LIP CHAPPED AND BURNING

Lips are the vital organs of the body in terms of being one of the sense organ and in terms of beauty. Lips are in direct contact with the environment and need extra protection. The skin on the lips is very thin and sensitive and can get damaged very easily by the change in environment or changes inside the body. This condition needs proper care and management, if not, the condition can turn into a real, serious cosmetic one.

Lips can get cracked, dry and chapped in the end due to a number of causes. These causes can range from a simple to some other health issue. All of the necessary highlights will be discussed in the article below.

Causes of lip chapped and burning

Lip chapped and burning is a real discomfort and can be caused by a number of reasons which range from a normal cause to some other health related issue. Lips do not contain oil glands and thus are at a continuous verge of lacking the necessary moisture required in order to avoid dry lips. This lack of moisture can happen due to a number of reasons and thus needs proper and attentive care.

Some common issues are the environmental issues of coldness and extreme hot conditions which lead to dehydration and dry lips. Other irritants include spicy foods, continuous licking,etc. Usually, sun damage is also seen as an irritant and causes lip chapped and burning. Some drugs are also seen to impart an effect which includes, cholesterol lowering agents.

Any allergic irritant can also cause direct exposure and can cause an allergic reaction. But the environment is the main cause for dry lips. The environmental components include wind and dryness.

Other causes can include some health conditions and can be numbered as: thyroid disease, vitamin deficiency, inflammatory bowel disease.

Thyroid in its insufficiency or low hormone levels can lead to dryness in skin and mouth. Low vitamin levels can also lead to dry and chapped lips, in particular B complex vitamins.

In some cases, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) can be indicated where lips till anus is affected along with an abdominal pain can demand an immediate medical action.

Deficiency of vitamin B complex can cause cheilitis, also known as Angular cheilitis. Angular cheilitis can also lead to dry and chapped lips. However some other causes include cold weather, yeast over-growth or saliva itself and thus the treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-yeast drugs etc.

Another term called actinic cheilitis describes the chronic condition of dry and chapped lips due to skin exposure and mostly affects the lower lip.

• Cheilitis simplex:

Frequent lip licking is the cause usually. Frequent licking of the lips can strip the  surface oil film that holds moisture inside, leaving the lips prone to dryness and cracking. In addition, digestive enzymes in saliva can dehydrate your lips and irritate  them.

• Contact or Eczematous Cheilitis:

This type of chapped lips is caused by irritants such as preservatives and dyes found in lipstick, toothpaste, certain foods, and even products such as pens.

• Angular Cheilitis:

This type of chapped lips is common in people who have wrinkles and deep wrinkles in the corners of their mouth and often lick the corners of their lips. this condition can also be caused by diseases such as celiac disease. It is common in diabetics and people with mental illnesses such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa. 

• Actinic cheilitis:

Also called as ‘’solar keratosis,” this type of cracked lips is caused by chronic sun exposure. It is commonly seen in people who work outdoors like farmers, in construction workers, and lifeguards.

• Drug-induced cheilitis:

It is usually caused by retinoids (usually used to treat acne and psoriasis) or other drugs such as topical antibiotics or local anesthetics are also seen to cause drug-induced cheilitis.

As mentioned certain medications can also cause the lips to lose its moisture and become dry and chapped. The medicines included are: Vitamin A, retinoids, lithium, and some chemotherapy drugs

Malnourished children are also found to be at risk for developing dry and chapped lips.

In fact using some lip products can itself cause lip damage. These products include lip balms, lip sticks and other such products which contain ingredients like:

glycerin, camphor, menthol, phenol, etc. The presence of any component as an irritant can cause allergy and lips to becomes dry and chapped.

Damage caused by sun, known as sunburn can redness, loss of moisture and dry lips. Exposure to sun can cause actinic keratoses which forms the crusts and is pre-malignant. So whenever spotted and diagnosed, it should be removed by the specialist doctor.

Depending on the specific type of cheilitis you have, your symptoms may change. Following are each types with its symptoms:

• Lip cracking from Cheilitis Simplex, typically has cracking on the lower lip.
• Eczematous cheilitis or contact dermatitis has symptoms like dryness, scaling, and fissures are seen.
• Angular cheilitis has redness and inflammation at the mouth’s corners.
• Actinic cheilitis Sun exposure can result in red spots, puffiness, scaly plaques, and tiny lumps.
• Drug- induced cheilitis has lesions and sores on lips.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend upon the cause and thus vary from simple to complex. Symptoms include:

• Dry lips
• Cracked lips
• Peeling of skin over lips
• Itching over the lips
• Pain
• Sores in and around the corners

Some other associated symptoms might be present which might point out to some serious medical illness which includes fatigue, altered bowel movements, altered menstrual cycles, etc. All of these can indicate some health issue and needs a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dry lips and vitamin deficiency

Dry and chapped lips as discussed can have a number of causes and vitamin b deficiency is one among them. Vitamins form a vital part of our being and participate in a number of cellular reactions that are necessary for the being and provides the proper nourishment to the cells and organs. Thus vitamin deficiency can lead the cells to lose its integrity and cause damage in the specified part. In particular to the lips which form a very sensitive part of the body and are in direct contact with the outside environment need proper care and nourishment.

Thus, lips chapped and dry along with other symptoms of fatigue, pallor can indicate some underlying health issue and correcting the underlying problem along with the topical management of the issue can help to get rid of the discomfort.

Can chapped lips indicate something serious?

Chapped lips can be caused due to some normal environmental imbalance or dehydration and is mostly due to the climatic changes but in some scenarios can be due to some underlying health issue like vitamin deficiency and some gastrointestinal conditions like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). As discussed already, it is mostly related to the environment but if other symptoms are seen and symptoms are seen persisting despite of the proper treatment and care, you might need to see a nearby physician. 

Red burning lips but not chapped

Red color of the lips may indicate some irritant which has got into the contact with the lips initiating an immune response. Any irritant including spices, any products used for lips, or any medication can cause the lips to appear red with no dryness or without lips chapped.

However, in cases like eczema of the skin over the lips the lips can get severely itching and red that can lead to the dryness of  the lips and finally into cracked lips. When the itchiness is found in lips and any other organ or with any hint of some other abnormal condition in the body it is better to get yourself checked by a physician as soon as possible for better possible results.

Chapped lips can sometime break and fissures can be created and these fissures can bleed and cause great discomfort to the patient. These bleeding lips can cause pain and some ointments can be used to cure and symptomatically treat the patient. But in cases where the lips bleed and do not stop bleeding in such cases you can see a nearby health care center and get your treatment properly done.

Cure for lip chapped and burning

Lip chapped and burning can be treated normally with a soft, moisturizing product. Chapped lips can happen at any age but usually found in adolescents and children who constantly lick their lips and are known to have lip licker’s dermatitis.

Lips when chapped can cause a very great discomfort especially while eating citrus, sour or spicy food.

The best care and the foremost care provided as a cure can be asking the patient to stay hydrated. Patient can be asked to apply ointment or lip balms throughout the day, to use the humidifiers, to prevent the process by asking the patient to stop licking, biting the lips.

Choosing the cure wise includes using the moisturizers that are fragrance free, with no irritants, no allergens, should include glycerine, oils and should be sun protective as well.

Some irritants can include menthol, camphor, waxes, if any of these substances are found in the lip ointment it is better not to use the product.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually clinical and involves history taking and clinical examination. Sometimes some blood tests can be run in order to identify the underlying condition. In addition some additional imaging and diagnostics might be necessary in order to reach to the definitive diagnosis and to carry out the treatment process and help the patient to get rid of the discomfort. Usually such conditions are diagnosed and treated by normal medication and conservative treatments but in case lip chapped and burning lips are severe you need to see a specialist to get advanced treatment. Sometimes taking lip swabs might be necessary to diagnose the infections, if suspected.

Prevention

Prevention can be done by a number of ways and prevention at first hand is better than cure. Prevention can be made by identifying the cause and preventing it. The common cause is found to be the environment, thus staying hydrated in the hot environment and moisturizing the body surfaces in cold environment can help you well. Staying away from using the allergic products can help you at first place.

Using lip balms on daily basis with proper care can help you get rid of the condition. Putting a humidifier in the room to get rid of dry air can help in the prevention.

Treatment

Lips when chapped can cause a very great discomfort especially while eating citrus, sour or spicy food.

The best care and the foremost care provided as a cure can be asking the patient to stay hydrated. Patient can be asked to apply ointment or lip balms throughout the day, to use the humidifiers, to prevent the process by asking the patient to stop licking, biting the lips.

Choosing the cure wise includes using the moisturizers that are fragrance free, with no irritants, no allergens, should include glycerine, oils and should be sun protective as well.

Some irritants can include menthol, camphor, waxes, if any of these substances are found in the lip ointment it is better not to use the product

Lip chapped and burning can be treated normally with a soft, moisturizing product. Chapped lips can happen at any age but usually found in adolescents and children who constantly lick their lips and are known to have lip licker’s dermatitis.

Lips when chapped can cause a very great discomfort especially while eating citrus, sour or spicy food.

Treatment can be done by natural remedies as well.

This remedy helps in moisturizing and soothing the chapped lips. These natural remedies include:

Aloe vera, coconut oil, honey, cucumber, green tea, etc.

Aloe vera contains anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and it helps in re-hydration of the skin over lips.

Coconut oil also acts as an anti-inflammatory and emollient and soothes the skin over skin.

Both coconut oil and aloe vera have anti-bacterial properties as well and can greatly help in reducing the risk of infections.

Honey can be highly moisturizing and a good treatment for dry lips. It’s believed to be a good anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial which helps in preventing the infections which can be superimposed on dry and cracked lips.

Cucumber contains vitamins and minerals and act as a good moisturizer.

Green tea is believed to contain a lot of anti-oxidants and minerals and also some compounds called polyphenols which act as an anti-inflammatory substances. Gently rubbing the green tea bag immersed in warm water can help in removing the dry skin over the lips and rejuvenation.

When to see a doctor

Lips chapped and burning is a common event encountered and cannot always be some serious issue but should not be neglected today to face the consequences tomorrow. Whenever symptoms of dry lips do not get resolved after at least weeks  of symptoms and after proper care and treatment one should see a nearby doctor. The serious issues can be vitamin b12 deficiency, inflammatory bowel diseases in such conditions in addition to the dry, chapped and burning lips some other symptoms like fatigue, blood in stools and other symptoms are also seen. Also, actinic cheilitis describes the chronic condition of dry and chapped lips due to skin exposure and mostly affects the lower lip.

As mentioned certain medications can also cause the lips to lose its moisture and become dry and chapped. The medicines included are: Vitamin A, retinoids, lithium, and some chemotherapy drugs and if you are taking such medicines it is better to see a nearby physician and get your medicines and yourself checked.

Summary

Lips are in direct contact with the environment and need extra protection. The skin on the lips is very thin and sensitive and can get damaged very easily by the change in environment or changes inside the body. Lip chapped and burning is a real discomfort and can be caused by a number of reasons which range from a normal cause to some other health related issue. Some causes can include some health conditions and can be numbered as:

thyroid disease, vitamin deficiency, inflammatory bowel disease. Whenever you notice symptoms of dry lips do not get resolved after at least weeks  of symptoms and after proper care and treatment one should see a nearby doctor, some issues that are usually neglected can be found and it includes  vitamin B12 deficiency, inflammatory bowel diseases in such conditions in addition to the dry, chapped and burning lips some other symptoms like fatigue, blood in stools and other symptoms are also seen and actinic cheilitis where dry and chapped lips are seen due to skin exposure and mostly affects the lower lip, in such conditions it is better to get yourself checked. But the most common issues are the environmental issues of coldness and extreme hot conditions which lead to dehydration and dry lips.