Why lips turn blue: reasons and what to do, photos and videos

Description of the problem

In medicine, blueness of the lips is usually called cyanosis. What it is? It is a symptom of various diseases that are manifested by a change in the color of the lips and skin blue. This is observed due to the accumulation of a huge amount of deoxyhemoglobin in the blood. Blood that is not saturated with the required amount of oxygen takes on a dark color. Therefore, it becomes visible through the skin, especially in those places where the epidermis is very thin.

When considering the question of why an adult’s lips turn blue after drinking alcohol and smoking, it should be noted that this is due to the entry of toxins and harmful gases into the body.

What diseases can blue lips be a sign of?

Often a person is faced with a situation where blue or even purple lips indicate existing diseases.

Such diseases include:

Croup is a disease of the respiratory system. It is accompanied not only by blueness of the lips, but also by additional symptoms: severe cough, breathing problems, excessive salivation.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system and lungs. If the natural color has changed simultaneously with the appearance of a rapid pulse and holding your breath, then problems in the functioning of the heart and lungs are likely.

If you do not pay attention to the symptoms in time, a heart attack, heart attack, or asthma may occur. Therefore, experts recommend seeking help from a doctor at the first warning signs. Only he will be able to identify the disease and prescribe effective treatment.

In the photo there is cyanosis of the lips with croup in a child - the color can vary from blue to dark purple:

Types of cyanosis

In medicine, the following types of cyanosis are distinguished:

Central, characterized by a pronounced blue color of the lips and cheeks. This occurs due to impaired blood circulation, as a result of which carbon anhydride accumulates in large quantities.
Peripheral, which is caused by a slowdown in blood flow in the capillaries and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the body. Venous and arterial blood mixes and breathing quickens.

It is also customary to distinguish between temporary and permanent cyanosis. In the first case, its appearance is provoked by hypothermia or severe physical exertion. In the second case, cyanosis is associated with pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Now it has become clear why an adult’s lips turn blue when it’s cold. We will consider more detailed reasons for the development of the anomaly below.

A little about breathing, blood circulation and hemoglobin

Hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells, is a protein that carries oxygen into tissues and carbon dioxide out of them. This is possible thanks to a special iron-containing part of the protein molecule, heme. To carry out its main function, the latter must be present in the amount of 4 molecules - one for each chain that makes up hemoglobin.

In order for hemoglobin to attach oxygen to itself, many conditions are needed:

There should be a sufficient amount of it. To do this, the body must have enough iron, folic acid, protein, vitamin B12; The erythrocyte membrane should not be damaged and the connections between its subunits should be strong.
So that the respiratory center, located in the medulla oblongata (this is the final part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord), gives the command to breathe in the correct rhythm, and so that this rhythm is not interrupted by commands generated by the consciousness. So, during a panic attack, a person feels short of air and forces himself to breathe more often than necessary. A person can also consciously reduce the number of breaths (for example, when performing some spiritual practices).
The breathing frequency set by the brain must be transmitted without obstacles to the respiratory muscles - the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. To do this, the spinal cord in the cervical and thoracic regions should not be pinched, interrupted, or inflamed. The connections between the spinal nerve and the muscle should not be disrupted, as happens with botulism, poisoning with neuroparalytic poisons (including animal bites).
So that in the respiratory sections of the lungs the membrane through which gas exchange occurs (oxygen penetrates the red blood cell, and carbon dioxide is released into the alveoli, from where it will then be exhaled) has normal properties. It should not be swollen, as with pneumonia, and there should be no fluid in it, as with pulmonary edema.
There must be a certain level of oxygen pressure to ensure the penetration of oxygen into the red blood cell. This depends on atmospheric pressure, and on the work of the heart, and on the patency of the vessels of the lungs (there may be atherosclerotic plaques, blood clots, fat or air emboli), and on the patency of the bronchi and bronchioles.
The fluid pressure in the capillaries of the lungs should be low so that the liquid part of the blood does not leak into the tissues. This is possible when the lymphatic vessels are compressed by air (pneumothorax) or by lung tumors.
In addition, hemoglobin itself should not be occupied by a more tightly held molecule. This can be done by a CO molecule - carbon monoxide, some substances that either oxidize heme iron (this is how methemoglobin is obtained), or add a sulfo group to it, already connected to oxygen.

Violation of at least one of the conditions described above for the normal penetration of oxygen into hemoglobin (except for those associated with anemia - against the background of a small amount of oxygen in the mucous membranes) are the reasons why the lips of an adult turn blue.

In children, additional causes are abnormalities in the development of the heart and blood vessels (“blue” defects). Here, inside the cavities of the heart, arterial, oxygen-rich blood mixes with venous blood, from where oxygen has already been “taken.” Such blood follows its usual path - to every cell of every tissue, but does not provide them with sufficient nutrition, which is why the lips turn blue. “Blue” defects do not appear from birth, since for a couple of weeks fetal hemoglobin still circulates in the baby’s blood - the one that ensured tissue trophism and, accordingly, the growth and development of the child in the prenatal period. Such hemoglobin “knows how to feed” tissues more efficiently, but it is destroyed more quickly when pH and body temperature change. As red blood cells mature and the total blood volume increases, despite the fact that the body experiences oxygen starvation, fetal (fetal) hemoglobin is replaced by that found in the red blood cells of an adult.

The above reasons cause hypoxia of all tissues, which can be noticed primarily by the bluish or purple tint of the lips. If only the upper or lower lip turns blue, this may mean that microcirculation is impaired here due to poor venous outflow or impaired arterial inflow. This may be due to intradermal tumor or inflammation. Less commonly, periodic (in the cold, when swimming) blue lips may be due to the close proximity of the vessels in the orbicularis muscle, from which the lips are “made.”

Disorders of blood vessels and heart

It is difficult to answer the question of why lips turn blue in an adult without conducting a thorough diagnosis. A very common source is heart failure. Here the organ cannot provide the necessary blood flow to the organs and tissues of the human body.

People with also suffer from blue lips. This is due to a defect in the organ, which is characterized by blood with a small amount of oxygen entering from the right ventricle directly into the left, without reaching the lungs. Blue lips are also observed during cardiac arrest.

Why do my child's lips turn blue?

Sometimes blue lips are observed in a child. This may indicate danger. The specificity of childhood cyanosis is the underdevelopment of the respiratory organs, or the entry of a foreign body into the larynx. The first case is typical for newborns; the pathology is detected immediately after the birth of the child. Modern possibilities make it possible to save such a baby. As a rule, premature babies are born with underdeveloped lungs, up to 32 weeks of pregnancy.

When crying

A foreign body can enter the larynx at any time, at any age, creating breathing problems. A child may choke on food or put a toy or bead in his mouth. If you suspect that a child is choking, you need to immediately provide him with help. Blue lips can be observed when crying for a long time - at such moments the body also does not receive enough oxygen; for complete ventilation of the lungs, calm, measured breathing is necessary.

Interesting: Why does a tick bite and why does it cause itching? Description, what to do, photos and videos

Thus, there are many reasons why lips may turn blue, but they all come down to a lack of oxygen in the blood. There may be little oxygen due to its deficiency in the air, due to illness or improper functioning of the respiratory system, due to slow blood circulation, which loses oxygen before reaching the peripheral areas of the body. Blood deprived of oxygen acquires a dark color; it is this that colors the lips blue instead of the usual pinkish or reddish.

Other reasons

Blue lips can occur when taking large amounts of sedatives or narcotics, benzodiazepines, or with prolonged exposure to cold air or water. We already know. Here the blood vessels narrow, the blood does not completely fill the lips, and it enters the internal organs.

Blue lips are often observed with anemia, when the body lacks iron, which is part of hemoglobin, which, in turn, is responsible for the red color of the blood. Also, the level of this substance may fall during blood loss. Stressful situations can cause blue lips. Over time, the unpleasant symptom goes away in these cases.

Blue lips

Why do lips turn blue? The reason is usually a malfunction of the body. If this symptom appears, you should immediately consult a specialist.

If blue lips are accompanied by additional symptoms of general malaise, then this only increases the importance of visiting a doctor.

Reasons for changing lip color

Blue lips in medicine are called cyanotic. The appearance of this symptom is an indicator that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the body. Most often, blue lips appear in the following cases:

With a lack of oxygen in the body. This usually forms during the development of cyanosis of the skin, which is accompanied by a purple coloration of the skin. This is due to an increased content of a certain type of hemoglobin in the blood. This disease indicates problems with the heart and blood vessels.
The cause may be smoking, as the body is constantly exposed to toxic gases.
If this symptom is accompanied by noticeable paleness of the skin, this may be a sign of anemia. This often happens during pregnancy. Iron is part of hemoglobin. Anemia is sometimes associated not only with insufficient iron levels, but also with large blood losses.
In children, this symptom can occur with croup, which is also accompanied by cough and impaired breathing rate.
If the natural color of the lips changes to blue, and the patient complains of delays in breathing, rapid heartbeat, then we can assume that the problem lies in the heart or lungs. In this case, the patient is at risk of a heart attack, asthma or bronchitis. Often blue lips indicate thrombus formation in the lungs. This is why it is important to visit your doctor as soon as possible.
Lips may also turn blue when body temperature drops sharply. When hypothermia (frostbite) occurs, the walls of the capillaries narrow, which does not allow blood to pass through them freely. As a result, this part of the blood flows to other organs. Lips acquire a normal color only when the blood moves at a normal speed and nothing interferes with it. In case of hypothermia, you can carry out warming actions that do not require special skills: drink a cup of hot tea, wrap yourself in a blanket. After this, pale lips should return to their natural color.
Blue lips can also occur in people with Raynold's disease. Vessels in the legs or arms burst during hypothermia or in severe stressful situations. Blood circulation is normalized due to the replenishment of blood vessels, but a pale blue color of the skin appears.

In women in the position, blue lips are a sign that the mother’s body lacks iron. In this case, you should consult a doctor.

Most likely, he will prescribe a drug that has no effect on the fetus to increase iron levels in the blood.

What should you do if your lips turn blue?

To identify the true cause of this symptom, you should seek qualified medical help. Different situations have their own approach to treatment.

In certain situations, there is an algorithm of actions that should be followed in this case:

If you are hypothermic, you need to warm your body: you can wrap yourself in a blanket or simply put on warm clothes. This normalizes blood circulation and blood can reach all organ systems. You can also use hot drinks, but coffee should be excluded from this list. It contains caffeine and, due to it, promotes vasoconstriction. In addition, you cannot warm yourself with vodka;
You can do physical exercise to increase your body temperature. Jumping, running, and gymnastics are suitable here. Physical activity improves vascular tone and blood circulation returns to normal;
if blueness is caused by smoking, then you should get rid of this habit at an accelerated pace. Nicotine negatively affects the level of oxygen in the blood, which causes oxygen starvation. Tobacco smoking causes vasoconstriction, which affects blood flow and body temperature;
If you have Reynolds disease, you should avoid possible stressful situations and expose yourself to danger. This will reduce the risk of vascular rupture and, accordingly, blue discoloration;
If you have anemia, you should visit your doctor to prescribe medications that increase iron levels in the blood. This will avoid not only blue lips, but also many complications;
If additional symptoms are found, additional diagnostics should be performed. When contacting a doctor, the patient must list all existing unpleasant symptoms. Only in this way will a specialist draw up an overall picture, put forward a proposed diagnosis and refer the patient for appropriate additional examinations.

If home methods have no effect on lip color, then most likely the reason is not cigarette abuse or hypothermia. Diseases accompanied by this symptom always affect the circulatory system, so you should not delay a visit to an experienced specialist and subsequent treatment of a possible disease.

Symptoms

Cyanosis is in some cases a symptom of various diseases. It may be accompanied by blue discoloration not only of the lips, but also of the areas around the eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body. Often there is swelling of the capillaries in the neck and their swelling. The following symptoms may also occur:

If the functioning of the lungs and bronchi is impaired: shortness of breath, cough, fever, hemoptysis, chest pain.
For heart disease: blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle, shortness of breath, erythrocytosis, deformation of nails and fingers.

If such symptoms develop, it is recommended to immediately seek help from a specialist who will make a diagnosis and answer. In some cases, immediate respiratory resuscitation is required. Doctors conduct hardware and laboratory tests, based on the results of which they make an accurate diagnosis.

Symptoms

Cyanosis is a symptom of various diseases. It is characterized by blue discoloration of the lips, neck, mouth and other parts of the body.

There may also be the following symptoms:

cough and shortness of breath;
chest pain;
increased body temperature;
hemoptysis;
blueness of the corners of the mouth and nose;
distortion of nails and fingers.

If your fingers also turn blue, you should immediately go to the hospital

If you have these symptoms, you should immediately go to the hospital. The doctor examines the patient, determines the disease and prescribes medications for treatment. If blue lips appear due to problems with the respiratory tract, a person may need respiratory resuscitation.

Treatment

An ambulance must be called immediately if cyanosis of the lips is accompanied by shortness of breath and loss of consciousness, vomiting or suffocation, blood loss and other negative symptoms. The above explains why lips turn blue in an adult. Treatment should be prescribed by a specialist in any case.

First aid boils down to placing the patient in such a way as to ensure maximum oxygen flow, then you can give appropriate medications to alleviate the general condition and immediately call an ambulance.

If blue lips are due to hypothermia, the person needs to be warmed up by wrapping him in a blanket and giving him hot tea, rubbing it as much as possible. In case of slight hypothermia, it is recommended to take a bath with lukewarm water, gradually increasing its temperature to 40°C. Then you need to wrap yourself in a terry towel and lie under the blanket.

You cannot immediately place the patient under hot water, as well as give him alcohol or coffee. Otherwise, the risk of developing internal hemorrhages, rupture of capillaries and other negative consequences increases. If hypothermia is severe enough, the person may die. Therefore, he must be immediately sent to the hospital.

If your lips are blue during pregnancy, you should consult a gynecologist who will prescribe special medications containing iron. In this case, it is better not to self-medicate. There are many reasons why lips turn blue in an adult. Treatment with folk remedies can negatively affect human health. Therefore, you need to see a doctor.

Lips turn blue: the reason for women

In general, women's lips turn blue for the standard reasons described above. In addition, a similar effect can be caused by heavy blood loss (for example, menstrual loss).
For pregnant women, blue lips are a sign of a lack of iron in the body, or iron deficiency anemia.
This is a fairly common phenomenon, and pharmacies sell complexes of drugs containing iron to eliminate this problem.

Among women

Iron deficiency occurs if a pregnant woman's diet does not include the required amount of foods containing iron.

Prevention

It is necessary to adhere to the correct lifestyle, not to overwork physically, and not to get too cold. It is also recommended to avoid alcohol and nicotine consumption for prevention purposes. Pregnant women should closely monitor their health and visit a gynecologist on time. In the presence of heart pathologies or blood diseases, preventive treatment is recommended.

So, why do the lips of an adult turn blue? There are currently a lot of factors that cause such a pathology. They can be associated with both internal problems and external influences. It is important to make a correct diagnosis in a timely manner and prescribe appropriate treatment. Otherwise, the risk of complications and even death increases.

Your lips may darken if you are exposed to the sun for long enough. There are several other reasons that cause darkening of the lips. This is a genetic factor, smoking, 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 exclusively natural remedies.

Getting rid of dark lips at home

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

Exfoliation
. One of the reasons for darkening of lips is dead cells on their surface. In the morning, take a soft toothbrush and gently clean the surface of your lips. Then apply a thin layer of good balm to the lips.

//D//

remove dead cells
from the surface of your lips in another way. Mix granulated sugar with lime juice. Gently rub this mixture onto your lips.
Drink milk
daily . Milk contains lactic acid, which has bleaching properties. You can also apply a few drops of milk to a cotton swab and place the swab on your lips for a few minutes. Milk not only whitens but also removes dead cells from the surface of the lips.
Try using honey
to lighten your 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 your lips will become significantly lighter.
Beetroot juice
also helps brighten lips. If you apply a little beetroot juice to your lips every day, within one month their color will turn soft pink.
Papaya
is a good natural lip lightener. Apply the papaya pulp paste on your lips and leave it on for a few minutes. You can use a combination of papaya and pineapple pulp.
One of the most effective home remedies for lightening lips is cucumbers
. Cucumber juice does this job perfectly.
Almond oil
is also used to lighten lips . Mix almond oil with a small amount of cream and apply to the surface of the lips. Also, this is an excellent product for softening dry lips.
Another simple way to get rid of dark lips. Massage your lips
using coconut or olive oil every night before going to bed.
If your lips are darkened due to smoking, you should make a cream of coriander leaves and honey
. Apply this mixture to your lips every day before going to bed. In the morning, the composition should be washed off.
Another home method of lightening. Rub your lips with rose leaves dipped in raw milk
. This procedure should be done 2 times a day until the desired result is obtained.
Drink more water
, as dry lips are one of the main reasons for their darkening. By keeping your lips moisturized, you, at the same time, make them lighter.

//DW//

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, use a lip balm
with sunscreen properties.
This will prevent their color from changing. Choose a sun balm with an SPF of at least 30
. If you want to use lipstick, make sure it has a high enough protection factor (SPF).
Smokers tend to have darker lips and wrinkles around the mouth due to excessive smoking.

Probably every person at least once in his life has seen a passerby with blue lips. This phenomenon should never be ignored, since it indicates significant problems in the human body. If your lips begin to turn even a little blue, be sure to consult a doctor. You should also see a doctor if you experience a rapid heartbeat, blue nails, increased temperature, sweating, severe coughing and problems with normal breathing.

Causes of blue lips

In medical practice, blue lips are called cyanotic. This phenomenon can be caused by a number of factors that should definitely be paid attention to, since this indicates certain malfunctions in the human body.

The main cause of blue lips is considered to be a lack of oxygen in the body (oxygen starvation), which occurs due to cyanosis of the skin. Symptoms of this disease are a clearly purple color of the skin and all mucous membranes (this occurs due to the increased content of reduced hemoglobin in the blood). If the patient has cyanosis, then, first of all, this indicates that he has problems with the cardiovascular system.

The second common cause of blue lips is smoking and the constant exposure of the human body to increased amounts of toxic gases.

In some cases, in addition to the presence of blue lips, a very pale shade of the skin can be observed. In this case, we can say that the patient suffers from iron deficiency anemia. Most often, anemia causes blue lips during pregnancy. Iron is one of the most important trace elements that takes part in many processes in our body. In particular, iron is one of the components of hemoglobin, which is responsible for the red tint of blood. Lack of hemoglobin can be associated not only with a lack of iron in food, but also with frequent and heavy blood loss (during menstruation, severe injuries and peptic ulcers).

Quite often, the cause of blue lips in children is a serious disease called croup, which is certainly accompanied by a severe cough and disturbances in normal breathing.

If red lips change their natural color over time, and the patient experiences shortness of breath and a rapid pulse, then we can talk about obvious symptoms of problems with the lungs or heart. The patient may have a heart attack, develop bronchitis, or develop asthma. All this indicates oxygen starvation. Sometimes the lips also turn blue due to the formation of a blood clot in the lungs. In this case, you must immediately seek help from a doctor.

Hypothermia is another most common cause of blue lips. This is explained by the fact that when frozen, the blood vessels located in the lips narrow, preventing blood from completely filling them. As a result of this, most of the blood begins to flow from these vessels to the internal organs: the brain, kidneys and heart, thus maintaining a constant temperature of the entire body. Normal color of lips and skin occurs only if blood moves through the vessels constantly at the same speed and in the usual volume. It will be possible to return pale lips to their pink color after warming the body, as well as a series of measures that will help small blue blood vessels no longer show through the thin skin of the lips.

Sometimes blue lips occur in people with Raynaud's disease, when blood vessels in the extremities burst when exposed to low temperatures or severe stress. The human body tries to replenish the blood vessels with blood, which ultimately gives the body a blue tint.

Blue lips during pregnancy are a sign that the expectant mother’s body lacks iron. This problem is quite common, so today there are already known drugs that can help resolve it.

Clinical picture

1. In the peripheral form of the pathology in adults and children, the darkened dermis is cold to the touch, but in the 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 a blood vessel by a blood clot.

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

3. When 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 disease, dull pain in the sternum, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, fingers and toes, and swelling of the lower extremities occur.

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

Causes of blue lips in young children

Mothers of babies often notice that when their newborns cry, the skin color in the area around the mouth changes. The cause may be congenital heart disease, septic shock, neonatal pneumonia, asthma. In addition to cyanosis, other symptoms of malaise are observed: the baby does not eat well, does not gain weight, is drowsy, and is bothered by cough, rhinitis, and fever. In such cases, emergency medical care and consultation with a doctor 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 characteristics, increased nervous excitability of the baby. The child’s body requires an increase in calcium levels, a deficiency of the microelement causes throat spasms, the lower lip, the area around the mouth, the nasolabial triangle, and the face turn blue. In most cases, the pathology goes away with age; in children older than 3–4 years, such attacks are not observed.

Blue lips can appear in newborns after intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or meningoencephalitis. Metabolic cyanosis occurs with titania. There is a significant calcium deficiency and excess phosphate in the blood serum.

Blue lips in children can be caused by congenital heart defects. The pathology is characterized by circulatory disorders; venous blood, not enriched with oxygen, is added to 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 and has convulsions. Treatment is performed surgically at the age of 3–6 years.

The cause of cyanosis in children can be a respiratory disease - croup, which affects infants and children under 3 years of age. The pathology is characterized by inflammation of the vocal cords and severe stenosis of the larynx. Concerns include a dry, barking cough, wheezing, and increased body temperature. 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?

You should consult your doctor in the following cases:

bothered by dull pain in the chest, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat;
high blood pressure;
fingers and lips suddenly 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;
lips turn blue, and the blueness does not go away for more than a day.

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

Adults should contact 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 blueness around the lips. Restoring blood circulation and normalizing blood pressure will help restore the skin to its natural color, stop an attack and avoid the development of serious complications.

Full, red lips have been considered sexy in many cultures. Scientists believe that this fact is based on evolutionary theory: plump lips are a visual symbol of fertility. Indeed, the lips of girls who have reached puberty increase in volume when sexually aroused. Let's look at some symptoms of lip diseases.

Why do lips turn blue?

The second common cause of blue lips is smoking and the constant exposure of the human body to increased amounts of toxic gases.

Blue lips are a sign of heart and lung disease

The bright red color of our arterial blood is due to the high content of hemoglobin in it. A decrease in the number of red blood cells, that is, red blood cells, gives the lips a pale color.

. When the lips are completely pale, this indicates anemia, that is, anemia. In this case, hemoglobin in the blood is reduced. This happens for various reasons. And with such lip color, even without examination, one can suspect that a person has anemia.

Central cyanosis, in which a baby's face or body 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 can also be a harmless temporary bluish discoloration of the skin around the mouth, especially when crying or feeding. 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, tongue and oral mucosa should remain pink.

You can distinguish a dangerous case of cyanosis from a non-dangerous one by examining the child’s lips, tongue and nails. If they are pink, then the child most likely has perioral cyanosis, which is not cause for concern. If your lips, tongue and nails acquire a blue tint, you should immediately seek medical help.

What measures should you take if you have blue lips?

Wrap yourself well in a warm blanket or terry towel, which will allow your body to quickly warm up. Blood will begin to circulate faster through the internal organs and rise from them to the limbs and lips.
You should drink hot tea. You need to be careful when drinking hot coffee, since the caffeine it contains causes vasoconstriction.
Sports activities (running, aerobics, etc.) will quickly warm the body and give it a pink tint, which will help oxygen reach all tissues of the body.
Set yourself a goal to quit smoking. Tobacco smoke and nicotine reduce the flow of oxygen to tissues and lead to rapid vasoconstriction.

What to do if your lips turn blue?

If blue lips are caused by hypothermia, you should dress warmly and wrap yourself in a blanket. It's good to drink hot tea, but you should avoid coffee, since caffeine constricts blood vessels.
What to do if your lips turn blue? They will “disperse” oxygen throughout all vessels and tissues through active movement . If you are outside, bring your palms to your mouth and exhale into them - this will warm both your palms and your lips.
Give up cigarettes, which deprive you of adequate oxygen supply.
Eat foods rich in iron: liver, chicken yolks, buckwheat, pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, beets, grapes, etc.

Eat right

If your lips often turn blue, check if everything is okay with your body and undergo a full examination. If the cause of blue lips is some kind of organ dysfunction, the doctor will determine a set of therapeutic measures and necessary medications.
There are also homeopathic remedies that complement the main treatment, but their use must also be agreed with the doctor.

As for children, if blue lips are accompanied by weight loss, heart murmurs, coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, be sure to consult a pediatrician.