Why are the cracks in the corners of the lips so painful? It turns out that there are a hundred times more nerve endings on the lips than on the fingertips. With the lips, the mother measures the temperature of the baby and feels the slightest increase. The skin there is very delicate. That is why it requires special care.
If you start inflammation, it takes a chronic form and is more difficult to cure. Despite the fact that there are many alternative methods of treatment, it is impossible to determine the nature of the lesion and its cause by eye. The result can only be laboratory analysis. Moreover, such an inflammation can hide a serious illness with such symptoms.
Lip skin structure
The skin on the lips smoothly passes into the mucous membrane. The transition site is called the red border because of the many capillaries that shine through four layers of the epithelium, which is thinner in this area than the rest. This is a very vulnerable place: with the smallest violation of the integrity of the upper layer of cells, the gates of infection open.
At the junction of the lips, the so-called commissure (with lat. Commissura - “connect”), there are all three types of tissues - skin, intermediate tissue and mucous membrane. Therefore, here, as in the skin, there are glands and hair follicles. In adverse conditions, they become infected, and diseases develop.
The red border does not have hair follicles or sweat glands, but the sebaceous glands secreting eleidine are here. Cracks in the corners of the lips are caused by inflammation of one or all three types of tissue. In addition, an infection from the mouth (stomatitis) can spread to this area. Due to the structure of the commissure, wide opening of the mouth can lead to cracks. On the skin in these places there are natural folds, very small. So they crack in the first place.
Why do cracks appear in the corners of the lips: causes
Doctors joke that if all the reasons for the formation of cracks always worked one hundred percent, people would always walk with sore lips. Fortunately, for the pathology to occur, three conditions must coincide:
- Weakened immunity.
- Skin disorder.
- The presence of infection.
Factors that contribute to the development of cracks:
- Dry lips caused by weather conditions (sun, wind, cold).
- Degreasing with hygiene products (alcohol-containing lotions, hard water and laundry soap).
- Inadequate oral hygiene, lack of habit of washing hands, touching them to the face.
- Irritation of the lips after some food, snapping of seeds.
- Dental problems.
- Poor lipstick.
- Yawning, vocal lessons, recitation.
Lip diseases are called cheilitis and are characterized by damage to all tissues - both the mucosa and the epidermis. They are divided into several types, there are acute and chronic, infectious and non-infectious. For successful treatment, proper diagnosis is necessary.
When cracks occur in children
Children are more likely to be attacked by germs due to dirty hands, toys, and habits of holding a pen or pencil in their mouths. Experts believe that mainly cracks in the corners of the lips in a child are accompanied by the addition of streptococcal infection.
There are mycotic angulitis, the cause of which is reduced immunity. In this case, the disease becomes chronic. Usually stomatitis and glossitis join due to damage to the oral mucosa.
What is a crack
When the skin is too dry, it will crack. Until the deep layers of the epidermis are affected, you may not notice a skin defect. Subsequently, a wet wound appears at the site of the crack. The sucrose secreted from it causes even greater dryness of the affected area, which leads to hyperkeratosis and the skin losing its ability to stretch.
From now on, any stretching of the skin easily injures it, deepening existing wounds. Bleeding areas appear that are irritated by food. Inflammation passes to the mucous tissue. If untreated, a chronic course of the disease develops.
Diagnostics
The dentist is responsible for identifying the causes and treatment of cracks in the corners of the lips. He takes a smear and sends it to the laboratory. Sowing on the flora is done there and microbiological analysis is carried out. So identify the infection and establish its resistance to antibiotics.
In addition, a detailed study of blood and urine, and, if necessary, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. If necessary, specify the cause of the disease from specialists (ENT, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist). The appearance of the crusts in the corners of the mouth is similar when affected by herpes and streptococcus. They differ only in the size and contents of the bubbles.
Secondary syphilis has one of the symptoms of a crack in the corners of the lips. AIDS also causes cracks in the corners of the mouth. Treatment is always selected individually, and the patient’s condition is monitored in dynamics, since often there are several causes of such a disease.
Catarrhal cheilitis
Often, many people have lips cracking in the winter. Dry frosty air dehydrates them, involuntary licking begins, which leads to further dehydration. The skin cracks and wounds form through which bacteria and viruses penetrate unhindered. All this in general can lead to permanent damage to the corners of the lips, especially with a general reduced immunity.
To break this vicious circle, you must use hygienic lipstick. Of course, this is a matter of personal hygiene, and it is not permissible to use someone else's lipstick. In the case when a person uses Vaseline, they take it from a jar with a clean cotton swab. When this is done with the fingers, the transfer of pathogenic microflora into a jar is possible. Subsequently, in the presence of microcracks that occur on dry lips, infection occurs, and cheilitis becomes infectious.
Chronic lip crack
This state is determined by long transverse cracks on the red border. It manifests itself as a chronic inflammation of the crack due to metabolic disorders against the background of diseases of the liver, intestines, allergies. The tissues are swollen, elasticity is reduced. The process of joining infections (papillomavirus) and tissue hyperkeratosis is aggravated.
Cracks in the corners of the lips in adults become chronic under the influence of various factors:
- Professional (dust, allergens).
- Weather (dry, cold).
- Bad habits.
- Hypovitaminosis.
The disease develops gradually. Small cracks under the influence of irritating factors deepen, condense and become inflamed. Erosion appears, the ability to heal is lost. The fabric is thickened and deformed.
Hypovitaminous cheilitis
Errors in diet and bad habits can also be the cause of cracks in the corners of the lips in an adult. Alcohol and tobacco contribute to vitamin imbalance. The abundance of raw fish leads to the splitting of B 1 . Problems with the intestines cause a deficiency in the body B 12 . If a person refuses black bread, he will have a deficit of B 1 and B 6 . If you abuse sugar - a deficiency of 2 . With anemia there will be a lack of iron.
Cracks that are formed due to a lack of vitamins can be easily treated by restoring a balanced diet. Sometimes it is useful to check for parasitic infestations. The abundance of fruits and vegetables, seafood and olive oil, brown bread, cereals - these products should be on the table constantly. Of course, you can also resort to drug substitution, but it is proved that synthetic vitamins can lead to a state of microelementosis. Their abundance leads to the same symptoms as a lack of natural vitamins.
Angulite
Infectious cheilitis affects the mucosa and is called angulitis. It is caused either by yeast-like pathogens and is treated with fungicides, like candidiasis, or streptococci and is treated with antibiotics.
To know exactly how to treat cracks in the corners of the lips, find out the etymology. To begin with, herpes and syphilis are excluded. Then streptococcus and candidiasis are differentiated. Maybe the mixed nature of the disease.
Fungicides do not act on streptococcal cracks, while antibiotics exacerbate the development of candidiasis. Therefore, they use combined drugs that can cope with both pathogens: Triderm, Trimistin.
How to treat cracks in the corners of the lips
Newly formed shallow cracks can pass without treatment. Annoying factors in the form of acidic and spicy foods are eliminated, and control over bad habits is taken. After a week, recovery comes. Untreated fissures become chronic in time.
Usually, the doctor prescribes conservative treatment. The corners of the mouth are treated with antiseptics (furatsilin, hydrogen peroxide) four times a day and are treated with antibacterial ointments. Before going out, the lips are smeared with petroleum jelly. The menu consists of products that exclude allergens. Prohibited chocolate, citrus fruits, chips, sodas, alcohol. Food should be as soft and fluid as possible.
It is necessary to take vitamin preparations, especially group B. Food should be balanced by trace elements.
If there is no recovery in five or seven days, you should consult a doctor to identify possible concomitant pathologies, since this may be a symptom of internal diseases. Treatment is selected individually.
Prevention
There are a number of recommendations to prevent the appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips:
- It is necessary to leave bad habits (bite your nails, hold a pencil in your mouth or lick your lips).
- A visit to the dental office should be regular for the rehabilitation of the oral cavity and removal of tartar.
- In addition to lipstick, you should use a scrub, which can make coffee grounds. It contains oil that nourishes the epidermis.
- Proper nutrition will provide a balance of vitamins and minerals in the body, increase resistance to infections.
- Personal hygiene.
- Disinfection of children's toys.
By following these simple requirements, you can maintain health and beauty.