Anemia makes lips look pale, whitish, grayish, or even bluish because of low hemoglobin and reduced oxygen, causing them to lose their normal pink or red color, often alongside general paleness in the face, inner eyelids, and nails. You might also notice dryness, cracks, or sores, especially at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis), due to iron deficiency.
Anemia makes lips look pale, white, or even blue. This is because there's less hemoglobin to carry oxygen. Fewer red blood cells mean less oxygen for the lips. In severe cases, low iron lips can turn blue, a sign of very low oxygen levels.
Low blood cell counts have happened with this drug. If blood cell counts get very low, this can lead to bleeding problems, infections, or anemia. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat; any unexplained bruising or bleeding; or if you feel very tired or weak.
In iron deficiency anaemia, the bone marrow is 'starved of iron'. As well as not being able to make enough red blood cells (anaemia), there can also be a reduction in platelet production. Platelets are the first step in blood clotting, so a reduction in platelets leads to increased bruising.
Warning signs of anemia you shouldn't ignore
Persistent fatigue. Weakness. Dizziness. Shortness of breath.
Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. Or it can cause you to crave non-food items like ice, dirt or paper. These are all signs of iron-deficiency anemia. The good news is that treatment can help iron-deficiency anemia.
Managing anemia lip discoloration
If you're experiencing anemia lip discoloration, it's essential to address both the symptom and its root cause. In many cases, increasing iron levels through iron supplements or dietary changes can help restore healthy red blood cell production.
Symptoms
If their lips are blue, it indicates that they are cold and are having trouble managing their body temperature or circulation. Bright-red lips can be a sign of overheating from the weather or spices in the food they have eaten. Bright-red lips in adults can also indicate that they have had too much caffeine or alcohol.
An analysis published in Preventive Medicine in 2020 found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are associated with lower hemoglobin levels. SSRIs and SNRIs include drugs such as: Celexa. Lexapro.
The drug can increase the risk of suicidal ideation and behavior. [21] Amitriptyline, due to its alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade, can cause orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, and sedation.
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
Patients with IDA may have characteristic systemic symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Oral symptoms and signs may include atrophic glossitis (AG), generalized oral mucosal atrophy, and tenderness or burning sensation of oral mucosa.
wanting to eat non-food items, such as paper or ice (pica) finding it hard to swallow (dysphagia) painful open sores (ulcers) in the corners of your mouth. nail changes, such as spoon-shaped nails.
Some studies have linked the initial onset of angular cheilitis with nutritional deficiencies, especially of the B (B2-riboflavin) vitamin and iron (which causes iron deficiency anemia), which in turn may be evidence of malnutrition or malabsorption.
Anemia due to iron deficiency is a highly prevalent medical condition in women and children. Iron deficiency presents with fatigue, low mood, anxiety, restlessness, palpitations, and headache. Poor nutritional intake can be the reason of iron deficiency in underprivileged populations.
Make an appointment with your primary care provider if you have long-lasting fatigue or other symptoms that worry you. You might end up seeing a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders, called a hematologist; the heart, called a cardiologist; or the digestive system, called a gastroenterologist.
If you have anemia, you may have symptoms like fatigue, heart palpitations, pale skin or feeling short of breath that don't go away within two weeks.
How Do You Treat Anemia?
How To Get Pink Lips Naturally
As anemia worsens, symptoms may escalate to include:
Possibly. The term "pica" describes craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice, known as pagophagia, is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia, although the reason is unclear.
While symptoms such as fatigue and pale skin are widely recognized, anemia can also contribute to swelling of the legs and feet, especially in moderate to severe cases.
Iron is depleted by blood loss (heavy periods, bleeding ulcers, surgery), increased demand (pregnancy, growth spurts, intense exercise), poor dietary intake, and conditions that hinder iron absorption (celiac disease, gastric bypass, some medications, or certain foods/drinks like tea/coffee/dairy with meals). Exercise can cause loss through sweating, red blood cell damage (hemolysis), and increased needs, while poor absorption is a major factor, even with good intake.