SWELLING OF LIPS

Started having swollen lips after new roommate was using perfumed laundry detergent and dryer sheets.  It took months for me figure out she was putting her perfume soaked towels in the cupboard next to my room, and the chemicals were coming through the wall.  Now I am so sensitized, that even if I take one inhale of those dryer sheet fumes my lips swell up during the night.  (First it is the top lip, then it goes to the bottom lip, or it goes side to side on the top lip, bottom lip, etc.)   My  lips swell to about four times their size if I don't get benadryl down fast.  I use "Waldryl" from Walgreen's just as effective and way cheaper.  I USE ONLY DYE-FREE BENADRYL, you could react from the red dye in regular benadryl if you have chemical allergies!!  Avoidance is the only cure, so you need to find out what chemical (perfume, dye, etc.) you are reacting to.  Make sure you enlighten people to the damage these products are doing long term i.e. cancer, even if they are not currently having our terrible allergic reactions.  I don't have an epi-pen, but think I better look into it, as my apartment is close to the laundry room and I face these chemicals several times a week.  

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Normally, in cases where allergies are present, you will experience: hives ( raised red blotches, itchy or painful ) swelling of the tongue/ lips/ throat, dizziness, and many other symptoms.
The swelling could be due to angioedema. This is swelling of the deeper layers of the skin due to an allergic reaction. The reaction occurs more commonly on the face around the lips and near the eyes. Therapy lies in identifying the allergens and avoiding them and anti histamines. As you are aware of the triggering factors try to stay away from them. And yes an epipen is needed for anaphylactic reactions. An allergy specialist can help identify the allergens and desensitize you.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.