Types of cheilitis
The most common form is exfoliative cheilitis, when the lips peel and become covered with scales, and a person tears them off and licks them, maintaining a vicious circle. Contact and allergic cheilitis occurs as a reaction to toothpaste, lipstick, hygienic lipstick or food products. Angular cheilitis - seizures - develops in the corners of the mouth where saliva accumulates, and is almost always complicated by a fungal or bacterial infection. Separately, actinic cheilitis from the sun is distinguished, which is considered a precancerous condition in people who work a lot on the street.
- Exfoliative – peeling and flakes
- Contact and allergic
- Angular (stubs in the corners of the mouth)
- Meteorological - from wind and cold
- Actinic - from solar radiation
- Glandular - inflammation of the small salivary glands of the lip
Why do jams appear?
Seizures are almost never a purely mechanical problem. A fold forms in the corners of the mouth, in which saliva is retained, the skin macerates, and against this background, Candida fungi and bacteria multiply. This is facilitated by a decrease in the height of the bite due to loss of teeth, old or unsuitable removable dentures, the habit of licking the corners and sleeping with the mouth slightly open. Internal causes are no less important: deficiency of iron, vitamins B2, B6, B12 and folic acid, diabetes mellitus, decreased immunity. In children, overeating often accompanies iron deficiency anemia.
- Accumulation of saliva in the corners of the mouth and maceration of the skin
- Fungal and bacterial infection
- Deficiency of iron and B vitamins
- Diabetes mellitus
- Reduced bite height, tooth loss, dentures
- Habit of licking lips, mouth breathing
- Taking medications that dry out mucous membranes
Symptoms
The lips become dry, tight, flaky, cracks appear on them, which hurt when opening the mouth, eating and smiling. Redness, weeping, crusts and painful cracks, sometimes with a whitish coating, are visible in the corners of the mouth. Allergic cheilitis is often accompanied by itching, swelling and redness throughout the red border and surrounding skin. The chronic course makes the lips thickened, with constantly recurring scales and cracks.
- Dryness and tightness of lips
- Peeling, scales, crusts
- Painful cracks, especially in the corners
- Redness and weeping at the corners of the mouth
- Burning and itching in allergic form
- Pain when opening the mouth and eating
Survey
The doctor examines the lips and oral cavity, evaluates the bite, the condition of the teeth and dentures, and specifies what the patient uses - paste, lipstick, mouthwash. For weeping jams, a scraping is taken to determine the fungal or bacterial nature. The laboratory minimum is aimed at looking for deficiencies and diabetes. If the element does not heal for more than three weeks, becomes denser or bleeds, the doctor must rule out precancerous changes and lip cancer.
- Examination of lips, oral cavity and bite
- Scraping the corners of the mouth for fungi and bacteria
- Complete blood count, ferritin, iron
- Blood glucose
- Vitamin D and B vitamins according to indications
- Consultation with a dermatologist or oncologist for a non-healing lesion
Lip treatment and care
Tactics depend on the cause: for fungal infections, antifungal agents are prescribed, for bacterial infections, antibacterial ointments, for allergies, elimination of the allergen and anti-inflammatory external medications. Deficiencies are made up based on test results, and not at random. At the same time, the dentist solves the mechanical part: treats the teeth, corrects or replaces the prosthesis, and restores the height of the bite. In care, the most important thing is to stop licking and biting your lips, regularly apply a protective balm, and in the summer and in the mountains - a product with a sun protection factor.
- External remedies prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the cause
- Correction of iron and vitamin deficiency according to tests
- Dental treatment, denture and bite correction
- Quitting the habit of licking and biting your lips
- Protective lip balm and SPF products
- Changing toothpaste or lipstick if you have allergies
- Controlling blood sugar in diabetes