In the cold weather, it is especially important to take care of your lips, because in cold temperatures they dry out and crack. But sometimes it is not the climatic conditions that are to blame for lip problems, but dangerous diseases that we do not even suspect.
Lips do not have oil glands, so they often dry out, especially in autumn and winter – due to temperature changes, wind and frost. The result is cracking, dryness, flaking, sometimes even cracking to the point of bleeding.
We often make this problem worse ourselves, warns Dr. Joshua Zeichner. Many people have the habit of unconsciously licking their lips, thus causing local dehydration. That is why doctors advise to use balm not only before going out, but also before going to bed.
However, sometimes lips can be dry and chapped for completely different reasons. And here the balm will no longer help.
Alergy
An allergic reaction is one of the common causes of redness and chapped lips. Allergies can occur to certain foods and cosmetics. Most often, this reaction occurs to lipstick – it can contain carmine, beeswax, eosin, lanolin, rhodamine, which can cause allergies.
Lips can also become chapped and swollen due to cosmetic procedures (such as tattooing), chewing gum, and prosthetics.
Cheilitis
We are talking about an inflammatory process in the area of the mucous membrane, the skin and the red border of the lips. In this case, cracks appear in the corners of the lips, which interfere with smiling, eating and drinking. Some people even find it painful to open their mouths.
Angular cheilitis can signal iron-deficiency anemia, vitamin B deficiency, and a violation of the microflora of the skin of the oral cavity.
If cracking, a red line around the lips, itching and other signs of cheilitis appear regularly, then you should consult a doctor. The patient should be especially careful with the appearance of purulent crusts and white plaque near the cracks in the corners of the mouth, dermatologists explain.
Another disease
Persistent crusts on the lips, dryness and cracks can signal:
- Diseases of the thyroid gland (in this case you will feel dryness in both the mouth and lips)
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (for example, crohn’s disease. Deep cracks appear on the lips, there may be abdominal pain)
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the cause of which is still unknown. Due to some factors, the cells of the immune system begin to attack and destroy their own organs. Any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus can be involved in the inflammatory process.
Actinic cheilitis is a chronic inflammation caused by increased sensitivity of the red border of the lips to sunlight. It is a precancerous condition that usually affects the lower lip.
If you often suffer from sore lips, then stay away from products containing the fragrance of camphor, menthol and salicylic acid – these ingredients can worsen skin irritation.
Coconut oil is a great moisturizer – apply it to your lips before going to bed. And if the crusts don’t go away for a long time and bleed, then this is a good reason to make an appointment with a doctor, concludes Dr. Zeichner.
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