Lip twitching, a phenomenon characterized by involuntary, sporadic muscle contractions around the mouth, can be both puzzling and disconcerting. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, such facial spasms may be linked to various factors, including stress, which affects a significant portion of the population. The American Psychological Association reports that more than 75% of adults experienced moderate to high levels of stress in the past month, potentially contributing to nervous system disturbances that manifest as lip twitching. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Neural Transmission suggests that peripheral nerve injuries, which can lead to muscle twitching, are not uncommon. While less frequently, underlying neurological conditions could also play a role, underscoring the importance of understanding what causes lip twitching. For those experiencing this symptom, identifying the trigger is the first step toward finding relief.
When a lip twitches, the muscles in or around the area contract, making the lip feel like it is quivering. If the twitching is fast, the lip may not appear to be twitching to observers, but it may still be felt. Some conditions make the contractions more noticeable to others and may be accompanied by other symptoms.
Withdrawal from substances such as alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes can cause a person to experience lip twitching. Substances that contain stimulating products, like sodas, coffee, chocolate, and caffeine pills, can produce muscle contractions if they are taken in excess.
Emotions can often trigger lip muscle contractions. People sometimes experience this when they have strong feelings of anger, fear, joy, or amusement. It can also occur with extreme fatigue, as well as stress and anxiety.
Essential tremors may also cause twitching, as can hysterical tremors. In general, these types of tremors affect not only the lips, but other areas of the body as well. An essential tremor is most often caused by stress, while hysterical ones occur when a person uses too many drugs or consumes too much alcohol.
Sometimes, a medical condition can contribute to the development of lip twitching. Bell’s palsy is a condition that affects the nerves in the face and will often lead to twitches. With this condition, other symptoms may also be present like facial swelling, difficulty speaking, and a droopy face. Another problem that may produce muscle contractions is a lack of potassium in a person’s diet.
A twitching lip may only be an annoying side effect that some people have to deal with, but at times it may be a symptom of a much larger issue. When these contractions occur regularly and are a constant problem, it may be an indication of a medical issue that must be treated by a professional. A persistent twitch may be caused by hypoparathyroidism, Tourette’s syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, or even Parkinson’s disease. In these cases, the twitching may be only one of a number of symptoms.
Why Is My Upper Lip Twitching?
Persistent lip twitching can be annoying, but it’s often an indication that something is wrong. Any involuntary twitching of particular muscles usually has an underlying cause. Once you determine the underlying cause, you can potentially take action to stop the twitching (which is your ultimate goal).
There are a lot of muscles in the body that can begin twitching for different underlying reasons. If your twitching is primarily limited to your upper lip, you may be wondering what that means. While there is no cut-and-dry answer to the precise reason why peoples’ upper lips sometimes twitch, here are some possible underlying reasons for the annoying sensation.
Stress
Stress gets a bad rap, but it has immense power to mess with the body’s proper function and cause a variety of neurological symptoms (such as lip twitching or other muscle twitching). If you feel like your upper lip twitching began after a period of intense or prolonged stress, it may be time to make lifestyle changes to reduce the amount of stress you feel in your life.
Lack of Sleep
If you aren’t getting sufficient sleep, your body will eventually send you signals to let you know it needs more rest. One of these signals may be increased twitching of your upper lip. So if you’re wondering “Why is my upper lip twitching?” lack of sleep may be the culprit.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a tricky condition because it can cause a wide variety of symptoms that mimic other problems. You may have anxiety if you experience the following symptoms:
- Intense fear
- Panic attacks
- A racing heart
- Muscle tension
- Obsessive thinking
- Excessive worry
- Avoidance of triggers
- Hot and cold flushes
Anxiety is more common than you may think, and it can cause muscle twitching which can lead to even more anxiety. The cycle can continue like this until you receive help for your underlying anxiety disorder.
Electrolyte Imbalance
Electrolytes are essential minerals your body requires to function properly. Potassium, sodium and chloride are significant electrolytes, but you also have phosphate, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonates that are also important electrolytes. If any of these become imbalanced, they can wreak havoc in your body. Problems with muscle contraction (including muscle twitching) can often be linked to an imbalance in electrolytes.
Why Is My Bottom Lip Twitching?
If your top lip seems to behave itself but your bottom lip seems to have a mind of its own, you may find yourself wondering, “Why is my bottom lip twitching?” The potential reasons for bottom lip twitching can include some of the same causes for upper lip twitching. But in addition to those causes, here are some additional reasons your lower lip may be twitching.
Substance Abuse
Abusing drugs or alcohol can cause your lower lip to twitch. There are many reasons to avoid these types of substances or at least cut back on their usage. You may find that doing so relieves your lower lip twitches.
Hormonal Deficiency
Hormonal deficiencies can occur in people of any age, though they’re more prevalent in older individuals. Hormonal conditions such as hyperparathyroidism can cause muscle twitching—including lower lip twitching—in some people.
Hemifacial Spasm
A hemifacial spasm is a muscle spasm that only occurs on one side of the face. If you notice that only one side of your lower lip twitches while the other remains still, you may be dealing with the effects of a hemifacial spasm.
How To Stop Lip Twitching
Now that you know what may be causing your lip twitching issues, it’s time to talk about how to stop lip twitching. Here are a few steps you may want to try.
Hold the Twitching Area Between Your Fingers
Sometimes all it takes to stop your upper or lower lip from twitching is holding the affected area firmly between your fingers until the twitching stops. You may need to continue this action multiple times throughout the day if the twitching keeps returning.
Minimize Your Stress
Stress is not your friend, and it can cause a lot of physical and psychological issues. If stress is the culprit behind your lip twitching, you would do well to minimize it. You may need to quit a high-stress job for one that’s more reasonable, or you may be able to manage your stress by getting regular massages and meditating daily.
Make Sure You’re Hydrated
Dehydration can lead to electrolyte imbalance, which can cause muscle twitching. Make sure you’re properly hydrated and that you’re getting sufficient electrolyte intake when you sweat a lot (such as during workouts or a particularly active shift at work).
Get Sufficient Sleep
If your lip twitching is happening because you’re sleep-deprived, do whatever it takes to improve the quantity and quality of your sleep.