Why might my lips become red and inflamed after eating?

Try taking a Benadryl next time this happens so you can positively rule out allergies.
It might just be one ingredient that is in most if not all the food you are eating that you are reacting to.

I’m not sure the symptoms would even last long enough for the Benadryl to kick it, but I could try it. I just didn’t think allergies would be likely since I don’t get any other symptoms.

It really sounds like an allergic reaction, probably to a very common ingredient like flour, or salt….it would be difficult to point out an allergy to sodium because it is found in soo many foods & beverages.

Gluten would be my first guess since it is a relatively common allergy and it is in many different foods. Dairy would be my second guess. Maybe try avoiding both of those for a day and see what happens.

Propelyne glycol is a common preservative, which can cause allergic reactions.

Mine does the same thing with too much salt, or if I eat a lot of potassium rich fruits. It’s also possible you have a nickel allergy. You will be amazed at how many foods contain nickel in them. Do you have eczema or asthma or allergies? If not. Do you have close family members with severe allergies?
Oh, if it is a nickel allergy. Than steel pots and pans and utensils all have nickel and can be the problem. You can’t cook in these because more nickel will bleed into your food. Can foods will also be a problem for you. Heres a link that will explain more. You can try to see if taking the suggested precautions will alleviate your problem. If it does then get tested to see if you have a nickel allergy. It really is more common than most people think.

@Pandora I’m honestly not sure if I have allergies or not. I broke out last year in hives, for the first time in my life, all over my body for a three day period. My doctors and I couldn’t figure out what the culprit was and it hasn’t happened since, but my doctor ordered me to carry Benadryl at all times to be on the safe side, due to the severity of the hives. Then, the last time I went to the eye doctor’s, she asked if I wore contacts and if so, how uncomfortable they were for me. I said, “yes” and “pretty uncomfortable most of the time” and then she said it was because I have some kind of bumps all over my eyes (not visible to the naked eye) that are only caused by allergies, but it wasn’t possible to know what allergies caused them.

Should I maybe just request a scratch test? And where would I do that?

How long has this been happening?

@ZEPHYRA Years. Probably since I was about 12? So something like 18 years.

And you never had it checked out? Certainly some kind of allergy that would go away with some kind of histamine treatment. Is something preventing you from getting medical treatment? I can’t see how you live with such a painful and irritating condition!
Have you tried a beeswax lip balm? Put it on before you eat and see if there is any improvement. The bottom line is that an expert has to run some tests.

@ZEPHYRA No, because it was just appearance more than anything. It doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t usually last more than 15 minutes after I’m done eating. The worst the physical sensations get are only slightly itchy and warm. And the annoying bit is the appearance – getting red and slightly inflamed.

I was tested last year for wheat pollen allergies, but that came back negative. So would I do a scratch test, or other stuff? Do I just ask my primary or do I need to go somewhere specific?

Back to an allergy specialist. More tests.

The allergy must be to something else. Sounds like you are going through a tough time.

@DrasticDreamer I would. Go to see a dermatologist. They will test for everything. It’s better to know what is causing it than to keep guessing. Your regular family MD won’t know all the different skin reactions. My daughter had eczema and over the years she had a few MD’s who couldn’t identify it or would give her weak treatments that did nothing. It wasn’t till she went to see a dermatologist and discovered that she had nickel allergies and actually a bunch of other stuff that she was better able to control it and be treated more efficiently. Poor thing spent most of her college days drugged up on benedryl. Though that was mostly her fault. She knew she had a nickel allergy and kept eating all the wrong stuff.

I agree with @ZEPHYRA. Get some tests done. It really does sound like you’re having allergic reactions to something. If nothing else, it will cross that off the list.

Sometimes too much Vitamin C , like in Orange juice.
I get reaction on my lips only..so I diluted the orange juice and I can now tolerate it.
Allergist told me that some allergies ‘develop” when the body has had too much of that type of food or product.
Stay away from offending food type until the body can reset itself again.
See an allergist.

Hey @DrasticDreamer, i completely understand your problem and it seems like no one else in this thread does. After you eat any meal, theres a slight redness around the lips right? like 1–3 mm of redness.. It has been happening to me for the past few years. I have been to a dermatologist and an allergen specialist and they are clueless. Have you had any luck in your endeavor to solve this??? I am praying that you did. please help me if you did.

Thank you

Take magnesium chloride or Epsom salt with sea salt in pure water. Or boil curcumin, ginger, and black pepper for 15 minutes, then mix in apple cider and olive oil or pure ghee and drink hot. Maybe BOTH based on your situation.