Published on: 3/5/2025
Cherry red lips can be seen with several conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning, cyanide poisoning, and polycythemia vera. Each of these affects blood flow and oxygen use in a way that may change the color of the lips.
When the lips look bright red, it may be because of problems with how blood carries or uses oxygen. One important cause is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a gas that, when inhaled, binds to hemoglobin in the blood and stops oxygen from reaching cells. This can sometimes give the lips a cherry red look even though the body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs. Another cause is cyanide poisoning. Cyanide interferes with the cells’ ability to use oxygen properly, which can also lead to a bright red appearance of the skin and lips. Lastly, polycythemia vera is a condition where the body makes too many red blood cells. This extra blood can make the lips appear red and full. While these conditions can cause cherry red lips, not everyone with these issues will show the same symptom. It’s important to get checked by a doctor who can look at all the signs and tell what is happening inside the body.
(References)
Liu Z, Meng H, Huang J, Kwangwari P, Ma K, Xiao B, Li L. Acute carbon monoxide poisoning with low saturation of carboxyhaemoglobin: a forensic retrospective study in Shanghai, China. Sci Rep. 2021 Sep 17;11(1):18554. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-97436-8. PMID: 34535720; PMCID: PMC8448847.
Parker-Cote JL, Rizer J, Vakkalanka JP, Rege SV, Holstege CP. Challenges in the diagnosis of acute cyanide poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2018 Jul;56(7):609-617. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2018.1435886. Epub 2018 Feb 8. PMID: 29417853.
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