Angular cheilitis is a common skin condition. It leads to cracking and irritation at the corners of your mouth. Angular cheilitis can have a variety of causes. If you develop irritation at the corners of your lips, talk to your healthcare provider. An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment.
dry skin around the lips cracked
But rest assured, there are many things you can do at home to hydrate thirsty skin around the mouth and prevent it from coming back again and again. To follow, the 101 on dry skin around the mouth and when you should see a derm.
Before we dive into the potential reasons you're experiencing dry skin around the mouth, let's touch on the basics. The first thing you should know is that the skin around your mouth is slightly different from the skin on the rest of your face and your body.
"The skin around the mouth is thinner and therefore more prone to redness or irritation than the rest of the face," medical esthetician and founder of JTAV Clinical Skincare Joie Tavernise tells mbg.
"This area of the mouth, upper lip, and chin also has fewer oil glands compared to the rest of the face, so you do not get the moisture from oil as you do in your T-zone," she adds. So if your skin is generally drier around the mouth, it's not a cause for concern.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), "If you have a rash around your mouth, you may have perioral dermatitis." The rash may itch, burn, cause acne-like bumps, and will likely consist of skin flaking as well, the AAD notes.
If your dry skin around the mouth comes in and out seasonally, it may be due to environmental causes. Specific weather conditions like cold weather, increased sun exposure, or strong winds are other common triggers, Tavernise explains.
General seasonal allergies or food intolerances can also cause dry skin around the mouth, Tavernise notes. If you suspect this might be the cause, try to keep a running note of when your dry skin flares and note any correlation between foods or exposure to common allergens.
Dry skin around the mouth can also be from kissing, or what's more often called "beard burn." See, when you kiss someone, especially if that person has facial hair, your skin is naturally going to be exfoliated by the hair and friction. This could look like redness, flaky skin, and overall sensitivity. When the skin is overexfoliated, the barrier can be compromised. You can read more about treatments and tips for beard burn here.
Now that you have an idea of why the skin around your mouth is more dry than usual, let's dive into how to treat it at home and when you should visit an expert. Remember: When your skin barrier is compromised, you should kick into recovery-and-repair mode with your skin care. Here's the 101:
You can't forget the simplest step of all: internal hydration. "When our bodies are dehydrated due to lack of water consumption, it decreases skin elasticity and makes wrinkles more pronounced, causes chapped or cracking lips and even can prompt the body to produce excess oil and lead to acne," Tavernise says.
Super-hot water is a well-known irritant for the skin, especially if your microbiome is compromised. Instead, opt for lukewarm water whenever you touch the dry area around your face. If a colder shower isn't for you (we don't blame you), then wait to wash your face until you step out.
The thing about dry skin around the mouth is that it's not a one-size-fits-all cause. As you can tell, there are plenty of factors that can contribute to dry skin around the mouth and not all of them are in your control.
Apply a non-irritating lip balm (or lip moisturizer) several times a day and before bed. If your lips are very dry and cracked, try a thick ointment, such as white petroleum jelly. Ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils.
Do you have excessively dry, itchy and flaky skin around your mouth? We understand this is making you uncomfortable. However, it is usually not a serious condition and can be treated. Scroll down to find out how.
Sebum is the oil produced by sebaceous glands that lie beneath your pores. It is an important oil that is essential to maintain good skin health. A lack of sebum can contribute to dry skin. The skin around your mouth and eyes is thinner and more sensitive as compared to the rest of your face. This makes it more prone to skin irritation and dehydration.
You first have to understand the cause of dry skin around your mouth. If you notice pimples, inflammation or severe redness and pain, you should consult a dermatologist. In case you notice flaky skin and dry patches, the possibility of an allergic reaction could be higher.
Moisturizers soothe the skin and also help keep it hydrated. Moisturize the area around your mouth gently, two times a day. Get yourself a moisturizer that will help repair your broken skin barrier. Look for ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid (3) (4) and colloidal oatmeal (5).
Dead skin cells may stick to the surface of your skin, leading to clogged pores and dullness. Exfoliating your skin can help you get rid of dry patches around your mouth, revealing new and healthy skin cells.
Exfoliation can be done chemically or manually. Chemical exfoliators speed-up cell turnover and contribute to improving your skin health. Physical exfoliators help remove dry patches from the surface of your skin. Look for exfoliators that contain hydroxy acids (6). They can help remove dryness around your mouth.
Eating healthy and staying hydrated is essential to maintain good skin health. Switch to a low-carb diet, rich in fruits and vegetables. Lifestyle habits like smoking and consuming alcohol can also contribute to dehydration, which may be responsible for flaky skin around your mouth.
Wearing lip balm is as important as moisturizing your skin. Your lips need to stay hydrated as much as your skin does. Wear lip balm for soft and supple lips. This will also prevent you from constantly licking your lips to keep them hydrated.
Honey not only relieves your skin of dryness but is also a treat to your taste-buds! Honey has moisturizing properties that help soothe dry skin. Take a teaspoon of honey, add a pinch of sugar to it and gently scrub it across your lips to remove dead skin.
Good hygiene and strict skin care can help prevent angular cheilitis. By keeping the skin moistened around your mouth and free from irritation, you can help reduce the likelihood of bacteria or yeast buildup.
"Sometimes the peak [blood] volume can exceed up to 50% higher than those of non-pregnant women," Smirit Shrestha, MD, a Texas-based dermatologist explains. "The increase in blood sugar level can cause kidneys to overwork, resulting in frequent urination and dehydration, which eventually leads to dry lips and skin."
Allergies cause all kinds of chaos when it comes to the skin! You could be allergic to absolutely anything! And end up with a terrible rash or skin irritation. This happens around the mouth very often as this is where we consume food and end up touching our face most often.
Yup, the weather can give you dry skin around the mouth. In particular, dry, cold weather is the culprit. The skin around your mouth is sensitive and delicate. Therefore it can get affected quite easily by the kind of weather you expose it to.
This is a fun one! You know all that lip biting, licking and picking? That can be the reason why there is dry skin around the mouth! You are probably causing skin irritation and raw skin because of these habits. The good news is that we have the solution! Stop doing it.
While dry skin around the mouth and rashes can seem scary, they can be fixed by simple lifestyle changes most of the time. If it gets worse, however, visit a skin specialist or dermatologist. The main lesson here is to take good care of your skin, and it will thank you with a beautiful glow!
Cheilitis is an inflammation of the lips. It may be acute or chronic, involving the vermilion and/or surrounding skin of one or both lips. It is a frequent reason for consultation. This activity describes the causes, pathophysiology, and presentation of cheilitis and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in its management.
Cheilitis is an inflammation of the lips, which could be acute or chronic. The inflammation primarily arises in the vermilion zone but may extend to surrounding skin and less commonly, to the oral mucosa. It may be caused by a multitude of factors, including contact irritants or allergens, chronic sun exposure, and nutritional deficiencies, as well as by various cutaneous and systemic illnesses.[1]
Allergic Contact Cheilitis: A delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to allergens that come in contact with the lips can cause inflammation of the lips. It is also known as lipstick cheilitis since several ingredients found in lipsticks may act as irritants. The most common cosmetic sensitizers identified by patch testing include fragrances, Myroxylon pereirae, and nickel. However, some ingredients unique to lipsticks may also cause lip dermatitis. For example, castor oil, colophony, shellac, azo dyes, sesame oil, preservatives, ozonated olive oil, propolis, and copolymers. Apart from lipsticks, allergic contact cheilitis can be caused by a variety of other substances that come into contact with lips. They could be found in mouthwashes, toothpastes, and even food.[3] Lipstick cheilitis may present as persistent irritation and scaling, sometimes associated with edema and vascularization, confined to vermillion or extending beyond in some cases. Cheilitis caused by food may involve the skin around the mouth.[4]
Angular Cheilitis: Angular cheilitis, also known as angular stomatitis or perlèche, is an acute or chronic inflammation of the skin and adjacent labial mucosa at the angles of the mouth. It manifests as a roughly triangulararea of erythema and edema at one, or more frequently both,angles of the mouth. [6]The most common cause of angular cheilitis in adults is a fungal infection, Candida albicans, and less commonly, Staphylococcus aureus. Poor oral hygiene, ill-fitting dentures, or absence of teeth as in the elderly can lead to excessive moisture and maceration from saliva leading to these infections. Less commonly, the nutritional deficiencies, particularly those of riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folate (B9), iron, and general protein malnutrition, may produce smooth, shiny, red lips associated with angular stomatitis, collectively known as cheilosis. [7] 2ff7e9595c
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