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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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.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Can allergic cheilitis heal on its own?

Allergic cheilitis generally occurs when the patient's lips come into contact with some allergenic substances. For example, if a patient consumes allergenic foods, like certain proteins that infants and young children might be allergic to, this can lead to inflammation of the lips, itching, and redness. In such cases, it is generally recommended that the patient not worry too much and that no special treatment is required, as observation can lead to recovery. Some adults develop lip allergies possibly due to the use of certain products like lip balms or lipsticks, which can also lead to allergic reactions on the lips. Patients are advised to identify the cause of their allergy and avoid the allergens to alleviate the symptoms. Additionally, if a patient experiences severe allergic reactions on the lips, they can apply some anti-allergy medication to relieve itching.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Can the melanin left by cheilitis be removed?

When a patient has recovered from crusted cheilitis, their lips might appear slightly darker in color. This condition generally improves over time. It is recommended that patients should not be overly concerned and can apply some aloe vera gel or vitamin E appropriately. These can effectively eliminate pigmentation from scars and aid in the recovery of scar coloration. Additionally, if a patient develops cheilitis, it is crucial to maintain local hygiene and avoid infections. Persistent infections and inflammation can increase local irritation and potentially damage some soft tissues, leading to worsened scarring. Patients are advised to maintain a light diet.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Cheilitis is divided into several types.

Cheilitis is a relatively common oral inflammation in dentistry, with allergic cheilitis being a common type. Allergic cheilitis may occur when the patient's lips come into contact with certain allergenic substances, such as lipstick, lip balm, or medications. If these components cause discomfort to the patient's lips, it can trigger an allergy, leading to localized red rashes, peeling, and itching of the lips. There is also a type called chronic cheilitis, which generally arises from internal heat in the patient’s body, or a deficiency in certain vitamins and trace elements, leading to dry and cracked lips. Another type is seasonal cheilitis, which occurs during the dry climate of autumn and winter, causing the lips to become inflamed due to the dry weather. This type of cheilitis is generally mild and can be alleviated quickly by applying some anti-inflammatory ointment locally. Patients need not be overly concerned but should relax, paying more attention to daily dietary hygiene.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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What are the symptoms before lip inflammation turns into cancer?

Cheilitis is generally caused by some local inflammation of the lips and is also relatively common in clinical settings. The skin of the lips is quite fragile and cannot withstand intense external stimuli. During the autumn and winter seasons, exposure to strong external stimuli may cause inflammation, swelling, pain, and even peeling and bleeding of the lips. However, long-term cheilitis generally does not lead to cancerous changes. If recurrent and long-term outbreaks occur, it may lead to the proliferation of some soft tissues of the lips. It is essential to pay attention to lip care in daily life, maintain lip moisture, and develop correct living habits. Additionally, it is crucial for patients to pay attention to lip care, especially in the dry seasons of autumn and winter, focus on moisturizing the lips, and use appropriate lip balms to effectively care for the lips.