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What Is Lip Dermatitis/Eczema on Lips
Eczematous cheilitis is inflammation of the lips presenting as redness with dryness and scaling. It may also be called lip dermatitis. Eczema on lips is characterized by itchy, dry, cracked, scaly and sore lips. It is called lip dermatitis or lip eczema. Lips are divided into three various zones; the mucosal, the vermilion margin and the outer zone comprising of skin next to the lips.
Two of these areas are affected and few of the major causes are allergic reactions or contact reactions. In addition to dryness, your lips tend to become chapped and red.
There are few symptoms that tend to appear due to outside allergens and mostly affect the outer vermillion border of the lips causing upper lip eczema. And of course these are question in your mind:
- Why is it itchy around my lips?
- What Is Causing This Lip Dermatitis?
- Can eczema on the lips be prevented?
- How to treat eczema on lips?
- How long does it take for lips to heal?
Symptoms of lip eczema
The lip eczema symptoms are almost similar to those that occurs anywhere on the body when skin becomes dry or irritated.
- Redness
- Dryness
- Fissures
- Scaling
- Chapped lips
- Itchiness
- Thickened
- Inflammation on lips
- Change in pigmentation
Lip eczema causes
The actual cause of eczema is still unknown and is most commonly linked with an outside allergens or a family history. Also, two various causes may include:
- External Causes: Lip eczema can be associated with the external factors that usually arise after coming in contact with the irritants from the surroundings. These may include:
- Environmental factors – Masses in cold areas are affected as it can be concluded that the winter season can dry up the lip moisture rapidly.
- Use of cosmetics that contain harmful chemicals
- Licking your lips frequently
- Some of the foods can also act as culprits
- Smoke from the vehicles, industries can also cause dry lips and further add to lip eczema
- Pollens in the environment
- Internal Causes: These causes are one of the most important ones associated with eczema on lips. Includes natural dry skin from birth and can be treated in many cases.
Eczema on lips Pictures/photos/Images
Lip Eczema In Infants
Young children and babies can develop irritated, cracked and dry lips through many ways. One of the most common causes include contact allergens or irritants. It can be often seen that continuous saliva from drooling can act as a culprit in babies. Irritation occurs when saliva comes out and left to stay on the lips.
Probably prolonged hours of irritation leads to the dry, red, irritating rash all around the mouth of the babies making the eczema symptoms severe. Lip licking can make the skin condition worse in many cases leading to dryness and chapped lips.
These cracked lips are painful and thus cause soreness. Children who develop respiratory infection or are sensitive to cold are likely to have eczema on lips.
Treatment for lip eczema
In addition to dryness, lips are likely to get swollen. There may be ample amount of products in the market for lip eczema treatment but it’s always perfect to go with the home remedies initially.
Lip Eczema Home Remedies
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- Coconut oil: Used in a variety of natural treatments. Possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Apply cold pressed coconut oil on the lips to get relief as it can act as a great moisturizer.
- Sugar: Acts as a best scrub if you have lip eczema. Use brown sugar or cane sugar to get effective results.
- Aloe Vera For Eczema: Acts as a soothing agent to help irritated skin while offering a cooling effect on the lips. Take a piece of aloe vera leaf, take out the gel from the leaf and apply gently on the lips to soothe your condition.
- Flax seeds: Are a great source of omega-3-fatty acids. Try having 3-5 teaspoons of roasted flax seeds daily to help you.
- Shea butter: An effective way to treat skin dryness as it acts as a great moisturising natural product. Massage few amount of shea butter on the lips before you sleep. Leave it overnight and remember to clean it with a plain water in the morning.
Few Recommended treatment for lip eczema also include:
- Antibiotics: Known to prevent disease caused by microorganisms from gathering around the mouth. Take antibiotic medicines in order to treat yourselves.
- Moisturizers: A careful selection of moisturizer is necessary. Usage should be more cautious as many lip moisturizers can dry out your lips. Vaseline petroleum jelly can come as a rescue to your condition.
- Topical Corticosteroids: Take help from your doctor and apply the recommended corticosteroids on the lips to deal with a inflammation, dryness and redness due to itching.
- Avoid harsh soap solutions while cleansing your face and try to opt for natural products.
- Avoid staying too long in the sun.
- Protect your face during cold or hot weather to prevent eczema symptoms.
Can Eczema on the lips be prevented?
Changes in the lifestyle can effectively help to treat the conditions of lip eczema:
- Lessen Stress: Opting for meditation, yoga and few calming breathing techniques can effectively help you manage stress.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Try to keep out of cold in winters and heat in the summers. Sweating can worsen the condition. Stay away from extreme cold and hot weather.
- Moisturize: Always keep a lip balm in your pocket to soothe your skin condition. Try to avoid licking your lips.
- Avoid allergic foods: Try keeping yourselves at bay from allergens by making a regular habit of reading the ingredients in products.
Although eczema on lips is a non-contagious condition that requires proper care and management. You can do many things to soothe your lips such as go with the complete natural treatments or other recommended ones. See your GP if you think you have sore and dry lips to avoid any severe condition.
Read Our In-Depth Guides On:
Contact Dermatitis | Weeping Eczema | Atopic Dermatitis | Dyshidrotic Eczema | Eczema on Hands |
Eczema on Neck | Follicular Eczema | Eczema on Ear | Eczema on Eyes | Nummular Eczema |
Eczema on Face | Eczema In Babies | Eczema On legs | Eczema Pictures
