Why do lips turn black on the face. Blue lips are a sign of what disease

Cyanosis of the lips or acrocyanosis is observed in anemia, diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory system. The content of reduced hemoglobin increases in the blood, which gives a characteristic shade to certain parts of the body.

Peripheral acrocyanosis develops with insufficient blood supply to small capillaries, impaired blood circulation, and increased oxygen uptake by tissues. The intensity of the change in skin color can be from a barely noticeable bluish color to a rich dark, blue-black tone.

The main reasons why the lips turn blue:

chronic heart failure;
poisoning with toxic substances or drugs;
"blue" heart defects;
ventricular septal defect;
Iron-deficiency anemia;
after heavy bleeding;
diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
blue lips occur in children under 4 years of age suffering from croup;
rotavirus infection in newborns;
meningitis;
smoking;
allergic reaction to milk;
thromboembolism;
severe hypothermia.

The cause of blue lips in adults is a lack of oxygen in the blood or injury to small capillaries. With circulatory disorders, cyanosis is observed in the mouth, auricles, tip of the nose, pillows of the fingers and toes.

In diseases of the cardiovascular system, the flow of blood to the tissues of the body slows down. Oxygen starvation leads to an increase in the level of hemoglobin associated with carbon dioxide, which causes blue skin and mucous membranes.

In diseases of the respiratory system, the cause of acrocyanosis is a violation of gas exchange. A high content of CO₂ is concentrated in the vessels, which gives the dermis a characteristic shade. Malfunctions of the bronchi, lungs, congenital malformations of the heart partitions most often cause central cyanosis. In this case, blueing is observed not only in the area of the lips, the mucous membranes, face and other parts of the body with thin skin suffer.

Clinical picture

1. With a peripheral form of pathology in adults and children, the darkened dermis is cold to the touch, and with a diffuse form it remains warm. If the lips turn blue in a short period of time, then the cause is asphyxia caused by suffocation or blockage of the vessel by a thrombus.

2. Cyanosis can increase during physical exertion, against the background of emotional shock, prolonged hypothermia, with exacerbation of chronic ailments.

3. When the symptoms appear gradually and intensify during the day, this indicates intoxication of the body or an attack of bronchial asthma. A longer period of clinical signs is observed in chronic diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

4. With heart ailments, there is a dull pain in the sternum, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, fingers and toes, swelling of the lower extremities.

5. If the lips turn blue due to lung diseases, patients are worried about shortness of breath, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing. With pneumothorax, air enters the pleural cavity, compresses the lungs, heart and large vessels, as a result, blood circulation is disturbed, cyanosis develops. Attacks of bronchial asthma are accompanied by slow breathing, suffocation, lips, ears and extremities begin to turn blue, become cold to the touch. If a person does not provide timely assistance, coma and death may occur.

Causes of blue lips in young children

Mothers of babies often notice that when newborns cry, the color of the skin around the mouth changes. The cause may be congenital heart disease, septic shock, neonatal pneumonia, asthma. In addition to cyanosis, there are other symptoms of malaise, the baby does not eat well, does not gain weight, is drowsy, he is worried about coughing, rhinitis, and fever. In such cases, urgent medical attention and medical advice are required.

When a child cries, a spasm of the larynx occurs, which is called affective respiratory syndrome. This condition is not dangerous and refers to age-related features, increased nervous excitability of the baby. The child's body requires an increase in calcium levels, a trace element deficiency causes throat spasms, the lower lip, the area around the mouth, the nasolabial triangle, and the face turn blue. In most cases, the pathology disappears with age; in children older than 3–4 years, such attacks are not observed.

Blue lips can be in newborns after intracranial hemorrhage, with cerebral edema, meningoencephalitis. Metabolic cyanosis occurs with titanium. In the blood serum, there is a significant deficiency of calcium and an excess of phosphates.

Blue lips in children may be due to congenital heart defects. Pathology is characterized by a violation of blood circulation, venous blood, not enriched with oxygen, is added to the arterial blood. Babies are born with normal weight and skin color, but by 8-12 weeks of life attacks of shortness of breath develop, the nasolabial triangle begins to turn blue, the baby loses consciousness, convulsions. Treatment is carried out surgically at the age of 3–6 years.

The cause of cyanosis in children may be a respiratory disease - croup, it affects infants and toddlers up to 3 years. Pathology is characterized by inflammation of the vocal cords and severe stenosis of the larynx. Disturbed by dry, barking cough, wheezing, fever. With a critical narrowing of the lumen of the pharynx, salivation increases, the upper lip turns blue, severe shortness of breath and suffocation appear.

When should you see a doctor?

It is necessary to consult a doctor in the following cases:

concerned about dull pain behind the sternum, shortness of breath, palpitations;
high blood pressure;
fingers, lips for no reason began to turn blue;
cyanosis is accompanied by convulsions and loss of consciousness;
not enough air;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite;
if the child is lethargic, capricious, refuses to eat;
the lips turn blue, and the cyanosis does not go away for more than a day.

If cyanosis is accompanied by suffocation, increased heart rate, severe malaise, it is necessary to loosen the tight collar of clothing, to ensure the flow of fresh air into the room. The patient is seated in a comfortable position, the limbs are rubbed. Be sure to call an emergency ambulance.

Adults should consult a general practitioner, cardiologist, endocrinologist or pulmonologist. Children with signs of cyanosis are examined by a pediatrician or other specialized specialists, depending on the cause of the blue around the lips. Restoration of blood circulation, normalization of blood pressure will help restore the natural color of the skin, stop the attack and avoid the development of serious complications.

Your lips may darken if you've been out in the sun long enough. There are several other reasons that cause darkening of the lips. This is a genetic factor, and smoking, and excessive consumption of tea and / or coffee, etc.

Many people, especially those who smoke, want to lighten darkened lips and make them look naturally pink. We assure you that this goal can be achieved at home using only natural remedies.

Get rid of dark lips at home

Yes, we will do it, right at home. So, -

exfoliation. One of the reasons for the darkening of the lips are dead cells on their surface. Take a soft toothbrush in the morning and gently clean the surface of the lips. Then apply, on the lips, a thin layer of a good balm.
Remove dead cells, from the surface of the lips, it is possible in another way. Mix granulated sugar with lime juice. Gently rub this mixture on your lips.

Daily drink milk. Milk contains lactic acid, which has bleaching properties. Also, you can put a few drops of milk on a cotton swab and apply the swab to your lips for a few minutes. Milk not only whitens, but also removes dead cells from the surface of the lips.

Try apply honey, to lighten lips. Prepare a mixture of lemon juice, honey and glycerin and apply it to the surface of your lips every night before going to bed. After a few days, the dark spots on the lips will become much lighter.

beetroot juice also helps to brighten lips. if you apply a little beet juice on your lips every day, then within one month their color will become soft pink.

Papaya It is a good natural lip lightener. Apply papaya pulp to your lips
and leave for a few minutes. You can use a combination of papaya and pineapple pulp.

One of the most effective home remedies for lip lightening are cucumber s. Cucumber juice works great for this.

Used to lighten lips almond oil. Mix almond oil with a small amount of cream and apply on the surface of the lips. Also, it's a great emollient for dry lips.

Another easy way to get rid of dark lips. Massage your lips using coconut or olive oil every night before bed.

If your lips are darkened from smoking, you should cream of coriander leaves and honey. Apply this mixture on your lips every day before bed. In the morning, the composition should be washed off.

Another homemade way to lighten up. Wipe your lips rose leaves dipped in raw milk. This procedure should be done 2 times a day, until the desired result is obtained.

Drink more water, since dry lips are one of the main causes of their darkening. By keeping your lips hydrated, you also make them brighter at the same time.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, use lip balm with sunscreen properties. This will prevent their color from changing. Choose your sun balm SPF not less than 30. If you want to use lipstick, make sure it has a high enough protection factor (SPF).

Smokers tend to darken the lips and develop wrinkles around the mouth due to excessive smoking. Quit smoking and you will solve a thousand problems, including the problem of darkening of the lips.

Tea and coffee also play a role in the darkening of the lips. If you limit your tea and/or coffee intake to three to four cups a day, your lips will naturally lighten.

That, perhaps, is all. Try to put into practice our advice and you will be satisfied with the result.

Good luck!

Video bun for today.

Lips can be considered an indicator of the health of the body, but a change in their color should not always be associated with the manifestation of certain health problems. For example, the blueness of the skin is often associated with a banal outflow of blood under the influence of low temperature. Such a reaction is a protective mechanism that allows you to provide vital organs with blood in the required amount.

Hypothermia of the human body is a common process, not only in winter. Bathing in cold water in summer also affects the color of the skin. With a long stay in an unheated pond, one can observe blueness not only of the lips, but also of the limbs (arms and legs).

This state of the human body does not have any special consequences for health in general. But in order to avoid the development of complications, in the form of colds, you should not overcool too much.

The reasons

Lack of oxygen or hypoxemia

Most often, the problem of turning blue of the epidermis occurs when there is insufficient oxygen in the body (oxygen starvation or hypoxemia). Hypoxemia is characterized by a change in the color of the skin and lips, staining them in a violet-blue color. The reasons for the development of oxygen starvation can be:

complete or partial absence of oxygen in the air (the presence of unhealthy habits - smoking, entails a decrease in oxygen circulation in the alveoli of the lungs);
overlapping of the airways with a foreign body (with fainting, a possible cause of overlap is the retraction of the tongue);
a long stay of the patient in a motionless, lying state, leads to stagnation of air in the lungs, the formation of non-exhausting sputum, bacterial damage to the lungs, requires mandatory sanitation with a bronchoscope;
carrying out operational and planned surgical interventions carried out with the use of anesthesia. This clause has a number of possible sub-clauses. The development of hypoxemia during general anesthesia may be associated with:

violation of the integrity of the lung (collapse), that is, a condition when the space around the lung is filled with air;
the ingress of foreign particles (blood clots, fat cells - thromboembolism or fat embolism) and a number of other reasons.

blue lips with asthma

You can often hear the question, why do the lips turn blue with asthma?

This disease, in itself, suggests that the patient is experiencing a lack of oxygen due to difficulty breathing, which is associated with inflammation of the trachea and bronchi, periods or bouts of bronchospasm. Just at such moments, due to insufficient oxygen supply to the lungs, general muscle tension and abundant blood flow, not only the violet-blue color of the lips appears, but the neck and face change their color.

lack of iron in the blood

The next possible cause of blue lips may be the presence of certain pathologies. A human disease characterized by a lack of iron, and therefore a violation of the production of red blood cells (hemoglobin), which are responsible for the color of the epidermis, is called anemia or iron deficiency anemia.

In addition to the main symptoms of this disease, such as: weakness, fatigue, increased brittleness and dullness of the hair, there are quite noticeable changes in pigmentation (discoloration) of the mucous membranes, nails, and a pale blue tint of the lips.

Iron deficiency anemia does not develop on its own, the causes of the development of this disease can be various injuries associated with large blood loss, hidden internal bleeding (with exacerbation of gastric ulcer), heavy menstrual flow or poor nutrition.

Diagnosis of this disease, especially at the initial stage, is difficult, due to the practical absence of a clinical picture. The surest way to determine the presence or absence of iron deficiency anemia is an elementary blood test. Treatment is carried out on the basis of the identified cause with the appointment of iron-containing drugs and an appropriate diet (iron-rich foods - apples, pomegranate, shadberry, beef and others).

Croup in children

In this case, the cyanosis of the lips in a child is also associated with difficulty breathing. In medical practice, two types of croup are considered - epiglottitis or laryngotracheitis. Both of these forms of the disease are characterized by tightness of the larynx, severe cough, fever and require prompt hospitalization.

The cause of the development of epiglottitis is a stick called Pfeiffer. The culprit of the manifestation of laryngotracheitis, in recent times, are considered to be the causative agents of acute infections associated with viral diseases.

Quick Help

The most effective method of eliminating the lack of oxygen is aerotherapy or oxygen inhalation. But with iron deficiency forms of anemia, such assistance will not be effective.

Prevention

For any person, taking care of their health should be a priority, the first place. Due attention and control over the state of your body is a big step towards the timely detection and treatment of possible diseases.

It should be remembered that not a single change, whether it is a change in the color of the lips, the appearance of age spots, the presence of a large number of papillomas, does not happen in the human body just like that. There are reasons for all this. And the lack of a timely response to these manifestations can adversely affect the future state of health.

Timely preventive maintenance and appeal to a competent professional will help preserve youth and beauty for many years. And even such a seemingly trifle as a change in the color of your lips can say a lot about the state of health, nutritional value and the presence of any ailment.

And of course, all these observations should not concern only an individual. As responsible for their children, parents, first of all, should monitor their health and take care of it.

Causes of blue lips in children

Children's lips should be a natural pink color. Generally speaking, any bluing on the body should be cause for concern, as it may be a sign of cyanosis.

However, cyanosis is not always dangerous. Newborns and infants may have natural acrocyanosis - bluish lips or a bluish tint to the skin on the arms and legs. In this case, blueing is peripheral cyanosis and resolves on its own with the development of the circulatory system.

Central cyanosis

Central cyanosis, in which a child's face or trunk takes on a bluish tint, may indicate a more serious health problem and require immediate diagnosis and treatment. Blue lips may be a symptom of central cyanosis, but may also be a benign temporary bluish discoloration of the skin around the mouth, especially during crying or eating. The same can happen with increased activity or an outburst of anger in a child. In this case, it is not the lips themselves that turn blue, but the skin around the mouth, the tongue and oral mucosa should remain pink.

You can distinguish a dangerous case of cyanosis from a non-dangerous one if you look at the lips, tongue and nails of the child. If they are pink, then the child most likely has perioral cyanosis, which does not cause concern. If lips, tongue and nails have acquired a blue tint, you should immediately seek medical help.

Normal or not?

Things to remember if your child has blue lips to identify a potentially dangerous disorder:

Is your child developing normally? Weight loss or poor weight gain may indicate a dangerous health problem.
Has your child been diagnosed with a heart murmur? If so, then you need to seek emergency help.
Does the child have any other symptoms, such as coughing or difficulty breathing when lips turn blue? This may be one of the symptoms of asthma.
Is the child active? Does he get tired quickly compared to his peers? If the child quickly overworks, blue lips may indicate a more serious problem.
Does the child become lethargic and drowsy after blue lips? Perhaps his brain and organs lack oxygen.

Diagnosis and treatment

Regardless of whether the child's blue lips are accompanied by other symptoms, it is advisable to consult with his pediatrician as soon as possible. Only a doctor can determine whether this cyanosis is dangerous to the health of the child.

In the case where cyanosis is in doubt, the child may be referred for additional diagnostics, including pulse oximetry, a blood test, a chest x-ray, or an ECG, if there is a suspicion of abnormal heart function. Treatment will depend on the cause of the blue lips.

Blue lips are a symptom of diseases manifested by a change in the color of the lips to blue. The reason is the blood deprived of a significant dose of oxygen, in which deoxyhemoglobin accumulates.

If you stay in the cold for a long time, freeze, then the question - why does the mouth change color in an adult - does not arise. If there are no visible reasons, you should consult a doctor to help the body.

The medical name for bluish lips is cyanosis. Where the epidermis is thinner, darkening of the blood becomes noticeable. Cyanosis is manifested in diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, anemia.

In children

Newborns often develop acrocyanosis. A bluish tint appears on the palms and feet. This phenomenon is not dangerous - with the progression of the circulatory system, peripheral cyanosis of the lips will pass by itself. Do not worry if the skin around the mouth turns blue, the so-called perioral cyanosis. This sometimes happens when the child is active, very angry, does not stop crying, for example, from colic, when the baby seeks to tighten his legs. The mucous membrane of the mouth, while the tongue is healthy pink.

If blueness is noticed on the lips, tongue and nails, consult a doctor.

If the baby's lips turn blue, analyze the following points:

whether the child is losing weight, is his development normal;
whether there are symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing - this is how asthma can manifest itself;
Are there any heart murmurs?
whether there is increased fatigue, lethargy and drowsiness, whether the baby is active.

Blue lips can occur with congenital heart disease. Arterial blood combines with venous blood that is not enriched with oxygen, blood circulation is disturbed. In the absence of symptoms at birth, after 2-3 months, shortness of breath attacks may appear, the nasolabial triangle acquires a bluish color, convulsions appear. Treatment occurs by surgery at 3-6 years.

A childhood croup disease can also cause cyanosis. Signs - stenosis of the larynx, inflammation of the respiratory tract. The temperature rises, dry cough torments, especially in the morning and evening, wheezing is heard. With a strong narrowing of the pharynx, salivation increases, the upper lip turns blue, and asthma attacks are disturbed.

Children with cyanosis are observed by a pediatrician. After identifying the reasons, he will refer the child to a specialized specialist.

In adults

Blue lips in an adult are not necessarily due to illness. Take into account the following factors:

long-term stay in places with insufficient oxygen content (metro, airplanes, closed vehicles);
hypothermia;
being at high altitude;
operations under general anesthesia;
strong physical activity;
smoking;
alcohol abuse;
pregnancy (with iron deficiency).

Health problems that cause blue lips:

Violation of the respiratory system. Signs of pathology - dry or wet cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain. May indicate the presence of a pulmonary thrombus, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax.
Violation of the cardiovascular system. Cyanosis can occur when the blood supply to small blood vessels is poor. Often the cause is heart failure - the body does not provide full access of blood to the organs. Other diseases - high blood pressure, rhythm disturbance, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy can cause a change in lip color.
Severe poisoning of the body, in which enzymes in the tissues are blocked.
Shock condition with large blood loss (trauma, menstruation in women), anaphylactic shock, septic shock, fluid loss. Symptoms of the disease state - dizziness, weakness, rapid pulse, pale skin with blue.
Reynaud's disease is a rupture of small vessels in stressful situations, exposure to low temperatures, overvoltage.

If turned blue and, this may indicate inflammation or neoplasms of the skin. Changes inside the vessels lead to a failure of the blood microcirculation system. It can turn blue due to a blow or a bite.

Bluish lips can become due to herpes, treatment with oxolin ointment. Herpes is a viral disease characterized by blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. It is transmitted mainly by contact, including through kissing. When treating a rash with oxolin, a side effect often occurs - blueness of the skin. It is harmless and does not require therapy.

In women, lips of this color can be the cause of an unsuccessful tattoo by a non-professional master. We will correct the deficiency - you need to contact a specialist, he will correct the situation in several procedures.

How to get rid of cyanosis of the lips

In the presence of symptoms of cyanosis, the patient is prescribed oxygen therapy. Only a doctor can find the cause of blueing - it is advisable to be examined by a cardiologist, pulmonologist and endocrinologist. It is necessary to pass the prescribed tests, to identify the cause of the disease.

If the cause of blue lips is impaired blood circulation, you can apply treatment with folk remedies that give positive feedback. It's easy to make them at home:

Mask of aloe juice and honey. The ingredients are diluted in equal proportions and applied to the blue area. Suitable for adults and children.
Horse chestnut tincture. The fruits are infused in cool water for half a day. Boil the infusion. Drink 12 days 30 minutes before meals, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

Folk remedies cannot be the only treatment! Seeing a doctor for cyanosis is mandatory.

First aid

If the mouth turns blue sharply, there is shortness of breath, dizziness, rapid pulse, vomiting, call an ambulance. It is necessary to ensure the flow of oxygen, loosen the collar of the clothes, seat in a comfortable position.

If the patient is cold, you need to warm the body, cover it with a blanket, rub the limbs. Hot drinks will also help raise your body temperature. The exception will be strong coffee, caffeine constricts blood vessels.

Warm up will help physical activity, jumping, running. The vascular tone will increase, blood circulation will be restored, and the tissues will be provided with oxygen in the required volumes.

If you turn blue during pregnancy, an urgent consultation with a gynecologist is necessary - anemia is likely, self-medication is contraindicated.

Prevention of the appearance

In the presence of chronic diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, blood diseases, it is necessary to undergo regular preventive examinations. Adhere to the right lifestyle - take walks in the fresh air more often, give the body moderate physical activity, eat right. If you smoke, try to get rid of this habit, as well as drinking alcohol.

Blue lips should not be ignored. Timely seeking medical help and properly selected treatment will return good health and a vibrant, healthy complexion.