Dry lips and the resulting cracks are an important problem that can lead to various infections and other related diseases, as well as causing a cosmetic defect in the person. Many factors such as the inadequacy of various vitamins and minerals, the use of dental prosthesis, the presence of fungal and many more infections, excessive sunlight exposure, the use of certain drugs can cause dryness on the lips. Initially, the person develops redness and tenderness around the lips, and small sores can be seen in the corners of the mouth. In this stage, if the lip mucosa is not healed with proper care, it dries out completely and in the following period, cracking, splitting and bleeding problems occur in the lips. This situation greatly prevents the person from eating, speaking, and activities of daily living and reduces the quality of life.
What Causes Lip Cracking?
If the problem of dry lips is not intervened, it causes cracking of the lip mucosa and serious mucosal damage. It is possible to talk about many factors that cause dryness on the lips. While it is caused by mechanical and infectious factors in adulthood, nutritional problems are leading in children. The main factors that cause dryness and cracking of the lips can be listed as follows:
Cold Weather: Lip mucosa has a much more delicate and sensitive structure than normal skin. Therefore, in dry, cold and windy weather conditions, the lip mucosa easily loses its moisture and tends to dry out. Generally, a lip licking reaction develops with the desire to moisturize the lips, and in this case, the wet lips become more dry and cracked as a result of contact with the wind.
Excessive Sun: It is a common condition that cold weather causes dryness and cracks on the lips, but it is often overlooked that the sun can also cause dryness on the lips. Especially in the summer months, it is necessary to moisturize the lips during direct contact with sunlight and to provide appropriate lip care afterwards.
Infection: As a result of fungal infection that develops in the mouth, the oral mucosa is damaged starting from the lips. Fungal infection, which can cause dryness, cracking, edema, tenderness and many other findings on the lips, is an important problem that can put the physical health of the person at risk. If left untreated, it can lead to decay of teeth, digestive system problems, and weakening of the immune system as a result of deterioration of intestinal flora.
Nutritional Disorders: Another factor that causes lip cracking is the disorders seen in the diet. It can be said that many conditions related to nutrition, such as lack of various vitamins and minerals and excessive alcohol use, cause dryness and cracking of the lips.
Use of Various Drugs: Isotretinoin, which is used for the treatment of common acne, and acitretin, which is among the treatment options for psoriasis, are the main drugs that cause dry lips. However, some diuretics used in the treatment of diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, liver cirrhosis and diabetes insipidus can also cause dryness and cracking of the lips. Finally, it has been observed that serious cracks develop as a result of the direct contact of the substance called chlorhexidine gluconate, which is in the content of some mouthwashes, to the lips.
Contact with Chemical Agent: Since the lip mucosa is extremely sensitive, many chemical ingredients can cause drying and cracking of the lips. Commonly used lip balms consist of a mixture of paint solvents such as castor oil, lanolin as a moisturizer, preservatives, perfumes and some dyes in a base consisting of mineral oil and wax. Lanolin, perfume and impure dyes can cause dryness and cracking of the lips, as well as allergic reactions. However, lip balms containing essential oils such as mint, cinnamon and clove are also known to cause cracks in the lips. Finally, substances such as mercury and eugenol used in the field of dentistry can cause cracks and infection in both the oral mucosa and lips.
Lip cracking is a symptom of which disease?
The problem of dryness and cracking of the lips can be caused by many factors, as well as as a result of some diseases. The most widely known of these is undoubtedly diabetes, which is called diabetes mellitus. In the presence of diabetes, the saliva in the mouth thickens and darkens. This leads to the drying of both the oral mucosa and the lip tissue. This condition, which is considered one of the first signs of diabetes, causes the person to drink water very often with the desire to moisten the oral mucosa. In addition, it should be known that diuretics used in the treatment of diabetes can cause dryness in the mouth and lips, and lip care should be taken during both the diagnosis and treatment stages of the disease. Apart from this, chapped lips can also be a symptom of various vitamin and mineral deficiencies.Conditions such as riboflavin (vitamin B2), folic acid, zinc, iron deficiency and inadequate protein absorption can lead to dry lips. At the same time, in case of deficiency of vitamin B12, which is associated with iron deficiency, dryness in the mouth, cracked lips, deterioration of the oral mucosa and signs of infection can be observed. Therefore, people who have been diagnosed with anemia should include these vitamins and minerals in their diets and take care to do the right care and applications for chapped lips.Therefore, people who have been diagnosed with anemia should include these vitamins and minerals in their diets and take care to do the right care and applications for chapped lips.Therefore, people who have been diagnosed with anemia should include these vitamins and minerals in their diets and take care to do the right care and applications for chapped lips. Persistent dry lips and persistent chapped lips usually develop as a symptom of other skin diseases. Especially in the presence of actinic cheilitis (tumor precursor dryness of the lips), psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema and a rheumatic disease called Sjögren's syndrome, which causes serious dryness problems in the mouth and eyes, dryness and cracking of the lips are frequently encountered.
How Does Lip Cracking Happen?
In order to heal lip cracks and prevent their recurrence, first of all, it should be determined whether there is any health problem that causes cracks and they should be treated correctly. If there is no underlying disease, other mechanical factors such as prosthesis use, inadequate oral care, contact of chemical agents should be considered and a treatment plan should be made accordingly. The cracks that occur on the lips should first be cleaned properly to prevent infection, and then a good moisturizing care should be applied. While cleaning the cracks, care should be taken not to use chemical agents and the lips should be gently cleaned with clear water. Afterwards, applying moisturizing care with creams with the appropriate content not only helps the existing cracks to heal, but also prevents the development of new cracks.
What Is Good For Lip Cracking?
In order to prevent cracking and drying of the lips, first of all, care should be taken to drink plenty of water and the healthy humidity of the body should be maintained. Consumption of more than 2 liters of water per day increases the elasticity of the skin tissue and the skin mucosa becomes stronger. Apart from this, moisturizing care should be applied regularly in order to heal lip cracks, and lips should be carefully protected with care products containing sunscreen factors, especially in extremely hot and extremely cold weather. The presence of cracks in the lips increases the risk of infection in the oral mucosa. Therefore, in this period, care should be taken to apply oral care correctly and at the same time, oral care products that do not cause irritation on the lips should be preferred. Do not forget to share these symptoms with your doctor for the correct care of lip cracks and the diagnosis of the underlying disease, if any!
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