Cheilitis: causes, symptoms, classification, prevention and treatment

Causes of cheilitis

Exposure to adverse weather conditions.

The disease often develops as a result of exposure to unfavorable climatic factors, which include ultraviolet radiation, too low or high air temperature. For this reason, cheilitis often affects people whose work involves regular exposure to fresh air.

Development of an allergic reaction.

One of the reasons for the development of cheilitis is an increase in the sensitivity of the lips to various irritants, mainly of chemical origin.

In this case, the area of the red border of the lips is most often affected and, less often, the mucous membrane. If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner and do not undergo treatment, the disease can spread to the skin surrounding the lips. Most often, the disease develops due to the use of lipsticks. This is explained by the fact that their composition includes the dye eosin and specific fluorescent substances. The plastic of dentures, aromatic fillers included in toothpastes, etc. can also act as irritants. The disease mainly affects women aged 20-60 years.

Presence of an underlying disease.

Cheilitis on the lips can be a symptom of some disease and manifest itself against the background of neurodermatitis or atopic dermatitis. Eczematous cheilitis is formed with various eczemas, macrocheilitis - with neuritis of the facial nerve in combination with a folded tongue. The most common cause of the disease is dermatoses. The skin of the lips, mucous membrane and red border can also become inflamed with systemic and infectious diseases (psoriasis, tuberculosis, lichen planus, erythematoses, etc.).

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Classification of cheilitis

Primary (independent)

Glandular

This lip disease is caused by acquired or congenital enlargement of the minor salivary glands and their infection. Most often it affects people over 30 years of age. It is worth noting that the upper lip is affected 2 times less often than the lower lip. At the beginning of the development of the disease, patients are concerned about peeling and slight dryness of the lips. If left untreated, pain may occur due to cracks and erosion.

Exfoliative

This disease affects only the red border of the lips and is accompanied by peeling.

In most cases, women suffer from this disease. In the dry form, scales form on the lips, a feeling of dryness and burning appears; in the exudative form, swelling and abundant crusts form, making it difficult to eat and speak.

Contact allergic

This disease is caused by a delayed allergic reaction to various irritants upon contact with the red border of the lips. In most cases, this disease affects women over the age of 20. Signs include redness of the lips, swelling, burning and severe itching. With repeated contact with the irritant, the disease worsens. If treatment for cheilitis is not started in a timely manner, the lip becomes covered with small blisters, after which cracks and erosion appear.

Meteorological

This disease is caused by increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, wind or cold. In most cases, it affects men aged 20 to 60 years. The exudative form is characterized by itching, burning of the lips, and the appearance of erosion. Small bubbles may appear, after opening which crusts form. In the dry form, erythema of the lips is observed, small white-gray scales appear. If left untreated, abrasions and erosion may develop in the future.

Secondary (symptomatic)

Atopic

It is believed that this type of disease is one of the manifestations of atopic dermatitis. Patients complain of slight swelling of the red border of the lips, while adjacent areas of the skin are involved in the inflammatory process. Also, manifestations of the disease include damage to the corners of the mouth. When acute inflammation begins to subside, the lip begins to peel off. As a result of dryness in the corners of the mouth, cracks form. In the absence of comprehensive treatment, peeling of the facial skin is possible.

Eczematous

This disease develops against the background of eczema, which results in inflammation of the surface layers of the skin. In the acute stage, patients complain of redness of the lips, burning and itching. In this case, each lip swells, erythema and pathological changes in the skin are observed. If there is no comprehensive treatment, the disease becomes chronic. In this case, acute inflammatory phenomena (hyperemia, edema) decrease, inflammatory infiltration develops, and nodules and scales may form.

Hypovitaminosis

This disease in most cases develops against the background of hypo- or avitaminosis of group B. Symptoms of cheilitis include burning and dryness of the tongue, lips and oral mucosa. If the disease is not treated, vertical small cracks appear on the red border of the lips, which often bleed. The tongue may increase in size, and teeth marks are often visible on it.

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How is treatment carried out when plaque appears in the oral cavity?

To prescribe effective treatment, the doctor must first determine why plaque appears on the lips. The faster and more accurately he makes a diagnosis, the easier the therapy will be. Treatment will differ in each individual case. A universal technique is to rinse the mouth with soda and potassium permanganate.

Treatment of candidiasis can be local and systemic. Suitable therapy is selected taking into account the stage of development and form of the disease. Local treatment of the affected areas is carried out using antifungal and antiseptic drugs - sprays, rinses, gels, etc.

Systemic treatment of candidiasis is carried out in the chronic form of the disease and its spread to other organs. It involves taking special polyene antibacterial drugs, which are active against most fungi and some protozoa, or antimycotic substances. The following remedies are often prescribed:

"Nystatin" is a polyene antibiotic characterized by moderate toxicity;
Fluconazole is a highly effective antimycotic drug;
"Nizoral" is an antifungal agent that copes with candidiasis in a few days.

An addition to the main therapy can be rinsing the mouth with decoctions of sage, chamomile, and yarrow. To eliminate an undesirable symptom, it is important to adjust your diet, drink enough fluids, and humidify the air in the room. It is also necessary to sanitize the oral cavity and constantly maintain its hygiene at a high level.

On average, treatment takes three weeks. It is carried out until the symptoms disappear completely and then extended for another week.

Prevention methods

Careful oral hygiene

To prevent the appearance of cracks, you need to protect the skin and mucous membranes from adverse effects. To do this, you should get rid of the habit of licking your lips and corners of your mouth, using medicinal cosmetics for dry skin and hygienic lipsticks. To prevent infection from getting onto the skin of the lips from the oral cavity, it is necessary to brush your teeth at least twice a day, as well as treat caries and inflammatory gum diseases.

Changing your diet

If pockets begin to appear in the corners of the mouth, it is necessary to limit the consumption of spicy, sour and salty foods that irritate the mucous membranes and skin. You can add non-acidic fruits and vegetables to your daily diet, as well as foods containing iron and riboflavin (beef, liver, dairy products, cabbage, potatoes, peanuts, almonds, etc.).

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Cosmetics are not enough

There are different ways to fight the aging process. There is no way to stop the process, but you can slow it down and reduce the visible impact. Proper lip care is important, which includes moisturizing and protecting lips from harmful external factors. The skin around the mouth is especially thin and sensitive, so you need to pay special attention to it.

Daily moisturizing of the mouth area, protection from UV radiation, anti-wrinkle cosmetics and a proper diet will definitely help keep your lips beautiful longer. However, there are methods of aesthetic medicine and cosmetology that are more effective than home methods, which give more lasting and more noticeable results.

Moisturizing lips

Application of METROGYL DENTA®

METROGYL DENTA® is used in the complex treatment of most infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, since it has a direct antibacterial effect on pathogenic microorganisms that contribute to the development of inflammation. METROGYL DENTA® does not mask the symptoms of the disease, but helps eliminate the cause of inflammation (pathogenic bacteria). METROGYL DENTA® helps cope with the treatment of cheilitis in adults over 18 years of age.

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The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional advice from a doctor. To make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, consult a qualified specialist.

What measures need to be taken

If your appearance causes dissatisfaction or concerns about your health, then it is necessary to exclude the influence of negative factors - stop smoking, use cosmetics moderately and only of good quality, protect your skin from environmental influences.

You also need to reconsider your diet.

To diagnose diseases, you need to do a clinical analysis of urine and blood, and submit plaque from the oral mucosa for examination.

If cardiac, intestinal or stomach problems are suspected, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound or MRI.

To eliminate the symptom, you can turn to homeopathy.

Massage for volume and juiciness of lips

Try regularly massaging your lips with a soft toothbrush. Slow, careful movements will not damage the skin of the lips, but will serve as an excellent cosmetic massage that activates the natural processes of regeneration and hydration. Ideally, it is better to use a separate toothbrush for massage. For thin lip skin, a brush marked SOFT or for children is perfect.
A good idea is to massage your lips every evening before going to bed. To improve blood circulation and restore the natural brightness of the lip border, wet the brush in cold water before massage. Apply a little vegetable oil (shea, almond, avocado, sasanqua, jojoba) to your lips and gently massage your lips with a brush for one minute. This will provide your lips with softness and shine, without taking up any time, effort or money.
Ice is one of the most popular methods to help increase lip volume at home. Massage an ice cube onto your lips and then apply a moisturizer or balm. This cryomassage is an excellent express remedy for giving your lips an appetizing swelling before an important date or photo shoot. Short-term exposure to cold has a shock effect to some extent, which activates all metabolic processes, increases tone, and improves oxygen saturation of skin cells. By regularly performing ice massage, you can make your lips not only more attractive, but also more resistant to external influences. And even in cool weather, without using balm, your lips will shine with health and beauty.