What causes purple lips?
Mar 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, purple or blue-tinged lips may be caused by exposure to cold temperatures, high altitude environments, iron deficiency anemia, chronic bronchitis, chronic heart failure, or other similar conditions. If discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention is recommended. Under normal circumstances, one should avoid staying in enclosed spaces for prolonged periods, ensure proper indoor air circulation, and reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, such as nitrites.
Generally, purple lips may be caused by exposure to cold, high altitude, iron deficiency anemia, chronic bronchitis, chronic heart failure, and other conditions. If discomfort occurs, timely medical attention is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Cold Exposure
When the body is exposed to cold environments, peripheral blood vessels constrict. This constriction reduces blood flow to the lips, causing them to appear bluish-purple. Appropriate warming measures should be taken, such as wearing a mask, and exposure to cold environments should be minimized.
2. High Altitude Environment
In high altitude areas, the atmospheric pressure is low, and the partial pressure of oxygen in the air decreases accordingly. In this case, hemoglobin in the blood cannot fully bind with oxygen, resulting in reduced blood oxygen saturation and purple lips. To prevent this phenomenon, proper acclimatization training before entering high altitude areas is recommended, and carrying portable oxygen devices can also be helpful.
3. Iron Deficiency Anemia
Insufficient intake or impaired absorption of iron in the body can lead to iron deficiency anemia. When suffering from iron deficiency anemia, hemoglobin synthesis decreases, directly affecting the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and causing tissue hypoxia, which results in purple lips. Symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness may also be present. Treatment may include medications like ferrous succinate tablets, ferrous fumarate granules, and methylcobalamin tablets, under a doctor's guidance.
4. Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is usually caused by long-term smoking or repeated respiratory tract infections. It may lead to airway obstruction and impaired ventilation function, resulting in hypoxemia and purple lips. Symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath may also occur. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as ambroxol hydrochloride oral solution, compound licorice oral solution, and ambroxol hydrochloride oral solution for treatment.
5. Chronic Heart Failure
Chronic heart failure is usually caused by diseases such as hypertension and coronary artery disease, leading to reduced myocardial contractility. This may result in decreased cardiac output, causing systemic tissue hypoperfusion and purple lips. Patients may also experience symptoms such as dyspnea and edema. Under a doctor's recommendation, patients may use medications such as furosemide injection, spironolactone tablets, and perindopril tert-butylamine tablets for treatment.
In daily life, one should avoid staying in enclosed environments for prolonged periods, ensure indoor air circulation, and minimize exposure to toxic chemicals, such as nitrites.
