog face. Thanks alot
Am yet to try this but i know is gonna work
The cold compress works, though my lip was REALLY swollen i left the ice(wrapped with a towel) for about 2 hours and the swelling had subsided a ton.Thanksss!
The cold compress really works !!!
My lip was huge and I looked like an alien but now Im back to normal.
Cold compress highly recommended !!!!
the cold compress works 😀 now i can go to my aunts wedding and not be embarrased
Your post is very nice and informative post we are also work same in this field and welcome you to visit our website. Thanks for your very nice and really a informative post.
I was at my grandmaas house and I slipped and my knee banged on my lip. My lip began to bleed and it turned swollen. I searched the web and I found this website. I think it has helped quite a lot and my lip has almost gone back to normal. The ice cubes worked well and so did the warm compress. ☺️
The cold compress really works. Now I can go see my girlfriend and not look like I just fought Manny Pacquiao. Thanks.
I been suffering from cold sores since childhood. I get it frequently and have the embarrassing task of facing others, leaving alone the terrible swelling, tenderness and pain. I take jet ketazol tablets as some kind of preventative but I still get it. Simply hate this condition. Will try some of these tips. These tips mean so much to us sufferers . God bless.
thanks for the adice really helpful…now i look much better den b4
the ice did the trick…THANK U!!!!!!!!!! my hero
The ice compress really helped. Thankyou. :))
I’m here using the ice remedy,but before i was using the baking soda but i guest the ice is doing it’s magic thanks much
Ice n salt water helped!
The tea bag remedy worked thank you 8======D
While the use of ice to reduce swelling is widespread, it is many a time done incorrectly. The use of a bare ice cube on a swollen area for a prolonged period of time can lead to natural damages from cold, or partial frostbite. What I recommend is that you go get a zip-lock bag, or a paper towel or two and wrap it around some ice cubes, you can then press this to the swollen area to reduce inflammation without harmful side affects.
i used ice & cold spoon what about u
well it’s actually the side of my mouth that is actually swollen so i don’t think it is the same as all of yours
same here I fell over some toys and the side of my mouth it the counter now its swollen
it actually worked
The ice cubes in the zip loc bag works well
just woke up with a swollen lower lip. I wil try one of these remedies. Thank you for the post
yoo thanks very much for home remedy tips thy really work hey..I washed my lips with a bit of salt after a few minutes I put ice cubes on a facecloth and put it on my lips did that twice now my lips back to normal so happy was frustrated this morning thanks a million:'(
Try ice one hope it helps me too!!!!
Good methods.
I fainted and busted my lip. It’s been 3 days and I have an interview in 2 days. I put water in a latex glove and froze it. I can’t stand the coldness on my lip for more than 2 minutes. I tried the black tea bag, it’s more comfortable. Pray for me. I’ll respond back in 2 days. Thanks
what is the matter with moms with swollen lips?! my mom too got swollen lips!
Woke up with my upper lip slightly swollen,I applied balm thinking it will reduce it bt it has gone overboard,nw I wil try ice cube hope it works. God help
My lips are covered in cold sores. Idk what to do.
Since l tried out the turmeric powder ,the pain eased up and l feel much better.
I woke up in the middle of the night last night with half of my upper lip swollen, and I knew that today I was going to a social gathering and I certianly didn’t want to look like this! Now I find myself with baking soda on my face….I hope this works… XD
I have never had problems with swollen lips or bumps on my lips until eating too many crunchy Cheetos several weeks ago – Now it seems like my lips have become sensitive to many things and I haven’t figured out what it is for sure. I used Polysporin on my lips but it didn’t help much and then tried coconut oil without much help – The Turmeric has taken some of the swelling down.
thanku very much, 🙂 the cold compressor (ice) really worked very much. I applied for 10 to 15 mins just now. So much relief. I will repeat this again afternoon or in between. i will try tea bag too.. i have this problem from childhood. ..
I also did suffer from swollen lips, eyes etc – specially every day when i woke up in the morning. Got all blood tests done, visited the best specialists – no result – no allergies. However observed my diet & only thing i could conclude it was due to eating “Maida ” viz finely milled refined and bleached wheat flour.
Finally having no option switched to herbal treatment – drink a glass of warm Neem leaves water ( only few leaves boiled in water & kept to cool for 15 minutes ) , it worked miracles for me.
gooooooo to icee
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm …..all is well
Ice is working ????
The ice started working within like a minute thank you so much this was a life saver!
My lips got swollen by using Revlon color stay lipstick.i wil try above remedies
Thankyooooooousoooooomuuuuuch
Ice cubes are good to heal a cut on your lip
If your lip is still swollen use more ice
Well as all say,I shall try ice,thanx in advance. 🙂
I had a swollen lip over night and tried checking the internet for a solution untill then i found this…it really help alot
My daughter split her lip falling off the top bunk bed last night. Today her lip was huge! After almost fainting, I was blessed with finding this website. The cold compress helped. We’ll try the black tea bag after school and before tricking her into the ER. Thanks lots.
I was having an allergic reaction and my lip blew up. The aloe Vera is already seeming to work.
It helped me to it worked amazing
I went rollerbladeing with my dad to the skate park did a turn and smacked my face right on the cement it turns out I had bitten my lip all the way through my lip is still really swollen and bloody but getting better 🙂
Good one
Hello
So here’s my story…..
So i was playing baseball and then a ball hit me in the face because the sun was in my eyes but then I couldn’t feel my body and it felt like someone pushed me and then I started to spit out blood constantly I’ve tried icing it it has been working but I want it to be gone tomorrow for my baseball game is their any faster way I could get rid of my ugly swollen lip.
Currently holding a cold water bottle to my lip because I also bite my inner bottom lip if feels like it’s going down but idk lol hope it works it’s been swollen for 2 days and I have a date tomorrow we will see what happens
held a cold spoon to my bottom lip as I have a habit of biting it took a total of 48mins for it to lose the swelling up to where you couldn’t visibly tell. held it for another half hour and its back to normal.
It just worked in a half hour to cure my lip swelling. I got a much relief doing it. I was able to sleep at night gently.
son just rolled out of bed and hit his face off the floor and now has a fat lip put cold compresses on it going to try other stuff tomorrow if don’t get better guess I’ll take to the ER thanks for ideas
My lips are getting bigger with every passing hr. Both! Some sort of allergic reaction to antibiotic, ( doxycycline) for bacterial pneumonia! At least best I can figure… don’t know of anything else I’ve used or done differently. :/ unless it’s the different no name kleenex (kirklands) from coughing up and spitting out in it …:/ at any rate Tylenol hardly helped nor did benadryl. :/ going now to try aloe pant (cold) keep you all posted!!
My husband fell in bathroom.he busted top and bottom lip using cold compress and Prayer.v
I had a really bad allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. The ice one worked well, but the next day it was swollen again, to the same exact size!
I dropped my phone on my face
I fell busted my lip been using ice pack for two days swelling still there I’m going to try some other remedies hopefully they work