TikTok alerts people to common blood disorder sign that can appear in the lips

Anaemia describes a common blood disorder that can be triggered by a few factors, including some underlying health problems.

While the condition is characterised by tell-tale signs like cold hands and dizziness, your lips could also ring alarm bells.

This lesser-known sign has gained some attention recently, after makeup artist Lexi Michaela posted a tutorial on how she covers her “anaemia lips” with a lip stain in a viral TikTok video.

Many users took to the comments, sharing they had no idea that anaemia could strip natural colour from the lips.

One user penned: “Is that why my lips have no colour to them?!”

READ MORE The most common symptom of iron deficiency appears on the skin

Another said: “Oh my gosh!!! I didn’t know that’s why my lips are so pale!!!”

One user reacted by saying: “Same I literally live in lip stains because my lips are the colour of Casper.”

While “anaemia lips” isn’t a medical term, Dr Andrea R. Dean, a haematologist and oncologist explained that paleness in the lips, skin, inner eyelids and nail beds is one of the tell-tale signs of the blood disorder.

The doctor told HuffPost: “The change in colour is due to shunting of blood away from less vital organs, such as the skin, to more vital organs, such as the brain, when the haemoglobin is low.”

@makeupbylexh ARIANA GRANDE GAVE ME A DISČOUNT CODĖ FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE and this lip combo is entirely @r.e.m. beauty ������������ “LEXI15” til june 30!lip combo: lip stain marker in “full out”, lip liner in “ad libs”, lipstick in “bubbly” ������✨ #lipcombo #lipstainlipliner #lipstain #rembeauty #anemiaproblems #rembeautylip ♬ original sound – lex

In case you aren’t aware, haemoglobin refers to an iron-containing protein that carries oxygen in your body and gives blood its red colour.

Apart from pale lips, the Mayo Clinic shares that some key signs of anaemia include the following:

• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Pale or yellowish skin, which might be more obvious on white skin than on Black or brown skin
• Irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Headaches.

The good news is that pinpointing the cause of anaemia could help you regain the natural pigment in your lips and ease your symptoms.

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What Causes Anaemia?

Dr Dean explained that there are three major causes of anaemia, including blood loss, the destruction of red blood cells, and a decreased production of red blood cells.

Iron Deficiency

Considered the most common cause, iron deficiency can often strike people who have heavy periods.

However, vegetarians, vegans, and patients with gastrointestinal diseases, including coeliac disease can also be at risk.

Vitamin B12 deficiency

A lack of vitamin B12 can also impact your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet production, paving the way to anaemia.

Similarly to iron, people who follow plant-based diets and those with gastrointestinal or inflammatory bowel diseases are more prone to this deficiency.

Aplastic Anaemia

This rare bone marrow failure disorder causes bone marrow to stop making enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Hemolytic Anaemia

This type, which can be inherited from parents or acquired by infections, medicines, autoimmune disorders and more, causes the body to destroy red blood cells faster than they are made.

Sickle Cell Anaemia

Sickle cells leave red blood cells becoming hard and C-shape like, getting stuck in small blood vessels and clogging the blood flow.

Fortunately, the correct blood tests can help determine the underlying cause of your anaemia and ease the pesky symptoms, including any discolourations.

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