Is cheilitis a skin disease?

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on December 26, 2024
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Cheilitis is not a skin disease; it is a disease of the oral mucosa and falls under the category of oral mucosal diseases. Cheilitis is a mucosal disease characterized mainly by dryness, cracking, and scaling of the lips. Its types include dry scaling cheilitis, allergic cheilitis, benign lymphoproliferative cheilitis, granulomatous cheilitis, glandular cheilitis, fungal cheilitis, and photosensitive cheilitis. The onset of cheilitis is greatly related to long-term irritation and poor lifestyle habits. Seasonal changes and dry weather also increase the incidence rate, and windy conditions can easily lead to dryness and flaking. Cheilitis is also related to sun exposure, which can cause erosion of the upper and lower lips, known as actinic cheilitis. Patients with actinic cheilitis should first focus on avoiding light, reducing outdoor activities, and protecting their lips.

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What should I do about recurrent cheilitis?

There are many types of cheilitis, and when patients experience recurrent cheilitis, it is recommended that patients first understand the type of cheilitis. It is commonly seen in allergic cheilitis or some contact cheilitis, or some chronic cheilitis, and different types of cheilitis have different treatments. If it is allergic cheilitis, a little anti-allergy medication, such as loratadine, can be used. Taking one tablet before bedtime each day, usually for two or three days, can be very effective. If it is a type of chronic cheilitis, such as irritation from strong light or other detrimental irritations, such as the patient frequently licking with their tongue, being in a chronically moist environment, it will not heal easily. For this type of cheilitis, in addition to applying some anti-inflammatory ointments or recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel locally, both can be very effective, but the patient must not lick it with the tongue. Licking it afterwards can cause some of the moisture in the lips to evaporate, leading to slow healing of the lips. (Please use medications under a doctor's guidance.)

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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What should be paid attention to normally for cheilitis?

Patients with cheilitis should pay close attention to their diet and lifestyle in their daily life. In terms of diet, patients should opt for light meals and consume more fresh vegetables and fruits. A diversified diet is important as it can effectively supplement the nutrients required by the body. Additionally, patients should avoid consuming spicy and stimulating foods as much as possible, because such foods are quite irritating to the body. Consuming them regularly may cause patients to experience inflammation in the lips or other inflammatory symptoms. Patients should also pay attention to their lifestyle, ensuring it is regular, drinking plenty of water, and maintaining early sleep and waking times. They should avoid frequently staying up late and increase some outdoor activities. Moreover, during dry seasons, patients should keep their lips moisturized by applying glycerin or lip balm, which helps hydrate the lips. (Medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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How long does it take to cure cheilitis?

How long cheilitis can be cured also depends on the condition of the patient's local symptoms of cheilitis, as well as the measures taken by the patient. If good treatment and protective measures can be taken, the healing time is relatively short, generally about a week. Patients must pay attention to hydrating and sealing moisture in the lips, preventing further spread of the condition, deeply repairing all damaged tissues, reconstructing the protective barrier of the lip mucosa, and restoring some normal layers of the lip skin. It is advised that patients should be careful with their diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, use less lipstick or other cosmetic products that irritate the lips, and avoid frequently licking the lips with the tongue, as this is harmful to the lips. Patients are advised to try to eliminate these bad habits.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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What should I do if I have cheilitis with yellow fluid and scabbing?

The common clinical symptoms of cheilitis often include dryness, peeling, cracking, and bleeding, and some patients may also experience the leakage of tissue fluid, or even a yellowish discharge. When patients with cheilitis notice yellowish discharge or crusting, it usually indicates that the disease is healing. At this time, patients should avoid touching it with their hands or other objects, and should not pick off the crusts. It is recommended to apply anti-inflammatory lip balm, which can promote the healing of cheilitis and also prevent infection. After the crusts heal and fall off, patients should pay attention to keeping the lip area moisturized and should also address and remove any triggering factors to prevent recurrence of cheilitis.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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What causes summer cheilitis?

Summer cheilitis is commonly caused by actinic cheilitis, as the skin on the lips is delicate. During summer, strong sunlight and high UV intensity can cause inflammation of the lips, leading to dryness, peeling, or swelling. It is advisable for patients to protect themselves by wearing masks or using sun-blocking umbrellas when going out to effectively prevent direct UV exposure and reduce lip trauma. Additionally, patients should be cautious about consuming certain foods in the summer, such as cold drinks that may contain a lot of colorants, which could also lead to allergic reactions on the lips. Therefore, it is recommended that patients pay attention to their lifestyle and diet.