When it comes to beauty, we often only think of our lips., another part of our body to which we can give a touch of color with lipsticks and glosses.
They are one of the main features that set us apart and we use our lips to kiss, eat and of course talk.
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But your cuddles can also reveal underlying health issues, from liver disease to herpes, experts say.
Wellness expert Hari Simran says the color, shape, and texture of your lips can reveal signs of health issues that you might ignore if you have other symptoms.
She said that the lips are the "front door" to the inner workings of our body.
write toKora OrganicsHe said that the upper lip represents the heart, lungs, liver, stomach and thyroid.
In doing so, the bottom lip may reflect problems you may be having with your bowels.
Lisa Borg, skin specialist and nutritionist atPulslicht KlinikHe said that minor problems can be easily solved.
But how do you recognize the signs? Here are the eight lip symptoms Hari should look out for.
1. Wrinkles on the upper lip
As we age, we all get wrinkles in places we'd rather not have them.
Both physical and mental exertion can cause wrinkles, as can smoking.
Worrying about something can also cause your upper lip to curl up.
Lisa said that dental hygiene also plays an important role in the health of the elderly's lips.
"Dry lips combined with dry mouth in people over the age of 70 can lead to pneumonia," he adds.
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2. Chapped and dry lips
A dry mouth is usually a sign that you are somewhat dehydrated and this can be seen on your lips.
Lips can become dry and cracked if you don't have enough water in your body.
A change in the weather can also lead to dry lips, which is why many people carry a lip balm with them during the winter months.
Hari says you should avoid licking your lips as it can make them worse.
Add that if your lips are itchy while they are chapped, you may have an allergy.
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Lisa said dry lips are simply an indication of dehydration or exposure to elements like wind and sun, often accompanied by low humidity.
“The best remedy for dry lips is staying hydrated throughout the day and preferably good quality (filtered) water rather than dehydrated coffee and soft drinks; it is also good to have some fresh water next to the bed.”
3. Bumps
Sores or blisters can sometimes appear during the winter months and usually heal on their own or with over-the-counter creams.
However, they can also be the result of herpes.
If you have this you will usually feel tingling before it breaks out.
Your doctor can prescribe medication, but you should avoid spending too much time in the sun as this will irritate the sore.
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4. Cracks on the edges
It's very easy to lick your lips to moisten them, but if you do it too often it can lead to infection.
dermatologistDra Mona GoharaHe said if you drool while you sleep or wear a retainer, bacteria can build up around your mouth and cause an infection.
If your lips are dry, you can try using a balm before bed.
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5. Discoloration
Many smokers often have discolored lips from years of smoking.
But if your lip color has changed, you could have serious liver problems.
Blue lips can indicate a lack of oxygen in the body, and similar discoloration can be seen on fingers and toes.
If your lips have lightened a bit and look pale, you may have anemia, vitamin deficiency, or low blood sugar.
A simple blood test by your GP would determine what deficiency you have and advise you on supplements or medications that may help.
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6. Blackheads
The sun is shining in the UK and if you have black spots on your lips you may have developed sunspots.
They are usually dark brown and can be quite painful. You can protect your lips by using a balm that contains SPF.
You can also find black spots on your lips if you have vitamin B-12 deficiency or hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation can also appear on the nose, forehead, and cheeks.
Attention: Pay attention to smaller and bigger problems
Lisa Borg says dry lips can indicate underlying health issues, which can range from minor to major. Here we're going to look at the best way to deal with issues at either end of the scale.
Speaking to The Sun, Lisa said minor issues are easily resolved.
“Change diet to a more hydrating one, stop breathing through your mouth and switch to nasal breathing; Stop the habit of licking your lips and smoking tobacco.
"If necessary, talk to your doctor about medications that were introduced around the same time your dry lips developed, as there may be alternatives."
She said average conditions can include yeast infections, allergies and food intolerances; Recreational use of drugs and alcohol can also lead to dry lips and dehydration and can be categorized as moderate or severe depending on the person's level of addiction.
“The main problems include diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Sjogren's syndrome, which often accompanies other autoimmune diseases (in Sjogren's disease, the immune system attacks the fluid-producing glands, causing dryness); UV rays of sunlight, especially UVB, and this as a factor that increases the risk of skin cancer.
7. Swelling
Usually, the lip will swell if there is a lump in the area, but swollen, swollen lips can also be a sign of an allergic reaction.
If your lips feel swollen or swollen after applying your favorite lipstick, you may be allergic or sensitive to some of the ingredients.
However, if your swollen lips are accompanied by an itchy or tight throat, it could be something you've eaten or been in contact with something you're allergic to.
Your doctor will be able to advise and advise you on this, and you can also buy home allergy kits online.
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8. Red rings of anger around the lips.
If you have puffiness around your lips, you may have eczema.
Licking your lips continuously removes the natural oil that surrounds them.
This can cause itching, redness, and scabbing.
Be sure to use moisturizers to keep the area soft.
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If the area is particularly irritated, try natural, unscented products as this will only irritate the mouth more.
Lisa added that foods that stimulate saliva production are great for plumping up the lips.
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“Foods like apples, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, watermelons, lemons, and crunchy fibrous vegetables like carrots and celery.
"Herbs and spices like cayenne pepper, ginger, and fennel are also helpful. Avoid meals that contain only dry foods and salty processed foods that replace minerals that need to be balanced to maintain fluid balance at all times." ". Cells (mainly sodium and potassium). "
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FAQs
Can herpes mess with your liver? ›
Discussion: Hepatitis and acute liver injury resulting from herpes simplex virus is a rare, but often fatal complication from this relatively common virus. It is most commonly seen in neonates, pregnant women and those who are immunocomprimised and its presentation can be similar to acute hepatitis.
What are the mouth signs of liver damage? ›Oral manifestations such as lichen planus, ulcers, xerostomia, erosion and tongue abnormalities seem to be particularly prevalent among patients with chronic liver disease.
What early warning signs of liver disease should I watch out for? ›- Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)
- Abdominal pain and swelling.
- Swelling in the legs and ankles.
- Itchy skin.
- Dark urine color.
- Pale stool color.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Nausea or vomiting.
Cracked or peeling lips: Heartache, worry, dryness in the body, feeling cold. Discoloration or faded colour in the lips: Lack of proper circulation throughout the body. Hot/burning/red lips: Inflammation or too much heat within the body due to overly spicy foods, too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine.
What organs are attacked by herpes? ›Herpes can also spread to internal organs, such as the liver and lungs. Infants infected with herpes are treated with acyclovir, an antiviral drug.
Which organ is affected by herpes? ›Genital herpes affects the genitals, buttocks or anal area. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It affects the genitals, buttocks or anal area. Other herpes infections can affect the eyes, skin, or other parts of the body.
How long does liver damage take to show symptoms? ›Acute liver failure can happen in as little as 48 hours. It's important to seek medical treatment at the first signs of trouble. These signs may include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and discomfort in your right side, just below your ribs.
What are the first physical signs of liver damage? ›yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema) swelling in your abdomen caused by a build-up of fluid known as ascites. a high temperature and shivering attacks.
What is the number one symptom of liver disease? ›Some types of liver disease (including non-alcohol fatty liver disease) rarely cause symptoms. For other conditions, the most common symptom is jaundice — a yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes. Jaundice develops when your liver can't clear a substance called bilirubin.
Which one is the early symptom of liver cirrhosis? ›When symptoms do occur, they may first include fatigue; weakness and weight loss; nausea; bruising or bleeding easily; swelling in your legs, feet or ankles; itchy skin; redness on the palms of your hands; and spider-like blood vessels on your skin.
What are liver lips? ›
1. (also liver-lip) a person with thick, dark lips; often used in direct address.
What organ is connected to the lips? ›The upper and lower lips connect to the gums by the frenulum labii superioris and frenulum labii inferioris, respectively.
What organ are the lips linked to? ›In TCM, the lips belong to the Spleen and Stomach element. The lips and the tops of the fingers are the most sensitive areas of the human body.
What other health problems can herpes cause? ›- Other sexually transmitted infections. ...
- Newborn infection. ...
- Internal inflammatory disease. ...
- Finger infection. ...
- Eye infection. ...
- Swelling of the brain. ...
- Infection of internal organs.
If both the meninges and the brain are infected, the condition is called meningoencephalitis. Encephalitis involving herpes is a medical emergency. It needs to be promptly diagnosed and treated. This disease is often fatal when it is not treated.
Can herpes lead to death? ›Deaths from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are rare. A major exception is perinatally acquired HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection where the neonatal death rate is substantial. Fatal HSV infection also occurs occasionally in pregnant women.
What does herpes do inside the body? ›The herpes simplex viruses are latent, meaning they can live in the body without causing symptoms. After the initial infection, the virus gets into the nerve roots and spreads to the sensory nerve ganglia, the junctions where nerves from different parts of the body come together.
What cancers are caused by herpes virus? ›Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpes virus that's spread through saliva. EBV infection increases the risk of Burkitt lymphoma, some types of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and stomach cancer.
What autoimmune diseases are caused by herpes? ›Herpesvirus infection, in particular EBV infection, has been implicated in several major autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
What vitamins are good for liver repair? ›Which Vitamins Are Good for the Liver? Vitamins that play a crucial role in maintaining liver health include vitamin D, E, C, B. Individuals need to take these vitamins regularly through a healthy diet plan.
What is the first stage of liver damage? ›
Stage 1: Inflammation
In the early stages of liver disease, the liver will become swollen or inflamed as the body's natural response to injury. Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, can also occur when there are more toxins in the blood than the liver is able to manage.
Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs. General abdominal pain and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.
What are the signs of liver disease on skin? ›Chronic liver disease of any origin can cause typical skin findings. Jaundice, spider nevi, leuconychia and finger clubbing are well known features (Figures 1 a, b and Figure 2). Palmar erythema, “paper-money” skin (Figure 3), rosacea and rhinophyma are common but often overlooked by the busy practitioner.
What can I drink to flush my liver? ›- Chamomile Tea. This tea is mildly bitter due to its sesquiterpene lactone content which helps the liver prime its detoxification pathways. ...
- Lemon Water. ...
- Jujube Fruit. ...
- Lotus Seed. ...
- Rose Tea. ...
- Peppermint Tea. ...
- Oat Tea. ...
- Schizandra Berry Tea.
There are at-home liver panel tests that can determine liver function by screening for proteins and enzymes like albumin, globulin, ALP, ALT, and GGT. These tests use a finger-prick sample and include materials to collect and send your specimen to the lab. You can order a liver panel from home and get tested in a lab.
What are 3 diseases that affect the liver? ›There are many kinds of liver diseases: Diseases caused by viruses, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Diseases caused by drugs, poisons, or too much alcohol. Examples include fatty liver disease and cirrhosis.
What does the beginning of cirrhosis feel like? ›The main symptoms of cirrhosis include: tiredness and weakness. feeling sick (nausea) and loss of appetite resulting in weight loss. red patches on your palms and small, spider-like blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas) above waist level.
What are the visible signs of cirrhosis? ›- tiredness and weakness.
- loss of appetite.
- weight loss and muscle wasting.
- feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting.
- tenderness or pain around the liver area.
- tiny red lines (blood capillaries) on the skin above waist level.
- very itchy skin.
- yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Myth: I don't have any symptoms so there's no way I could have cirrhosis. Fact: It is possible to have cirrhosis of the liver and not know it. Many patients who have cirrhosis still have enough liver function to support their body's daily operations and have no symptoms.
What does liver face mean? ›Solar lentigo.
It happens when UV radiation causes pigmented cells called melanocytes in the skin to multiply. Solar lentigo appears on sun-exposed areas of the body, like the face, hands, shoulders, and arms. The spots may grow over time. Solar lentigines are sometimes called liver spots or age spots.
Does liver affect face? ›
Many skin conditions – from acne to eczema to psoriasis – can be linked to poor liver function. A tired, overworked liver can lead to dry, itchy skin, acne, and a dull complexion.
What color is liver failure? ›Yellow Skin or Eyes (Jaundice)
As the liver gets more damaged, you may notice clearer signs of a problem. Your skin may look yellow along with the whites of your eyes. Doctors call this jaundice. This happens when too much of a yellow substance from your red blood cells called bilirubin builds up.
The infraorbital nerve, which is a terminal branch of the maxillary nerve, innervates the upper lip.
Can neuropathy effect your lips? ›Peripheral neuropathy refers to nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system. A common symptom is a numbness or a tingling sensation. All parts of the body, including the lips, can be affected.
Can stomach issues cause swollen lips? ›Swollen lips could be a symptom of Crohn's disease, says leading gastroenterologist. Swollen lips could be a red flag to GPs that a patient is suffering from Crohn's disease, according to a leading gastroenterologist.
What STD causes liver problems? ›Hepatitis B is a serious infection of the liver caused by a virus. Symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, stomach discomfort and yellow skin. The virus is found in blood, semen, vaginal fluids and saliva.
Can herpes cause elevated liver enzymes? ›The results of this study indicate that individuals with genital herpes infections more commonly have elevated liver enzyme levels than individ- uals with non-herpes sexually transmitted disease.
What damage does herpes do to your body? ›In general, complications are rare. And they usually occur with the first-time (primary) genital herpes outbreak. Some of these complications include: Meningitis, an infection of the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) and tissues (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Does herpes turn into hepatitis? ›Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rarely reported cause of viral hepatitis. Aggressive in nature, most cases of HSV hepatitis rapidly progress to fulminant hepatic failure.
What disease attacks the liver caused by viral infection? ›Hepatitis is a general term used to describe inflammation of the liver. Liver inflammation can be caused by several viruses (viral hepatitis), chemicals, drugs, alcohol, certain genetic disorders or by an overactive immune system that mistakenly attacks the liver, called autoimmune hepatitis.
What viruses can cause liver failure? ›
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis E can cause acute liver failure. Other viruses that can cause acute liver failure include Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus. Toxins.
What is a viral infection that attacks the liver? ›What is Viral Hepatitis? Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected.
What happens when your liver enzymes are high? ›Elevated liver enzymes often indicate inflammation or damage to cells in the liver. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher than normal amounts of certain chemicals, including liver enzymes, into the bloodstream, elevating liver enzymes on blood tests.
Can herpes make you seriously ill? ›Even though HSV sores can hurt and be unsightly, most cases of herpes do not cause serious illness. The sores go away in a few days. Contact the health provider if: Sores are present and you think it might be a first herpes infection.
What does herpes do to the brain? ›Diseases Overview. Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Common symptoms include headaches, fevers, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and/or general weakness.
What can herpes turn into? ›Research shows that when the herpes virus is active, it may cause HIV to make more copies of itself (the process called replication) than it would otherwise. The more HIV replicates, the more of the body's infection-fighting cells it destroys, eventually leading to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
Can you donate blood if you have herpes? ›Yes, you can donate blood even if you have herpes — but only if you're not having an outbreak of symptoms and if it's been more than 48 hours since you finished an antiviral treatment.
Does herpes turn into anything? ›Rare complications of HSV-2 include meningoencephalitis (brain infection) and disseminated infection. Rarely, HSV-1 infection can lead to more severe complications such as encephalitis (brain infection) or keratitis (eye infection).