Inflamed, Swollen Lips After Drinking Alcohol !! (HELP PLEASE!!!!)

Yesterday, I drank quite a bit of alcohol. Korean type of alcohol called soju.

I wasn't drunk though. I've never been drunk, but I've never been a hardcore drinker either (I don't drink often), so I never found out my limit. But yesterday night I drank the most in my entire life LOL.

My upper lip was tingling && stinging a bit while I was taking shots of soju, but I just thought it was because of the alcohol touching my lips, nothing more nothing less.

This morning when I woke up, my upper lip was red, dry, and "plump" (swollen). It also hurts when I eat spicy foods - um, is this a given? idk hahah.

I googled my condition online, and i read that when the upper lip is inflamed and swollen, it could be because of "overconsumption" (i use that word loosely, in my case, because I wasn't chugging the alcohol) of substances such as caffeine or ALCOHOL.

what do you guys think? has something like this happened to you guys before?

how long do you think this will last? and do you think i can still drink, but just not as much as I did yesterday?

Sounds more like an allergic reaction to me. I'd avoid that particular drink next time - sometimes, allergic reactions go from annoying (first time exposure) to anaphylactic shock (second time exposure).

take some Benedryl...call your Dr

If you had any tiny cracks in the skin of your lips before you started or if you were eating salty snacks on your night out strong spirits can act as an irritant.  Like dabbing vinegar on an open wound.  Alcohol dehydrates the body and dehydration is the major factor in hangover symptoms.  Includes a woolly tongue, headache, parched throat and very dry/sore lips wouldn't be unusual.   Yes, you could also be allergic to that particular spirit

Drink a lot less next time...

U might be allergic, or u just got intoxicated,, hmm i think just drink a lot of water to take all that toxic out of ur body, it will go in 2 days MAX

I know EXACTLY what you have. DSL.

that is not an allergic reaction.  it is an irritation.  go get some vaseline (petroleum jelly) and apply liberally as needed.

and then stop being stupid.  its called a chapped lipped, irritated by drying alcohol.

UPDATE: MY UPPER LIP IS DOING BETTER, BUT DEFINITELY STILL QUITE BAD. IT DRIES OUT SOOOOOOOOOOO QUICKLY!!

ALSO, THE SKIN AROUND MY MOUTH IS REALLY REALLY DRY. LIKE SCALY DRY !!

************************

trustwomen

- Sorry, I don't quite understand the "annoying to anaphylactic shock" and the "first & second time exposure" thing... Could you explain?

gi-jane

- Cracked lips.... well it is winter here in Korea and it has been quite windy, so my lips prolly weren't in their best condition if you know what I mean. And I will try to remind myself to drink more water !!

schnooder

- "DSL"??

drea99

- Okay, help me understand what you mean by "irritation" and what the difference between an allergic reaction and irritation is. Also, I hope you weren't telling me to stop being stupid? I don't know why you would say that to me anyways lol. And what does "chapped lipped, irritated by drying alcohol" mean? Like, what were you trying to say, and why?

I don't drink so I have no idea or suggestion for you beyond saying see a doctor. There are other threads in other forums with multiple responses though. Some of which are by people saying they have the exact same issue. It thought the extra replies would help you out.

Good luck. I hope you get better soon it sounds so painful. Research online is good but it's hard to diagnose yourself... so consider a doctors appointment too. :) Please.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/cs/forums/13/25 5506/ShowThread.aspx

http://www.everydayhealth.com/CS/forums/13165 3/ShowThread.aspx

http://www.everydayhealth.com/CS/forums/4/193 688/ShowThread.aspx

http://www.steadyhealth.com/Swollen_Lips_Afte r_Drinking__Alcohol__t148504.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2 0081120124623AAzmBZG

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2 0081002100215AAUBKrx

Original Post by schnooder:

I know EXACTLY what you have. DSL.

 HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!....I would LOVE to explain this one!!!!!!!!!!!....

DSL's RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET SOME FOO'!!!!!AGAGAGAGHHH!!!!!!!!!!

I have exactly the same problem. I  get this happen every time I have a drink. The lips go realy plump, and after that, they get dry & blistery for a few days. It does not go away completely, and I am constantly using lip balm/vasaline to keep them from getting worse.  But I dont drink very much. I dont drink during the week, I dont drink with my meals (only water), and the only time I do tend to drink, is when & if I go out,which is not often, but then it's not a huge amount, so I cant see that it's over consumption of Alcohol, though the alcohol obviously acccelerates the condition.

Think I might be able to help here. Had the same problem all last year, then thought it might be dehydration. So after I have a drink I make up a sachet of dioralyte(rehydration sachet that you mix with water) and drink that. Since I've been drinking dioralyte I haven't had the problem! Its fantastic!!! Let me know if it works for you.

Thanks for that. I actually had to go to the doctors for a jab, and while I was there I asked about my lips...yet again. It was a different doctor, and he said that when you get older, your lips stop producing the miosture which stops them getting chapped etc. He suggested taking vitamin B2, which I said I had started taking a few days earlier. He said for some reason, that seems to work, and it has. I actually had a night out & was drinking the other night, and my lips have been fine. I still have to use lip salve occasionally, but they are virtually back to normal. I will however make a note of that dioralyte rehydration stuff, always handy to have a back up! Thanks again!