Burning lips: causes, if they are still dry, stinging, what to do

Lips are a very sensitive part of the human body. They feel the slightest touch, a breath of wind, react to excess moisture, changes in general well-being.

Burning lips also have more serious causes, including various diseases. Their surface becomes easily inflamed, changing appearance, becoming brightly colored or pale, uneven, and bleeding. Noticeable small scales or sores may appear on it. The sensations on the lips can be itchy, burning, and painful. You want to constantly lick them, which sometimes brings temporary relief, but aggravates the problem.

Common causes of burning

The face and lips area contains many nerve endings and pain receptors. Exposure to them leads to irritation and transmission of impulses to the brain. The sensitivity of the lips increases, turning into discomfort and pain. Their surface is thin, not protected from the inside by fatty tissue, which makes this area of the body vulnerable not only to external, but also internal irritants. The following can cause lips to become dry, inflamed, and lead to discomfort:

Allergy . The body's intolerance to foods, drugs, and cosmetics causes a rejection reaction. This affects the composition of the blood, and antibodies appear in it. This is how protective forces are revealed. And the lips are well supplied with blood. Due to the presence of atypical components in it, they can “burn” and become swollen and red.

Quincke's edema with manifestation on the upper lip

Oral infections . A huge variety of bacteria live on the mucous membrane of this area and teeth. It is enough to catch a slight cold without healing the caries, and an erosive area and a burning sensation will appear.

Vitamin deficiency . A lack of folic and ascorbic acids and other necessary substances in the body leads to a disruption in the supply of oxygen to tissues and a deterioration in their condition. This is manifested by dry lips and soreness. Their surface becomes thinner and more uneven.

Dry mouth . This phenomenon becomes one of the signs of problems with the throat, salivary glands or their ducts. The same thing is observed in diabetes mellitus, when you are constantly thirsty. Some medications have a similar effect. You have to constantly lick your lips, which causes their membranes to dry out, crack and sting.

Overexcitation of the central nervous system . Excess emotions accelerate metabolic reactions, which can lead to a rush of blood to the face and irritation of the nerves in the lip area. The surface begins to burn, as if they are overflowing from the inside.

Chemical exposure . We are talking about low-quality lip cosmetics. It’s not just women who are at risk, as men also sometimes apply chapstick to them. And it may contain substances that burn the delicate skin of the lips.

We recommend reading the article about options and methods for non-injection lip augmentation. From the article you will learn about contouring, lipofilling, biodegradable threads, vacuum lip augmentation and the electroporation method, a set of lip exercises and much more. And here is more information about contour lip augmentation.

Whose lips are burning?

For a more accurate interpretation, it is important to consider whose lips are burning:

An adult woman has a loved one who experiences very strong romantic feelings about which she cannot remain silent. Perhaps he will receive a declaration of love or a marriage proposal. If there is a quarrel between lovers, then soon he will be the first to come to reconcile and will try to make amends.
The girl has a meeting with a dear person and a pleasant pastime in his company. But it should be taken into account that if not only your lips are burning, but you also feel excitement throughout your whole body, then the girl will have a passionate date one of these days, but she will have to take the first step.
For a pregnant woman, this means a quick and easy birth, and, most likely, the baby will be born very soon.
For a man, this sign indicates that it is time for him to find a life partner or propose to his girlfriend, if he has one.
For a guy - for mutual love. If he is lonely, then fate will soon bring him together with the girl of his dreams. If your lips start to burn after a date, then you should take a closer look at this lady.

Lips pinching around the edges: reasons

If there is a stinging sensation along the edges of the lips, then the reasons for this may be the following:

inadequate reaction of the body to cold;
overly sensitive skin and reaction even to quite ordinary things such as lipstick, sour apple;
herpes zoster in history or at its primary manifestation;
inflammation or injury of the facial nerve;
microstroke.

But most often the reason lies in completely harmless things:

excessive consumption of citrus fruits - the acid contained in them irritates the thin skin of the lips;
passion for dry, salted fish - it literally corrodes the lips, which provokes a burning sensation;
improper handling of pineapple - if it is not completely peeled, it may injure the skin and get acid from the fruit into micro-scratches/punctures.

If the cause is not pathological, then the unpleasant sensations disappear literally after a few hours or a day, at least their intensity becomes much less.

Reasons for education

The causes of damage to the mucous membrane of the lips are the harmful effects of the environment, sudden changes in temperature in winter and summer, leading to chapping, drying out and the formation of cracks. Excessive intake of spicy, hot, salty and sour foods can also cause inflammation. In addition, the following reasons contribute to the formation of cheilitis:

Clogging of pores with lanolin (animal wool wax found in lipsticks), leading to flaking, irritation and allergic reactions.
Contact allergies and dermatoses that occur when lips come into contact with harmful chemical compounds (at work or just in everyday life).
Systemic diseases of the endocrine system, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies.
Lip lesions can also be caused by such serious diseases as skin tuberculosis, lichen, and syphilis.
Diseases that arise from the nervous system, such as psoriasis and eczema, can also cause complications in the lip area.
There are also possible genetic causes of cheilitis, for example, with ichthyosis.
Diseases of internal organs can affect the development of the inflammatory process. There are frequent cases of lip damage due to the liver or disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract.
A sharp decrease in the level of body resistance due to cancer or its treatment (during chemotherapy) also leads to a disruption of the natural protection of the lip area.

Lips tingle after augmentation

After lip augmentation, it stings due to trauma to the skin with needles and the injection of the drug - the nerve endings react sharply to “external interference.” Such discomfort appears in the first minutes/hours after the procedure, quite strongly in the first 24 hours, then the sensations become less pronounced and disappear over the second day.

You cannot tolerate inconvenience if the following sensations are added to this feeling:

strong pain;
a sharp change in skin color in the injection area (from pink to white);
increase in local and general temperatures;
A burgundy edging appeared on the lips.

The formation of bruises on the lips after the injection of hyaluronic acid

Peeling and burning lips

The simultaneous presence of peeling and burning lips may indicate:

insufficient fluid intake into the body - you just need to drink more clean water, and if after a day the discomfort becomes less pronounced, then continue to follow an increased drinking regime to restore balance;
being in a room with excessively dry air - the problem is solved by using a humidifier, drinking large amounts of water and using hygienic lipsticks with a moisturizing, softening effect;
the presence of constant stress in a person’s life - the “culprit” can be any irritant: from food to the aroma of perfume in the air.

If, after restoring the drinking regime, your lips continue to peel, and the burning sensation bothers you periodically or constantly, then you need to seek qualified medical help. Most likely, a full examination will be prescribed to identify:

gastritis with low or high acidity of gastric juice;
diseases of the pancreas - pancreatitis (inflammation), disruption of the process of insulin production and others;
dysbacteriosis - can be an independent disease or a consequence of long-term use of antibacterial drugs, adherence to a strict diet with an irrational menu;
gastric/duodenal ulcer.

You should definitely consult a dentist, because peeling and burning lips can be caused by pathologies of the oral cavity - stomatitis, gingivitis, even if they occur with minimal or complete absence of symptoms.

Underlip

If your lower lip burns or itches, this is a very favorable sign.
Pleasant surprises and sweet moments await you, both literally and figuratively. A sweet surprise could be a big delicious cake or dessert that you will soon be lucky enough to taste. An unexpected gift may come from a close friend or loved one. Many pleasant moments and positive emotions await you.

In addition, the lower lip glows before the kiss. But this kiss has no romantic connotations - it will be with a person of the same sex as you. This could be a loved one, relative or child.

Drooling and burning sensation in the lips

A burning sensation in the lip area can occur simultaneously with excessive salivation, the latter is a provoking factor, and the cause of this combination of unpleasant sensations can be:

poisoning with chemicals (for example, when working in a specific industry);
pathologies of the oral cavity (stomatitis, gingivitis);
inflammation of the salivary glands;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The problem may be more prosaic - eating large quantities of too salty food, when at the same time there is burning of the lips, profuse salivation and a feeling of dry mouth.

If unpleasant signs do not disappear within 2-3 days, then you need to consult a doctor for examination.

Interpretation taking into account the time of day and day of the week

In addition to these factors, the timing of the action influences the interpretation of the belief:

Monday .	To the pleasant surprise of the other half. This could be a favorite treat or a small gift.
Tuesday	This is a constructive dialogue with your boss and you will get a raise or raise.
Wednesday	Very unpleasant conversations about someone from your inner circle and about gossip.
Thursday	A pleasant meeting with a close friend or girlfriend.
Friday	A date that could end in an argument
Saturday	An unexpected visit from a relative, perhaps a relative from afar.
Sunday	Quiet family reunion with fruitful conversation about the future

If the omen occurred in the morning, in the evening there will be a conversation with an important, significant person who will affect some areas of life. Flaming lips during the day symbolize a sad outcome of a conversation, or maybe even a conflict.

If your lips are burning in the evening, you can expect a new relationship or a declaration of love from your current lover, who will never want to tell you how he feels.

Burning lips at night is a good harbinger for couples in frozen or suspended relationships. Soon everything will change for the better, and harmony and peace will reign in the relationship.

Systemic lupus, burning and redness of lips

Redness of the lips and burning sensation are the first signs of systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune connective tissue disease. The color changes only along the edges of the lips, their contour becomes pronounced, as if outlined. A burning sensation is noted precisely in this area, it is aggravated due to constant licking of the lips - the patient feels dry skin.

Unpleasant symptoms disappear over time, but this does not mean recovery - the disease simply becomes chronic. Periodically, the sensations return, which means an exacerbation of the pathology.

Both lips glowed

If both lips burn and itch at the same time, this is an omen of:

If your lips itch and are on fire, then you will soon meet your lover. The stronger the itch, the more passion you will experience.
If you are definitely not expecting romantic dates and kisses, then most likely such scratching is promised by swearing and arguing.
If you like to eat and walk in good company, then this sign can promise you a rich feast and sincere fun with friends.

It’s everyone’s personal choice to believe or not to believe in folk superstitions; some religiously follow their instructions, while others laugh at them, but deep down they listen. Some people believe that omens always come true, especially if they are interpreted correctly, while others say that this is nonsense and a superstition that should be forgotten as soon as possible.

Probably, in order to have your own opinion on this issue, you need to compare your own feelings with the interpretation of signs, and then draw conclusions.

Rash, burning, peeling on the lips

Burning and peeling on the lips, which is accompanied by the appearance of a rash, are signs of an infectious disease. Most often, this is how herpes begins to develop at the moment of exacerbation, and pimples in this case will be presented in the form of small bubbles with liquid contents, which burst on their own, after which they become covered with a crust.

Another reason for the presence of “complex” discomfort may be an allergy to external irritants - for example, too dry air and high air temperatures, eating citrus fruits in large quantities or pineapples with poorly peeled peel, low-quality decorative cosmetics.

If the rash is small and without purulent contents, then to solve the problem you just need to constantly moisturize your lips, take antihistamines (Zodak, Tavegil, etc.) for 3 days and follow a drinking regime. If large (or small but numerous) abscesses form, you need to seek help from a dermatologist - you cannot do without the use of antibacterial and antiviral drugs.

Upper lip burning

The upper lip may burn due to empty conversations. Perhaps you will chat on the phone for a long time with a loved one or have a heart-to-heart conversation over a cup of tea. Try not to gossip so as not to get yourself into trouble.

Heat portends a kiss with a person of the opposite sex. This, of course, applies mainly to those who are planning romantic encounters or dates in the near future. For single people, this might just mean a friendly kiss.

If your upper lip itches and burns, you will soon have to talk a lot. This interpretation is relevant for those whose activities involve speaking in front of a large number of people.

For example, for someone who in the near future will need to give a presentation, speak at a meeting or a special event. This could also mean that you will spend the evening with friends and just chat a lot about different topics.

Dry lips under film, burning sensation

Burning and dry lips covered with a film are signs of cheilitis. This disease can be caused by various irritants; the treatment regimen is selected individually after identifying the true cause of the pathology.

A similar combination of symptoms may be present in some diseases of the oral cavity, for example, thrush, stomatitis. The film in such cases has a white-yellow tint, is removed with a finger, and a bleeding surface may open under it.

Watch this video about the causes of dry lips and means to moisturize them:

Possible lip diseases with similar symptoms

Burning on the lips can occur due to a disease affecting this area of the body directly or located nearby. Their nature and manifestations are different, each has other distinctive features.

Cheilitis

Inflammatory disease of the red border of the lips can be caused by different microorganisms, but all its types are combined under the name cheilitis.

Types of cheilitis	a brief description of	Photo
Catarrhal	It appears after prolonged exposure to cold, as well as due to lip injury. They develop scales, general swelling, and a feeling of discomfort.
Glandular	There is a problem with the salivary glands, the improper functioning of which causes constant moisture on the lips. Evaporating, it causes drying, the surface cracks until blood appears, which is why ulcers form on it.
Exfoliative	Shattered nerves, depression, and an overactive thyroid gland can lead to peeling lips, accompanied by severe pain. But the crusts on the lips that form with such cheilitis are easily removed.
Eczematous	It is provoked by general disorders in the body. Stinging ulcers, spots of a different color, and scales appear on the lips.
Atopic	Occurs due to external unwanted influence. It manifests itself as redness and swelling of the lips, the appearance of small rashes on them, and itching. As the problem develops, they acquire painful cracks and erosions.
Actinic	This species is provoked by sunlight if there is increased sensitivity to it. Lips turn red, dry, crack and sting.

Chronic cracked lips

Problems with the appearance and feel of the red lip area may be due to a chronic fissure. This is damage localized not only on their surface, but also in nearby areas of the skin, in the corners of the mouth. The following can contribute to the appearance of chronic cracks:

individual characteristics of lip anatomy;

smoking;

bad habits such as constant licking their surface, biting;

stress.

The pathology is a deep injury across the lip from which blood may ooze. At rest, the crack dries up, but when eating or talking, the tissues that closed it tear again, causing pain. Swelling appears around.

The problem is prone to recurrence. And its frequent renewal can lead to the appearance of malignant cells.

Herpes

A burning sensation in the lip area can be caused by the herpes virus. Once infected with it, you cannot get rid of the problem completely. This does not mean that now you will always have to walk around with sores on your face. But periodic exacerbations cause:

burning above the upper lip or below, on the side;

almost immediately redness;

swelling of the mucous membrane and skin, on which transparent blisters quickly form;

clouding of painful blisters;

formation of crusts on them.

The whole process can occur against a background of general malaise, with fever and weakness.

Exacerbations are provoked by prolonged exposure to cold or heat, and the occurrence of other diseases. People with reduced immunity, smokers, who do not pay enough attention to nutrition, as well as women on their menstrual periods often suffer from herpetic rashes.

Seizures

Microorganisms are constantly present in the oral cavity, and therefore around the lips. But normally this does not cause problems. And only some people develop cracks in the corners of their lips on the inside or outside. These are seizures based on inflammation. It does not appear out of the blue, but is a signal that the body’s defenses are weakened and cannot control pathogenic microflora.

The problem begins to develop with the appearance of small spherical thickenings or bubbles in the corners of the mouth. The skin and mucous membranes itch and sting. Due to mechanical impact (it is difficult to resist scratching these places), the blisters are damaged, forming cracks oozing liquid and blood. An ulcer forms at this site.

Seizures are provoked not only by bacteria (usually streptococcus), but also by fungi and viruses. The problem is more likely to occur in diabetics, people with malocclusion, or diseases of the salivary glands in which excess fluid is produced. Prolonged treatment with hormones and antibiotics contributes to the appearance of jam. The following can trigger a relapse:

insufficient hygiene;

hypothermia and overheating;

digestive pathologies;

anemia.

Stomatitis

Discomfort and unsightly external changes on the surface of the lips may be a manifestation of dental problems. On the red border there are ulcers, white round spots that hurt and make it difficult to speak or eat. This is stomatitis, which most often occurs on the gums and the inside of the cheeks. But sometimes they remain clean, and burning lips indicate a problem.

There are several types of stomatitis, which are distinguished by the causative agent:

Bacterial . It is caused by staphylococci or streptococci, but it also happens that other microorganisms. The lips become red, inflamed, covered with cracks and ulcers. There is a distinctly unpleasant odor coming from the mouth.

Candidiasis . It is caused by a fungus, which, if it cannot be controlled by the immune system, multiplies pathologically. Candidal stomatitis covers the lips with a white, easily removable film. The surface underneath is red, inflamed and itchy.

Aphthous . It is characterized by the appearance of white or yellowish painful spots, starting with the formation of blisters on the surface of the lips. Aphthous stomatitis can cause fever and general weakness.

Aphthous stomatitis

Traumatic . The cause of this type of disease is unsuccessful fillings, dentures or braces. The protruding parts of these structures can permanently damage the surface of the lips. The presence of an unremovable traumatic factor leads to chronic inflammation.

Allergic . The cause may be hidden deep in the oral cavity and may be a means of fastening the prosthesis, a medicine placed in the tooth cavity or used in the treatment of other diseases, but requiring resorption. The skin first becomes bright red and too smooth, then blisters form on it, merging into large spots. They are damaged and painful ulcers form.

To learn about why lips dry out and what to do about it, watch this video:

What it is

Cheilitis on the lips is a common phenomenon, however, most patients do not even suspect that damage to the mucous membrane and skin of the lips is a serious pathology.

Cheilitis is a disease associated with an inflammatory process that affects not only the mucous membrane, but also the red border of the lips. In addition, cheilitis is any abnormal change in the epithelial layer of the lips that occurs against the background of a serious disease of the internal organs or a sharp drop in immunity.

The location of the damaged areas may not be limited only to inflammation of the lip. In addition to dislocation on the upper and lower lip, as well as in the corners of the mouth (the so-called “angular cheilitis”), similar foci of inflammation can appear anywhere on the body, especially on the mucous membranes. The problem of damage specifically to the lip area is due to the fact that they are deprived of a protective layer, while they are constantly exposed to external negative influences, leading to overdrying, the formation of microcracks, and infections.

Lips dry out and bake: what to do?

If your lips bake and dry, but there are no other symptoms of infectious or inflammatory diseases, then you should follow the following recommendations for several days:

Do not lick your lips, do not bite them, and do not pick off scales that have already formed.
Eat fruits and vegetables every day, and take a course of vitamin therapy in winter and spring - complexes with minerals are suitable.
Adjust your drinking regime and drink at least 2 liters of water per day (first courses, teas, compotes are not taken into account).
Install a humidifier in the room where you spend the most time.
Eliminate the influence of sudden changes in air temperature on your lips - before going outside in frosty weather, you need to use a rich cream or hygienic lipstick.
Make sure that you breathe through your nose and not through your mouth. If nasal congestion is difficult, then you need to solve the problem with therapy - for example, undergo a course of treatment for rhinitis or put chronic sinusitis into remission.

Drugs

If discomfort persists for 3 days, if all the rules are followed, you should seek help from a dermatologist, dentist or infectious disease specialist - most likely, some kind of oral disease of systemic infectious origin will be diagnosed. Only through targeted treatment of the identified pathology will it be possible to restore the health of the lips:

for herpes, treat burning and itching areas with Acyclovir ointment;
allergies are treated with antihistamines and eliminating the irritant from a person’s life;
Oral thrush requires the use of systemic antifungal agents - for example, Fluconazole tablets.

Traditional methods

Traditional medicine suggests using its recipes if burning and dry lips are not associated with pathologies of the oral cavity, internal organs and systems:

before resting overnight, apply full-fat sour cream for 20 minutes, to which honey has been added (proportions 1:1) or aloe juice (5 drops per teaspoon of fermented milk product);
Apply a thick layer of regular baby cream with extracts of chamomile, sage or thyme to your lips for 15 minutes;
treat your lips daily with cosmetic oils - sea buckthorn, grape seeds, sprouted wheat, almond, peach.

We recommend reading the article about natural lip tattooing. From the article you will learn about who should get it, types of permanent tattooing, advantages of natural, contraindications, features of choosing a tattoo artist, application technique, care and correction after tattooing. And here is more information about the reasons for unsuccessful lip augmentation.

Dryness and burning of lips should not be perceived only as a cosmetic defect and always hope that it will disappear on its own. In some cases this happens, but persistence of the pathology causing the problem will certainly lead to relapse.

Therefore, if there is long-term pain and rashes on the lips, cracks and crusts, or frequent occurrence of unpleasant sensations and altered appearance, one should look for the cause of this. Only its elimination will return your lips to their former attractiveness and comfort.

What does it mean if your lips burn by day of the week?

You can predict future events and try to avoid undesirable consequences by knowing the signs that explain the reason for “burning” lips by day of the week.

• If your lips suddenly itch on Monday, most likely you will soon receive a delicious gift from colleagues or friends. Perhaps it will be a cake in honor of some significant event or just a chocolate bar from a beloved friend. • When your lips start to itch on Tuesday , expect a serious, important conversation with your boss. Most likely, such communication will bring a positive result, such as a bonus or promotion. • Scratching your lips on Wednesday will warn you not to gossip behind the backs of friends and acquaintances. They may find out about this, and then you will have a serious quarrel. • On Thursday, a man's itchy lips will be a harbinger of a romantic date with passionate kisses, and the girl will chat a lot with her friends about all sorts of things. • But if your lips itch on Friday , then a meeting with your loved one will end in a temperamental showdown. If you weigh your arguments and don’t give in to emotions, you will still have a chance to fix everything. • On Saturday, itching of the upper or lower lip for a man foreshadows the unexpected arrival of close relatives. In this case, the girl will most likely go to a romantic dinner. • When lips itch on Sunday morning, it means that there will be a discussion of upcoming pleasant events (family celebrations or vacation plans). But if you want to scratch your lips in the afternoon, then you have a serious conversation with close relatives

Useful video

Watch this video about lip care rules:

Treatment

Cheilitis requires specific treatment depending on the type and cause of its formation. Many people faced with this problem have a reasonable question about which doctor treats cheilitis. Oddly enough, you need to see a dentist.

The most commonly prescribed treatments are zinc ointment, hydrocortisone, prednisolone ointment or solcoseryl for allergic manifestations and mild damage to the epithelial layer. Depending on the complexity of the situation and the external manifestations of the disease, the doctor will explain to you how to smear the lesions and with what frequency so that they heal faster.

Some types of cheilitis on the lips require only local treatment, which consists of eliminating external causes of the disease and damage to the mucous membrane and skin of the lips. In others, complete sanitation of the oral cavity and careful treatment of diseased areas with oil solutions of vitamins are necessary. In addition, your doctor may advise you to frequently rinse your mouth with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing agents such as chamomile, oak bark, and calendula.

More serious medications are prescribed only for severe lesions and the need to treat the primary disease that caused the inflammatory process. There are also cases when surgical intervention is indicated.

Is cheilitis contagious? If we are not talking about a viral cause of the development of inflammation on the lips, there is nothing to fear, since external manifestations are only a consequence of internal problems in the body.