Why lips turn purple

In many cases, this type is caused by cyanosis, which is a discoloration of a part of the body resulting from a lack of oxygen in the blood.

Cyanosis can occur for various reasons, and it's not the only possible cause. Both lifestyle conditions and illnesses can lead to lip discoloration. Spending too long in cold weather without proper clothing can cause lips and skin to turn blue. Such a change in lip color as a result of cold exposure can be a sign of hypothermia. If this occurs, follow hypothermia first aid care procedures and seek assistance from a qualified medical professional.

Avoiding exposure to cold , or dressing properly in warm clothing can help prevent blue lips from this cause. When living in higher altitudes, such as when mountain climbing, altitude sickness is a risk.

The air at higher altitudes has less oxygen, and a lack of oxygen can lead to cyanosis. Altitude sickness can be serious, even fatal, but can be prevented by slowly acclimating to high altitudes.

Severe altitude sickness is a medical emergency that is often treated by descending to a lower altitude, medications, and administering oxygen. Illness-related reasons for purple or blue lips can be serious, so it's important to seek medical attention to help identify and remedy the condition.

Sometimes also called Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's syndrome , this condition causes a lack of blood flow to the extremities. When blood is not flowing properly into the lips, it results in a lack of oxygen cyanosis , and causes a blue or purple color.

Raynaud's is treated by avoiding possible triggers: smoking, caffeine, certain medications, and exposure to cold. In many cases, Raynaud's is associated with another condition, and treating that underlying condition can help with symptoms such as purple lips.

Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation in the lungs and results in the inability to breathe properly. During an asthma attack, the skin or lips may turn blue because of a lack of oxygen to the body. Asthma could be triggered by stress, cigarette smoke, exercise or allergens such as animal dander, pollen, or mold. Cyanosis is a sign of a severe asthma attack that needs immediate medical attention. Treatment of asthma can include medications, as well as avoidance of potential triggers.

Croup is an infection by a virus or a bacteria in the upper respiratory system that affects children. Croup is infectious, and can cause symptoms of a barking cough and a "raspy" sound while breathing. Bluish discoloration of the skin is a symptom of severe disease, which needs emergency medical attention. Croup is rarely treated with antibiotics only in the case of infection with bacteria , and is more often treated with home remedies such as a humidifier, irrigation of the nasal passages with a salt solution, and rest.

COPD is a condition of the lungs that causes an airflow obstruction. Some of the main causes of cyanosis are described below, but you shouldn't use this to diagnose yourself — always leave that to a doctor. If just the fingers, toes or limbs have turned blue and feel cold, it's known as peripheral cyanosis. Common causes for central cyanosis are listed below.

Milia are harmless white skin bumps that contain a type of protein called keratin. Lichen planus is a non-infectious, itchy rash that can affect many areas of the body. The exact cause of lichen planus is unknown and it cannot be cur Dry skin is skin that does not have enough moisture in its outer layer.

This leads to cracks in the skin. Ingrown hairs are hairs that have curled round and grown back into the skin. They produce raised red spots, which can sometimes become infected and tu Skin tags are small flesh-coloured or brown growths that hang off the skin. They are very common and harmless. Possible causes of blue lips include:.

White or pale lips are often accompanied by general paleness affecting the face, lining of the eyes, inside of the mouth , and the nails. This is usually caused by anemia , which is a low red blood cell count. Anemia that causes pale or white lips is severe and requires immediate medical attention. Any of the following may lead to anemia:.

Another common cause of white lips is oral thrush oral candidiasis. Candida is an organism that usually exists in low numbers in your mouth. If an overgrowth of Candida occurs, you end up with oral thrush, which can cause white lesions. Though the lesions usually grow on the tongue or inner cheeks, they can also appear on your inner lips, as well as the roof of your mouth, tonsils, and gums. The following are possible causes of black lips , or hyperpigmentation of the lips:.

Discolored lips can include spotting, too. The causes of spotted lips range from harmless sunspots to spots that are a symptom of a medical condition.

Sunspots are dark spots that develop on parts of the body that get the most sun exposure, such as the face and hands. These spots can also form on the lips and range in color from beige to dark brown. Certain medications can cause dark spots on your lips, such as cytotoxic drugs used to treat cancer, antipsychotic drugs, such as chlorpromazine, and others. Hemochromatosis is a disorder in which the body stores too much iron. It affects over 1 million Americans.

Hyperpigmentation of the skin is also a common sign, and some people develop dark gray or brown patches on the skin and lips. It causes brown or black macules on the lips that can range from 1 to 5 millimeters in size. The condition often causes black lines on the nails , as well. This inherited disorder causes a number of noncancerous growths in the gastrointestinal tract and increases the risk of certain types of cancer. These spots can affect the lips and mouth, along with the skin around the eyes, nose, hands, and feet.

Children with the condition can develop tiny dark spots that may fade with age.