Home Blogs Treatment & Remedies for Cut Lips
Treatment & Remedies for Cut Lips
By
Patricia | April 14, 2010
Usually, a cut on the lip occurs due to a major or minor injury. It can either be a small scratch on the lip or a deep gash. If the cut on the lip is pretty deep, it needs immediate treatment because if it left untreated, it may result in an infection.
Cut on the Lip
Damage to the lips is pretty common because the soft tissues make the lips vulnerable to injury. A fall or blow can be one of the reasons to for a cut on the lip. Biting your lips can also cause bruising or a cut on the lip. Toddlers and kids often get cuts on their lips due to falls. Young children also have a tendency to suck their lips repeatedly, resulting in bruising. Kids with cuts on their lips can be offered ice pops to suck on as this can reduce swelling.
A bloody lip can be both distressful and frightening. Bacteria called staphylococcus aureus are present on our body. Though they are harmless, they can cause boils if the skin is broken due to shaving, scratching, or rubbing. In such cases, a cut on the lip can become a breeding ground for this bacteria, leading to an infection.
A split lip requires medical attention, especially if the cut is deep. More often than not, we have a tendency to lick our lips if they are hurt; however, this should be avoided as it leads to spreading of the bacteria.
Placing an ice pack on the wound will also help in treating the cut lip. This is perhaps the best first aid to stop busted lip pain. The ice packs helps to reduce and delay the swelling process. You can also seal a cut lip with a bandage. Bandaging the lip wound is useful in bringing relief and prevents scaring.
Treatment:
If the cut is not too deep, you won’t need medical treatment. However, it is best to check with your doctor if the cut is deep and there is considerable swelling or bruising.
Here’s what is required in case your lip suffers a wound:
- Apply pressure on the cut in order that the bleeding stops. Ice cubes wrapped in a clean cloth are most effective in stopping the bleeding.
- Next, wash the cut on the lip with mild soap and water. Clean out the wound, and if needed, apply some antiseptic cream and bandage the lip.
- Even after bandaging, ice packs can be used on the cut to prevent and ease swelling.
- When treating cut lips, check for any teeth or bone damage due to cut.
Home Remedies:
- Apply aloe vera gel on the cut. Its antibacterial properties help to prevent infection. Aloe vera also helps in the increase of the production of collagen, thus playing a vital role in the healing process.
- You can place a slice of cumber on the cut lip to soothe the pain.
- Tea tree oil is antibacterial and antifungal and can be used to heal cuts on the lips. Apply some diluted oil (mixed with olive oil or coconut oil) on the affected area. Essential oils are strong and should never be used without dilution. Consult an aromatherapy expert for more information on how to use the oil.
- Covering the area with a dab of honey will promote healing because of the honey’s antiseptic properties.
- When applying a bandage on lips, you can use turmeric powder as it is and effective antiseptic agent.
- Cayenne pepper can also help stop the bleeding.
- Vitamin E oil can be applied topically. Vitamin E can accelerate healing, reduce scarring, and prevent infection.
- A thin layer of toothpaste can also be applied before going to bed, kept overnight, and washed off the next morning to heal the injury. The menthol present in the toothpaste will bring relief from the pain. If you can procure toothpaste that contains aloe vera gel, the healing process will be faster.
Cut Lip Care
Questions on how long does it take for aloe to heal a busted lip and other such treatment options will best depend on the severity and acuteness of the cut. Mostly the healing time may vary from a couple of days to a few weeks.
- When considering cut lip treatment, it is important to keep the lip wound dry as much as possible. Avoid licking your lips and washing your face often.
- You should not apply products such as butter, margarine or other dairy products. These products, instead of treating the cut, may aggravate the situation due to the formation of oily film on it. Likewise, do not use topical ointments and other creams that are meant for external wounds. They may contain harmful chemicals that can be ingested internally.
- If you have a busted lip, eat only mild, cool soft foods and boiled or steamed vegetables as these will not sting lip injury.
Home remedies can be advised only for simple cut. Deep wounds can be treated with stitches alone. You have to seek medical aid if the bleeding does not stop after 5 to 10 minutes. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics as mouth area can be susceptible to infection easily.