Crust on the lips: possible causes and treatments

The face is the “calling card” of any person. In most cases, aesthetic imperfections lead to persistent psychological discomfort. The appearance of dry crusts on the lips can be a consequence of banal chapping or serve as a symptom of the development of a serious disease. If they are constantly observed on the mucous membrane, and active tissue hydration does not lead to a positive result, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Initially, it is advisable to make an appointment with a therapist. This is a generalist who can determine the nature of the crusts on the lips. Treatment of an unpleasant symptom and the underlying disease is carried out by: a therapist, a dermatologist, an endocrinologist, and a dentist. The most likely causes of crusty lips are described below.

How does cheilitis manifest itself on the lips and what forms of pathology are there?

Quite a lot of people are faced with the problem of dry lips and the appearance of crusts and cracks on them. But few people know that this kind of manifestation can be a symptom of a problem called cheilitis on the lips. This inflammation often occurs due to the influence of external negative factors, and some of its forms can provoke the development of serious complications. To protect your body from danger, it is worth learning in more detail about the causes of the disease and methods of combating it. And for this, read today's material.

Reasons for appearance

Poor quality lipsticks are one of the possible causes of the disease.

The disease cheilitis has an inflammatory etiology.

The following factors can provoke the development of this pathology:

• Contrasting changes in air temperature.
• Constant consumption of sour, salty, spicy and hot foods.
• Systematic use of low quality lipstick.
• Exposure to aggressive chemicals.
• Negative environmental impact.
• Contact with allergens.
• Infection of the body.
• Prolonged and prolonged stress conditions.
• Disorders of immunological reactivity in the body.
• Respiratory dysfunctions.
• Violations of the architectonics of lip closure.
• Genetic abnormalities.
• Diseases of the endocrine system and gastrointestinal tract.
• Undergoing chemotherapy.

At risk are people with chronic periodontal diseases, caries and tartar, and men aged 20 to 60 years. Pathology can also occur in the presence of hypersensitivity to meteorological factors, hereditary predisposition and in the presence of harmful work associated with constant exposure to chemicals.

What is "cheilitis"

The name of the problem comes from the Greek word “choilos”, which translates as “lip”, so inflammation that affects the mucous layer, the red border and the adjacent skin is called cheilitis. In exceptional cases, unpleasant symptoms can affect not only the upper or lower lip, but also the oral cavity, surrounding areas of the epithelium, as well as the membranes lining them from the inside. Cheilitis is characterized by a long course and is often combined with stomatitis or dyskeratosis (abnormal thickening and roughening of the skin near the mouth).

Why does inflammation appear on the lips?

There are many varieties of cheilitis, which differ in their manifestations and are provoked by different reasons. Let's take a closer look at these factors.

Symptoms

In modern medicine, cheilitis is classified into several types, each of which has its own symptoms.
At the initial stage of development, pathology is manifested by visual signs. Among them it is worth highlighting:

• Peeling of the skin of varying intensity.
• Excessive dry skin.
• Formation of a red border at the border of the skin and lips.
• Swelling of the mucous membrane.
• Cracks, ulcers, and blisters with exudate may appear.

The general clinical picture of cheilitis is supplemented by secondary symptoms in the form of:

1. Local and general hyperthermia.
2. Decreased immune defense.
3. Inflammatory processes in the periodontium.
4. Plaque soreness
5. The presence of purulent exudate in wounds on the lips.
6. Formation of ulcers.

Reference! Cheilitis is very easy to recognize by the first signs, which are clearly visible on the lips already at the initial stage. Depending on the type of disease, the intensity of symptoms may increase significantly.

About the symptoms of types of cheilitis, part 1:

Part 2:

What triggers the development of the disease

There is practically no protective layer on human lips, so they are highly susceptible to external factors. For this reason, people are often concerned about the drying out of the mucous membrane, which leads to the appearance of microcracks and further infection.

The most common causes of the problem are the following:

• changes in air temperature, sun, wind - these natural factors dry out the skin and it cracks,

  
  The sun, wind, sudden changes in temperature can affect the condition of the lip mucosa

• the use of low-quality lipstick or hygiene balms - the lanolin they contain can clog the pores with a secretion that does not allow the skin to breathe,
• dermatoses, allergic reactions - dangerous chemical compounds in contact with the surface of the epithelium cause rashes, cracks or wounds,
• the predominance in the diet of spicy, sour, salty or hot foods that irritate the epithelium and mucous membranes,
• congenital, acquired diseases of the thyroid gland, immunodeficiency states - these pathologies negatively affect the skin,
• skin tuberculosis, venereal infectious diseases, lichen,
• diseases of the central nervous system - because of them, patients may feel itching,
• chemotherapy,
• vitamin deficiency - a lack of nutrients in the body negatively affects the functioning of all its systems,
• mechanical damage.

If a child breathes through his mouth during sleep, his lips may become dry.
Sometimes pathology occurs in a child if he breathes through his mouth during sleep. However, if an adult has a chronic runny nose, he will also breathe through his mouth. With such a violation of the physiological state, the sensitive skin and oral mucosa dries out, then unpleasant defects appear.

Herpes

This pathology has a viral etiology. In this case, the pathogen can affect not only the skin and mucous membranes, but also the nervous system.

Infection of a healthy person occurs during contact with an infected person. For example, when kissing, hugging, and also when using common household items. In addition, the virus is transmitted transplacentally from mother to child, as well as from donor to recipient during transfusion of blood or its components.

Symptoms of herpes on the lips:

• Redness of tissues.
• Severe itching.
• Swelling.
• The formation of small bubbles filled with transparent contents. Over time, they open up, and crusts form in their place.

Treatment of herpes in most cases is carried out on an outpatient basis. In case of severe pathology and the presence of complications, hospitalization is indicated.

If there is herpes on the lip, what should you do? Treatment involves the local use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Most often, doctors prescribe the following drugs: Acyclovir, Zovirax, Valtrex, Infagel. At the same time, it is very important not to scratch the foci of pathology in order to prevent the addition of a secondary infection.

Main signs of cheilitis

All manifestations of the inflammatory process have varying degrees of severity, but the following symptoms are mainly noted:

• dry skin around the mouth,
• cracking, appearance of small wounds,
• bleeding at the site of damage to the integrity of the epithelium,
• redness and swelling of the red border,
• loss of elasticity of the epithelium, appearance of a keratinized layer,
• pain in the area of ​​inflammation,
• the occurrence of painful sensations caused by mechanical irritation of erosive areas during chewing food,
• change in color of the affected areas of the mucous membrane.

Cracks and wounds indicate a problem.
If even one of the symptoms described above appears, it would be a good idea to see a doctor. The sooner a pathological condition can be recognized, the faster it can be eliminated.

Vitamin deficiency

In this case, so-called jams appear - cracks in the corners of the lips. They are shallow, but cause significant discomfort to a person.

Hypovitaminosis is the main cause of cracks in the corners of the lips. Treatment in this case involves replenishing the deficiency of vitamins, macro- and microelements. In this case, the main emphasis is on substances from group B.

You can suspect the presence of hypovitaminosis based on the following signs:

• Hair loss.
• Frequent episodes of damage to the oral mucosa.
• Painful sensations in the tongue. The organ is red.
• Peeling of the skin.
• Psycho-emotional instability, often depression.
• Photophobia.
• Visual impairment up to cataracts.
• Frequent episodes of dizziness.

If hypovitaminosis is the cause of cracks in the corners of the lips, treatment involves taking special complexes. Most often, doctors prescribe the following products: “Meligen Aevit”, “Doppel Herz Magnesium and B vitamins”, “Vitrum complex”.

Types of disease

Cheilitis is a fairly large group of diseases that vary in their clinical manifestations and origin. For example, with absolutely similar symptoms, sometimes different reasons for the development of the problem are identified. In this regard, treatment methods also differ - medications of various effects are prescribed for oral administration, ointments, creams or physiotherapy.

Important! Cheilitis can be an independent type of disease or accompanying with more serious pathologies. Treatment cannot be delayed, because due to frequent damage to the epithelium, the risk of developing malignant tumors increases.

This disease must be correctly classified in order to determine how and with what to treat it. Accordingly, you should not engage in self-diagnosis; it is better to go to a doctor to clarify the cause. All types of cheilitis encountered in practice can be divided into two large categories: independent and symptomatic. The former arise as a reaction of the body to certain phenomena, the latter – as a symptom of the underlying disease. Cheilitis is also divided according to the nature of its manifestations and the nature of its origin. Next, we will consider these classifications in more detail.

Xerostomia

This disease is characterized by insufficient salivation, as a result of which the oral mucosa and skin of the lips dry out.

Reasons for the development of xerostomia:

• Taking medications.
• Diabetes.
• Iron-deficiency anemia.
• HIV.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Mumps.
• Dehydration of the body.
• Brain injuries.
• Impaired nasal breathing.

Xerostomia is characterized not only by excessive tissue dryness, but also by burning, impaired chewing and swallowing, and speech disorders.

Treatment of the disease is aimed at eliminating the root cause.

Division by nature of manifestations

In medical practice, there are many different forms of the pathology in question, many of which are graded according to the characteristics of their pathological manifestations. The most common cases are described below.

Angular form

This type of pathology is also popularly called “jamming.” Depending on the pathogen, angulitis can be candidal (infection of the epithelium by fungi of the genus Candida) or streptococcal (inflammation caused by streptococci). Develops with vitamin deficiency, in the presence of HIV infection, diabetes, and caries in the body. Also, provoking factors can be the habit of biting nails, soaking the epithelium due to frequent licking.

Angular form

Catarrhal form

One of the most common forms, as it occurs as a result of mechanical damage, abrasions, scratches and bacterial infection. Its appearance is also provoked by frequent wetting of the red border with salivary fluid, as well as exposure to excessively hot, humid or dry air. The problem manifests itself as hyperemia and severe swelling. In some cases, slight peeling of the epithelium is observed. The phenomenon can be either infectious or non-infectious in nature.

Catarrhal form

Eczematous form

The disease usually occurs due to the body's reaction to allergens (food, cosmetics, medicines, materials used in dentistry for prosthetics or filling teeth). Its main difference is the patient’s history of eczema. In the acute stage, the disease leads to the formation of scales and crusts on the lips, as well as their severe swelling. Patients usually complain of itching and burning. Often the lesion affects areas adjacent to the red border.

Eczematous form

Exfoliative form of cheilitis

Exfoliative cheilitis is more common as a chronic problem affecting the middle of the lips, where the vertical fold is located. It can be triggered by a lack of vitamin B2, decreased immunity, malfunction of the thyroid gland, and mental disorders. Bad habits (smoking or lip biting) are also often triggers. However, the main cause of the problem is considered to be a psycho-emotional disorder - depression, severe emotional shock, constant stress. The inflammatory process affects the red border, scales appear, tightly fused to the underlying tissue. Patients complain of dry epithelium and burning sensation.

Exfoliative form

Granulomatous form (Mischer cheilitis)

This is a lesion of the mucous membrane, which is characterized by severe swelling of the lips. Often the lower part of the skin-muscular fold “suffers” the most. This swelling becomes smaller during one period, but later increases again. In addition, the development of the pathological process is accompanied by the formation of tiny granulomas in the thickness of the soft tissues - it is because of this that the tissues thicken. The etiology of the development of this phenomenon has not been established. There are suggestions that the problem is based on disturbances in the functioning of blood vessels and nerve fibers, as well as infectious infection. However, these are only hypotheses that do not yet have proven facts.

Misher cheilitis

Allergy

An undesirable reaction occurs after contact of the irritant with the skin of the lips. The most common provoking factors are:

• Strong wind.
• Ultra-violet rays.
• The air is too cold.
• Aggressive chemical compounds that are components of lipsticks, plastic dentures, toothpastes, and metal objects.
• Food.
• Low quality cosmetics.

Main allergy symptoms:

• Crusts on the lips.
• Redness of the perioral area.
• A rash in the form of blisters, which subsequently burst open on their own.
• Painful sensations when palpating the lips.
• Tissue swelling.

Allergies are not a harmless condition. If the above symptoms are added to increased body temperature, bluish lips and nails, itchy throat or choking, you must call an ambulance as soon as possible.

Treatment of allergies involves taking antihistamines, as well as local use of hormonal and wound-healing agents.

Division by nature of origin

Now let's look at the classification of cheilitis based on the nature of its origin. The following types of pathology are based on specific causes.

Meteorological (actinic) cheilitis

It begins to appear due to the adverse effects of weather conditions (humidity or dryness of air, sharp fluctuations in temperature, wind, etc.). With this form, pathological changes are not observed in the areas around the mouth and mucous membranes. Erosion and cracks appear if a person constantly licks his lips.

Frequent lip licking will lead to meteorological cheilitis

There is also actinic cheilitis, which is often confused with meteorological lip disease. In fact, it can be classified as a subspecies of the form in question. In this case, the pathology affects people who are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Most often, inflammation affects the lower lip, because it is more exposed to sunlight.

Candidiasis form

The culprits in the appearance of the candidiasis form of pathology are yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. They actively begin to multiply against the background of decreased immunity, exacerbation of chronic diseases, taking antibiotics, or due to viral infections entering the body. Candidal cheilitis is localized even on the tongue, palatine arches and the inner surface of the cheeks. Because of it, a whitish-gray film or a light, cheesy coating often appears, under which a reddened and bleeding mucous membrane is hidden.

Candidiasis form

Atopic (contact allergic) form

It is a consequence of the body's allergic reaction to irritants. The atopic type of cheilitis usually becomes a symptom of atopic dermatitis or neurodermatitis; the lesion is not localized to the mucous membranes of the mouth and most often occurs in children, and under the age of 7-10 years. To a large extent, this form of allergic cheilitis is due to the influence of the environment and a person’s genetic predisposition to allergies. But the pathological process can be “triggered” by disorders in the functioning of the central nervous system, pathologies of the endocrine system, stress, excessive physical activity, disruption of the intestinal microflora and diseases of the ENT organs.

Atopic (contact allergic) form

The contact-allergic subtype of the disease manifests itself in the form of a delayed allergic reaction after the red border comes into contact with cosmetics or hygiene products (toothpastes, lipsticks), plastics included in dentures and other products that were previously used by an infected person.

Glandular form

This type of inflammation occurs when there are problems with the glands that secrete saliva. The pathology will be characterized by constant salivation and dilation of the ducts. The cause of the problem can be either congenital or acquired hyperfunction and hyperplasia of the salivary glands in the red border area. In this case, there is an almost continuous secretion of salivary fluid, which is why the lips remain wet most of the time, but when they dry out, they begin to crack and peel severely. Sometimes patients complain of itching and keratinization of the epithelium. A distinctive feature of this form of pathology is the formation of red dots.

Glandular form

Hypovitaminosis form

The impetus for the development of the problem is the lack of B vitamins in the body for a long time. Its characteristic feature is that simultaneously with damage, glossitis often occurs - swelling of the tongue. It takes on a bright crimson hue and becomes smooth. Also, teeth marks are imprinted on this organ. The red border begins to peel off and turn red, vertical cracks appear on the lips, which may cause bleeding.

Hypovitaminosis form

Heilith Manganotti

One of the main reasons for the development of pathology is considered to be the aging of the body - against the background of this natural process, immune defense decreases and the functioning of internal organs is disrupted, and saliva secretion decreases. Because of this, bleeding sores and ulcers can often be seen on the lips of older people.

Heilith Manganotti

Lupus cheilitis

The form represents one of the manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, which is at its peak of activity. The pathological process develops due to stagnation of excess blood in the vascular system of the lips.

Cheilitis

The disease on the lips manifests itself in the form of swelling, redness, peeling, bleeding ulcers, burning and pain during talking or eating. The pathology is dangerous because the inflammatory process may become malignant.

Cheilitis can be an independent disease or serve as a sign of another pathology. The main reasons for the development of the inflammatory process:

• Erythematosis.
• Psoriasis.
• Lichen planus.
• Syphilis.
• Tuberculosis.
• Adverse weather conditions.
• Frequent contact with harmful compounds (occupational factor).
• Atopic dermatitis.
• Neurological disorders.

If signs of cheilitis occur, you should contact your dentist. The specialist will conduct an examination and, if necessary, prescribe a histological examination of the affected tissues.

The disease has several forms (depending on the etiological factor). Treatment directly depends on the type of pathology. As a rule, therapy involves the local use of anti-inflammatory and glucocorticosteroid drugs, as well as the use of antihistamines. All patients must follow a hypoallergenic diet.

Methods for diagnosing the problem

Many people facing the above problems do not know which doctor can help them. Therefore, experts remind that treatment for cheilitis should only be prescribed by a dentist, who, if necessary, can refer the patient to the office of an endocrinologist, dermatologist, immunologist, therapist or allergist. Doctors carry out the following manipulations: carry out a visual inspection of the affected areas, analyze the patient’s complaints and the totality of manifestations, study the results of blood tests (biochemical, general). In some cases, the affected tissues are subjected to histological examination.

Only a specialist can diagnose the problem and prescribe treatment

How does glandular and allergic cheilitis manifest?

Cheilitis glandular

characterized by hyperplasia and hyperfunction of small salivary glands located in the outer and inner zones of the red border of the lips. Adults (over 30–40 years old) are most often affected. The dilated mouths of the excretory ducts of the salivary glands appear in the form of red dots, from which droplets of saliva are released. Treatment: electrocoagulation, laser coagulation, radioknife.

Allergic cheilitis (contact)

develops when using certain types of lipstick and lip creams. It is characterized by erythema, edema, papulovesicular rashes, peeling of the red border of the lips and adjacent skin areas. Treatment: it is important to eliminate exposure to the allergen, hyposensitizing agents; externally – corticosteroid ointments (prednisolone, hydrocortisone), lotions with chamomile infusion, tea.

For atopic dermatitis

lips are dry with small cracks, there are pockets in the corners of the mouth. Other signs of atopic dermatitis are characteristic: on the face there are symmetrically located non-acute inflammatory erythematous-squamous lesions with unclear contours, mainly in the periorbital region, in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle, around the mouth. The eyelids are swollen, thickened, and periorbital folding is pronounced.

General treatment recommendations

After determining the exact form of the disease, the doctor must assess its severity and how to cure it. If the problem is not severe and protracted, then it is effective to apply local correction of the endocrine glands using physiotherapy. The following activities are most often prescribed:

• laser therapy,
• ultrasound therapy,
• UV radiation,
• electrophoresis,
• blood transfusion.

In some cases, laser therapy is prescribed.
It is worth noting that in difficult cases, more radical treatment options are prescribed - electrocoagulation, laser ablation, surgical enucleation.

Drugs for drug treatment

You can get rid of itching and other uncomfortable symptoms with the help of drug therapy. In such situations, the following drugs are usually prescribed:

• antifungal agents (or antibacterial) taking into account the type of pathogen,
• antihistamines (to get rid of allergic manifestations),
• psychotropic and sedative against cheilitis of a neurological nature,
• vitamin complexes, immunoboosting agents,
• glucocorticosteroids for severe inflammatory processes,
• antiseptics and softening gels or ointments for treating wounds.

Do not start taking medications without first consulting a specialist. All funds are selected on a strictly individual basis.

Weathering

The skin in this area is characterized by an increased degree of sensitivity. Even the slightest change in weather conditions can significantly affect the condition of your lips. The maximum negative impact is caused by strong winds.

If cracks and crusts on the lips are a result of chapping, the following symptoms are observed:

• Peeling.
• Slight burning sensation.
• Rough lips.
• The cracks are shallow.

If left untreated, symptoms persist for several days.

Doctors' recommendations for frequent episodes of chapped lips:

• Before going outside, lubricate them with balms containing vitamins. It is not advisable to use products with retinol and alcohol.
• Get rid of bad habits. As practice shows, people who often drink alcohol-containing drinks and smokers are most susceptible to chapping.
• It is important to maintain high humidity in the apartment.
• Drink at least two liters of pure still water per day.
• Wash with warm water. Cold or too hot liquid worsens the condition of the lips.

To quickly relieve symptoms, it is recommended to use pharmaceutical products. If the crust on the lips constantly bothers you, doctors prescribe the following medications: Vaseline, vitamin E (in capsules, they need to be opened and the skin treated with liquid), hydrocortisone ointment.

Traditional medicine

To speed up the healing process, therapy with well-proven folk remedies is allowed. So, at home, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing decoctions and infusions are often used:

• aloe juice - peeled lower leaves of the plant are crushed, and the liquid from them is mixed with boiled vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:3. The resulting thick mixture is used to treat the affected areas at least 3-4 times a day,

  
  Aloe juice is good for treatment

• boiled sage or calendula - 2-3 tbsp. l. dry plants, pour 500 ml of water and boil for about 10 minutes. The mixture is filtered and applied to the affected areas every 30 minutes,
• oak bark - 40 g of crushed bark is poured into 200 ml of chilled water and kept for 30 minutes over low heat. The lips are lubricated every few hours with cooled and strained liquid.

“I once had meteorological cheilitis. I got rid of it very easily and quickly by regularly lubricating my lips with regular vegetable oil. It moisturizes the skin well and relieves the feeling of tightness.”

Yana S., 34 years old, Volgograd

The use of any traditional medicine recipes must be agreed upon with the attending physician. Otherwise, self-treatment can only aggravate the situation and lead to undesirable consequences.

Treatment methods

Treatment of cheilitis depends on the form and stage of the disease and the patient’s skin. Doctors of various specialties can treat this disease: dermatologists, allergists, dentists. After clarifying the diagnosis, a treatment regimen is prescribed, consisting of the use of :

• B vitamins and minerals.
• Various gels for external use.
• Tablets and injections for systemic treatment.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures.
• Drugs and methods of alternative medicine.

The main efforts in the treatment of cheilitis are aimed at eliminating the cause that provoked the disease.

So for cheilitis:

• Exfoliative , psychotropic medications are prescribed: Sibazon, Phenazepam or Thioridazine. The lips are also treated with a special nourishing cream Spermaceti, rosehip oils or retinol. The exudative form of the pathology is treated with corticosteroid ointments: Prednisolone, Hydrocortisol, and boron-vaseline. Acupuncture and Bucca rays are considered effective.
• For angular, antibacterial therapy is carried out using Erythromycin and Furacilin ointments. Antifungal Nystatin ointment, creams containing retinol and zinc compounds are also prescribed. B vitamins are taken orally.
• For candidiasis, local antifungal therapy is carried out using Clotrimazole ointments, antibacterial solutions of Nystatin or Natamycin. Antiseptics Chlorhexidine or Hexetidine are recommended.
• In meteorological cases, the emphasis is on vitamin therapy and the use of nourishing creams or balms. The acute form of the pathology is treated with steroid ointments, and for daily use, the use of sunscreen is mandatory.
• For actinic , take the Delagil complex, B vitamins, Nicotinic acid, Prednisolone in small doses and external use of steroid and corticosteroid ointments: Advantan or Afloderm. A prerequisite for effective treatment is the use of Angelolis sunscreen ointment.
• For glandular at the initial stage, anti-inflammatory ointments are used: Naphthalene, Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone. The secondary form of cheilitis is treated by eliminating the provoking disease.
• In case of contact allergic form, the factors that caused the allergic reaction are eliminated. Drug therapy consists of the use of steroid ointments and antihistamines: Suprastin, Loratadine and others.
• For atopic, desensitizing therapy is carried out, in which antihistamines are taken: Fenkarol, Claritin, Diazolin. A protracted form of the pathology is treated with local application of ointments with corticosteroids.
• For eczematous, sedative and desensitizing drugs are prescribed. Local therapy consists of the use of ointments and aerosols containing corticosteroids. If eczema has a microbial etiology, therapy is supplemented with antimicrobial agents.
• For macrocheilitis, treatment consists of eliminating the cause of the disease. To directly combat cheilitis, corticosteroids are prescribed in combination with broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. Antimalarial, antihistamine medications and vitamin complexes containing ascorbic acid and B vitamins are also taken.

Important! An effective auxiliary method for the conservative treatment of cheilitis of any type is physiotherapy and, in particular, laser therapy and electrophoresis with heparin ointment in combination with dimexide.

How to treat different types of cheilitis:

In advanced stages of cheilitis and to correct cosmetic defects, surgical treatment is performed. Laser excision is considered the most effective and less traumatic.

It is possible to use traditional methods in the treatment of cheilitis only after agreement with the attending physician.
recipes for treatment at home are considered the most effective :

1. For daily treatment of affected areas of the lips, oil solutions of retinol and tocopherol are used.
2. A good moisturizing and nourishing effect is obtained from daily use of propolis pulp. It is applied to the lips for 30 minutes.
3. A mixture of juices is prepared from the leaves of Kalanchoe, celandine, buttercup, plantain and garlic. Take them in equal proportions, mix and rub on sore lips.
4. Use lotions made from marigolds. Prepare the decoction as follows:

10 grams of flowers are dipped in half a liter of boiling water and using a water bath, leave for ten minutes. Allow the liquid to cool and strain. Wet a napkin and apply it to your lips every half hour.

It is important to know that self-medication is unwise and harmful, since cheilitis has many forms and only a specialist can determine the type of disease and prescribe adequate treatment.

How to treat the disease in children

Taking into account the symptoms and form of cheilitis in children, appropriate treatment is prescribed, which has its own characteristics :

1. Hormone therapy, especially topical preparations, is prescribed with caution, remembering that the mucous membrane and dermis of the lips can instantly absorb various substances.
2. From the group of antiviral drugs, children are allowed to use Acyclovir.
3. The antimicrobial drug Metrogyl denta is safe and effective for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity in children.
4. In the fight against atopic cheilosis, the immunostimulating drug Imudon is used in pediatrics in combination with topical medications.
5. Therapy for cheilosis in childhood is carried out comprehensively, including antiseptic, painkillers and immunomodulators.
6. Particular attention is paid to mandatory sanitation of the oral cavity, therapeutic exercises of the facial muscles and proper nasal breathing.

Acyclovir

Metrogil Denta

Imudon

When treating children, it is necessary to take into account all the features of the course of the disease, the stage of the disease and the age of the child.

About traditional medicine for cheilitis:

Possible complications of the disease

Many people perceive the disease as a cold, and then do not pay due attention to symptomatic treatment. No one thinks about how to cure it, and in the meantime, without timely treatment, the problem develops into severe stages. The most dangerous complications are:

• development of malignant processes,
• the appearance of superinfections - the attachment of other strains of viruses to the affected cells.

Complicated forms of pathology can make it difficult to eat and even worsen the general condition of the body (provoke dizziness and weakness). Speech defects also occur, because crusts impede lip mobility. And pronounced aesthetic defects on the face often become the cause of psychological problems.

Angular cheilitis

We saw cracks in the corners of the interlocutor’s mouth - he has angular cheilitis due to iron deficiency anemia, riboflavin hypovitaminosis, increased levels of fungi of the genus Candida, Streptococci, Staphylococci, or simple mechanical trauma. With a decrease in the height of the lower part of the face, the folding of soft tissues in the corners of the mouth becomes the cause of the accumulation of microflora, and the actual inflammatory and destructive processes. Therefore, treatment of angular cheilitis sometimes consists of correcting the occlusal height; for streptococcal infection, in combination with ointments containing antibiotics; for candidiasis, with nystatin ointment.

Prevention of the disease

The following preventive measures will help to avoid the problem and prevent its progression:

• frequent, regular moisturizing of lips with hypoallergenic products containing natural ingredients,
• correct diet - excluding unhealthy foods from the menu, switching to a dairy-vegetable diet,
• avoiding contact with allergens,
• oral hygiene and timely visits to the dentist,
• taking multivitamins,
• regular exercises to strengthen the muscles of the cheeks and lips,
• giving up addictions (drinking alcohol and tobacco products).

Hypoallergenic hygiene products are perfect for prevention.
The main condition for a speedy recovery is a timely visit to doctors and implementation of therapy under their supervision. There is no need to take risks and self-medicate or use some folk method without additional medications, since the problem can become dangerous and the recovery process will drag on for a long period.

Diabetes

This pathology is characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Against the backdrop of increasing glucose concentrations, thirst arises, which is almost impossible to quench. Because of this, the oral mucosa and the skin of the lips dry out.

Associated symptoms:

• Frequent urge to urinate.
• Drowsiness.
• Rapid onset of fatigue.
• Slow healing of even minor injuries.
• Cardiopalmus.
• A sharp decrease in body weight.
• Visual impairment.

The appearance of crusts on the lip in one place is a rather specific sign of diabetes. In this case, it is recommended to consult a therapist. The doctor will issue a referral for a blood test. If the level of glucose in the liquid connective tissue is elevated, an endocrinologist will treat the pathology.