Dry Lips

Definition

The skin of lips is very thin and it contains no sebaceous glands or oil glands, which are very useful in keeping the skin moist. Dehydration leads to the condition of dry lips. Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol can often be responsible for dryness of lips. Dry, swollen, or cracked lips can be caused by allergies, infections, drugs, and a number of medical problems.

Overworking, stress, tiredness and recent infection all lower the immune system, which makes minor infections around the mouth and lips more likely. Dryness of lips may be caused by extreme exposed to temperature, whether this is hot or cold.

Causes of Chapped Lips

Chapped lips can have several causes, including dry weather, overexposure to the sun, lip biting and sucking, riboflavin (vitamin B-2) deficiencies and ill-fitting dentures. Chapped lips can be irritating and unsightly.some causes are consists the following.

• Unlike ordinary skin, lip tissue is mucous membrane. Also, the outer layer of the lip is relatively thin.
• As a result, moisture evaporates from lips faster than from skin, causing lips to dry out easily.
• Cold Sores are viral infections, which cause irritating, even painful blisters on the lips and skin.
• Cold Sores only appear on or around the mouth.

Symptoms of Dry Lips

The possible symptoms of dry lips are as:-

• Presence of whitish saliva in your mouth.
• Lips looking dried, rough and red.
• When there is difficulties in swallowing the food.
• A bleeding and slight pain in your lips.
• A thick saliva or mucus that stays attached to the lips like strings, gives the indication of dryness of lips.

How to Manage Dry Lips. A mixture of honey and vaseline, gives the required moisture to the lips. Apply fresh butter on dry lips to make it smooth. Chapstick can be use to manage the dry lips. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, rough foods such as hard bread, toast, crackers, potato chips, or pretzels, spicy foods and citrus juices which can cause irritation. Try to eat healthy diet rich in vitamins C, E and B, and also zinc, iron Will keep your lips moist. Apply lipbalm, to your lips that contain cocoa butter, which some people are allergic to it, so if your lips are still scaly after patient use of balm, try a brand that doesn't contain it. Do not lick lips that can cause drying and chapping. Drink plenty of water to moisturize your lips from the inside.

Treatment of Chapped Lips

• Apply lip balm or petroleum jelly. You can also try coating your lips with skin moisturizer, vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel. These greasy products help keep your lips properly moisturized.
• Use lip balm that contains sunblock if you are going to be outside.
• Avoid licking your lips, since the saliva will evaporate and leave them dry.
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
• Consider moistening the air in your home with a humidifier.
• Keep in mind that cracks at the corners of your mouth can indicate riboflavin deficiencies; you can treat this with vitamin B-2 supplements.
• Have a dentist readjust ill-fitting dentures if you believe they might be the cause of your chapped lips.
• Avoid going out in dry, cold weather without putting on lip balm or lipstick.
• Use a sunscreen on your lips when outside in sunny weather.