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Red Lips

Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI

Worried about your symptoms?

Start the Red Lips test with our free AI Symptom Checker.

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Try one of these related symptoms.

Lips are red

Lips are dry

Chapped lips

Swollen lips

Lips red and burning

Red ring around lips

Redness around lips

Lips redder than usual

Irritated lips

Lips always red

Red burning lips, not chapped

Lips red all of a sudden

About the Symptom

Lips can appear red and inflamed due to rashes such as irritation from lip-licking, allergic or irritant reactions to foods/cosmetics, auto-immune diseases and certain infections.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

Fever
Edema

Possible Causes

Generally, Red lips can be related to:

Cheilitis
Inflammation of the lips. Causes include infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal) and irritants, such as constant contact with saliva or excessive dryness.
Candidiasis (Oral, Hands and Feet)
Normal human skin contains bacteria and fungi. Candidiasis occurs when the fungus overgrows and invades the skin. Risk factors include warm moist environments and a weakened immune system.
Lip Licker's Dermatitis
A condition in which the lips are constantly irritated by saliva due to frequent lip licking. It is most common in school-aged children but can also be associated with impulse control disorders.
Angular Cheilitis
Hand Eczema

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Red lips may be related to these serious diseases:

Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease causes swelling, called inflammation, in the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body. Kawasaki disease most often affects the heart arteries in children. Those arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It also causes swelling in glands, called lymph nodes, and mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Symptoms include a fever greater than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) for five or more days, a rash on the main part of the body or in the genital area, an enlarged lymph node in the neck, very red eyes without a thick discharge, red, dry, cracked lips and a red, swollen tongue, swollen, red skin on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Later the skin on fingers and toes peels.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

Are your lips red?
When did you first notice the redness, bumps, or irritation on your skin?
How often do you experience redness, bumps, or irritation on the skin?
How is your redness, bumps, or irritation on the skin now?
Do you have multiple red areas or spots on your skin?

Reviewed By:

Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)

Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”

Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)

Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Content updated on Feb 6, 2025

Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy

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This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:

Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.

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FAQs

Why Are My Lips So Red?

Your lips are naturally red because their skin is very thin and has many blood vessels just under the surface. Sometimes, factors like irritation, dryness, or sun exposure can make them appear even redder.

References:

Updated 2023 Jun 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507900/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507900/

Bielfeldt S, Blaak J, Laing S, Schleißinger M, Theiss C, Wilhelm KP, Staib P. Deposition of plant lipids after single application of a lip care product determined by confocal raman spectroscopy, corneometry and transepidermal water-loss. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2019 Jun;41(3):281-291. doi: 10.1111/ics.12533. PMID: 31002377; PMCID: PMC6851866.

Updated 2023 Aug 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470592/