Tingling lips refers to a sensation on the lips that makes you feel as if there are needles and pins on them. This common problem is caused by nerve damage that takes place when you are exposed to temperature extremes. The various causes of tingling lips include cosmetics and food products that you are allergic to. The duration of tingling lips varies depending on the causative factor. You need to consult your physician to find its cause so you can resort to suitable treatment accordingly.
Causes of Tingling Lips
General Causes
Chapped lips can be a reason for tingly lips. Additionally, when you are exposed to the extreme cold or hot temperature, you can feel your lips tingling. Cold sore, injury of tissues in your lips and vitamin B12 deficiency are also the causes of tingling lips.
Allergies
Whenever your lips come into contact with any noxious allergens that maybe environmental, cosmetic or edible in nature, they tend to experience a tingling sensation. The persistence of tingly lips depends on when the allergies caused by chemical pesticides, medicines, cleansers, cosmetics or food items can be relieved.
Mineral Deficiency
Deficiency or a low level of essential minerals such as phosphate, calcium and potassium in your body can result in trembling, shuddering and tingly lips. It can also activate tingling in ears, throat, tongue and nose. Muscle ache in your body is another symptom of mineral deficiency.
Panic Attack
The stressful lifestyle nowadays may induce panic attacks. During a panic attack, rapid and heavy breathing causes a serious carbon dioxide loss from your blood and intensifies the symptoms of anxiety. This phenomenon is referred to as ‘hyperventilation’ and tends to produce tingling lips.
Hypoglycemia and Peripheral Neuropathy
It is a kind of sensory nerve injury. Peripheral neuropathy results in tingling in various body parts, including your lips. It is mainly caused by unbalanced levels of glucose, also known as hypoglycemia. Normally, tingling in lips occurs at night and other symptoms of hypoglycemia include muscular pain and anxiety.
Raynaud’s Phenomenon
It is a condition in which your blood vessels lying close to your skin’s surface contract when they are exposed to cold temperatures. Subsequently, it results in spasms, pain, twitching, pricking and tingling in the area that has been affected. The skin turns blue or white in color. Raynaud’s phenomenon generally affects your hands, feet, face, ears and lips. It can be a sign of lupus or other similar conditions.
Infections
Infections such as herpes can make your lips tingle. Individuals attacked by herpes notice tingling a little before a herpes outbreak. Shingles produced by the herpes zoster virus result in a painful or itchy red colored rash. When it affects the trigeminal nerve, numbness (usually on one portion of your face) or tingling occurs.
When to See a Doctor
It is important to seek professional help if a sudden tingling sensation in the lips is accompanied by weakness or numbness in one portion of the body, huge change in alertness or consciousness, or a terrible headache. These can be symptoms of stroke and must not be taken lightly.
Remedies for Tingling Lips
Don’t Peel Off
Make sure not to peel off any dry and dead skin off from your lips. Instead, wipe it using a clean cotton ball that has been soaked in lukewarm water. You can also rub it off with a toothbrush with soft bristles.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Incorporate healthy foods loaded with vitamins and minerals along with dietary supplements in your daily diet for getting rid of tingly lips. Foods rich in phosphorus and potassium such as whole-grains, chocolate, nuts and seeds are great for treating tingling lips.
Use Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil kills the particles of viruses outside your cells. This antidote is effective for healing herpes. Dip a clean cotton swab in hygienic water and then dip it in peppermint oil. Apply it on your lips twice daily.
Chew Basil Leaves
Basil leaves are fantastic for treating different mouth infections. Chew a couple of basil leaves or rub them on the lips for getting fast relief. Basil leaves are great mouth fresheners as well.
Treatment Based on Causes
Tingling lips is barely a serious illness, but you may need to visit your doctor to discover the possible underlying causes behind this condition.
In case tingly lips are due to allergic food items, you would have to avoid consuming them. You can make use of antihistamines for controlling the tingling sensation in your lips.
Tingly lips caused by stress can be managed by exercising, relaxation tactics such as yoga. Herbal remedies are also proved to be effective. Alcohol should be avoided if you often have tingling lips.
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