Doctors say that cheilitis is inflammation of the tissues in the lips with the formation of a characteristic red border, inflammation of the mucous membranes, peeling of the skin and the formation of painful sores. The pathological condition can be an independent ailment or manifest against the background of other diseases. In our publication, I would like to talk about the clinic, the diagnosis and treatment of cheilitis.
Causes
The factors that most often provoke the development of cheilitis are all kinds of dermatoses. We are talking about psoriasis, lichen planus, erythematosis. For all these diseases, the process of inflammation of the mucous lips and the appearance of a pronounced red band are characteristic here.
Cheilitis, the symptoms and treatment of which will be discussed later in the material, may be felt under the influence of adverse environmental factors. Among the probable reasons, it is worth noting the effect on local tissues of cold or hot air, chapping of the lips, and sunburn. As a rule, this is noted in people who, due to professional activities, are forced to stay outdoors for a long time.
In some cases, cheilitis is allergic in nature. Specific reactions of the body to certain chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, and other irritants can lead to skin irritation on the lips.
Forms of cheilitis and clinical manifestations
Consider the symptoms and treatment of cheilitis on the lips should be based on individual varieties of the disease. There are such forms of the disease:
- Granular - a pathology is formed in the case of an increase and partial disruption of the functioning of the salivary glands under the influence of infection of local tissues. Often trouble overtakes people after the age of 30. In the primary stages, dryness and peeling of the skin are observed. If adequate therapy is not available for a long time, all kinds of erosions and cracks can occur.
- Exfoliative - the appearance of a clear red border on the lips is characteristic of the form of the disease. Typically, such manifestations are noted among women. Gradually, the tissues become covered with small scales, the pronounced itching makes itself felt.
- Allergic - the disease manifests itself under the influence of local tissues with various irritants of natural and chemical origin. A symptom of cheilitis in this form is redness of the lips, the appearance of severe swelling, the appearance of a feeling of overthrow and burning. Exacerbations of the disease are possible in the event of repeated exposure to allergic irritants, which causes the appearance in the problem area of an abundance of small bubbles filled with liquid.
- Meteorological - a form of the disease in which there is an increased sensitivity of local tissues to the effects of heat, cold, wind or ultraviolet radiation. It is characterized by the appearance of a sensation of itching, burning, the formation of erosion and dense crusts.
- Atopic - in this case, cheilitis is a consequence of transferred dermatitis. Patients experience discomfort, which is expressed in redness of the border of the lips. Swelling affects large areas of surrounding tissue. Affected by inflammation is the skin in the corners of the mouth. When the primary symptoms disappear, the epidermis begins to actively peel off.
- Eczematous - a form of ailment that makes itself felt against a background of eczema. Patients most often complain of intolerable itching, burning lips. If complex therapy is not used, dense painful nodules appear in the structure of local tissues.
- Hypovitaminous - the disease develops due to a deficiency or an excess of B vitamins in the body. Patients feel dry lips and tongue, suffer from the appearance of small cracks in the structure of the delicate epidermis. Tissue bleeding is occasionally noted. The tongue can swell and increase in volume.
Diagnostics
An accurate diagnosis is established, in particular, the determination of the form of the disease is performed on the basis of an external examination of the nature of tissue damage in the lip area. Crucial are the patient's complaints. In some cases, doctors resort to histological studies. It is about taking a skin sample and examining the latter under a microscope. Based on the data obtained, experts establish the appropriate treatment of cheilitis in the clinic or at home.
Beloderm
Beloderm is an effective ointment for the treatment of cheilitis on the lips, which produces an anti-allergic effect on local tissues and relieves inflammation. The drug is also prescribed for eczema, neurodermatitis, lupus erythematosus. After all, the consequences of the development of these diseases are symptoms similar to cheilitis.
How is the product used ? The ointment is applied to the skin of the lips 2-3 times a day. Therapy is performed daily for several weeks. Usually this time is enough to eliminate the characteristic symptoms of the disease. The drug is allowed to be used to treat young children. However, therapy in this case should not take more than a week. Since otherwise, unforeseen consequences may occur as a result of an overdose of the active ingredients of the drug.
Mykozolon
"Mikozolon" is a combined drug that is active against pathogenic bacteria and fungal spores. The tool acts on almost all pathogens that can cause dermatoses of the skin.
How is ointment used in the treatment of cheilitis? The tool treats the affected tissue several times a day. Therapy is continued until the signs of the development of the disease have completely disappeared. As a rule, for this it is enough to use the medicine for a period of one to two weeks.
Oxycort
How to eliminate exfoliative cheilitis? Treatment can be performed using ointment "Oxyfort". The main active ingredient in the composition of the drug is the hormone hydrocortisone. The penetration of the component into the affected tissue helps to eliminate the disease characteristic of the disease, the removal of puffiness and inflammation. The wounds formed on the lips heal faster.
How is cheilitis treated with the drug? Ointment is applied 2-3 times a day to problem areas. Adults perform the procedure daily until completely cured. For children, the drug is prescribed for a week. If during this period it was not possible to remove the symptoms of the disease, in this case, they take a short break, and then resort to therapy again.
"Flucinar"
Effective treatment of cheilitis, a photo of which can be seen in our publication, can be performed with the help of Flucinar ointment. The product contains glucocorticosteroids, which relieve inflammation, prevent the development of allergic reactions of the body to all kinds of irritants. The effect of the drug is enhanced if cracked areas of the skin are treated. In this case, the active substances penetrate better into the deep tissue structures.
Since Flucinar acts as an extremely effective means to eliminate inflammation, severe itching and peeling of the skin, the therapy is performed for a short time. The ointment is contraindicated for use in tissue infections, whether it is the defeat of the epidermis by pathogenic fungi, viruses or bacteria. It is forbidden to apply ointment to the face of young children.
Sulfur-tar ointment
In order to eliminate symptoms and treat cheilitis, doctors often prescribe the use of sulfur-tar ointment. What is the beneficial effect of the remedy? Birch tar is widely known as an excellent disinfectant. The component has a slight irritating effect on the epidermis. The result is a better nutrition of local tissues with oxygen and nutrients due to the active flow of blood. As for sulfur, the substance inhibits the vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms, destroying all kinds of fungi and bacteria.
Treatment of cheilitis with sulfur-tar ointment is as follows. The tool is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas of the lips. The procedure is performed several times a day. Therapy is continued daily. It usually takes no more than a week to completely heal the affected tissue.
Claritin
What therapy is used for atopic cheilitis? Treatment here involves the elimination of the symptoms characteristic of dermatitis. For these purposes, doctors often prescribe the use of Claritin tablets. The drug makes it possible to relieve swelling, eliminate the effect of irritation and redness of tissues.
In the treatment of cheilitis in an atopic form, adults take the drug one tablet once a day. The medicine is absorbed regardless of food intake. For children, the dosage here depends on body weight. If the baby's weight is more than 30 kilograms, the daily norm is not different from an adult. Otherwise, it is advisable to offer the child a non-concentrated preparation in the form of a syrup.
Zinc ointment
Treatment of cheilitis on the lips can be done through the use of zinc ointment. The main active ingredient in the composition is zinc oxide, which soothes irritated tissues and produces a drying effect on the skin. An auxiliary component of the drug is petrolatum, which promotes better penetration of the ointment into the deep layers of the epidermis.
How is zinc ointment used to treat cheilitis? The agent is applied 2-3 times a day to affected areas of the skin. Before performing the procedure, problem areas are washed with soap and treated with antiseptic compounds. For these purposes, a solution of furatsilina or potassium permanganate can be used. Treatment is continued until the symptoms of the disease are completely eliminated.
Vitamin Complexes
The use of drugs of this nature seems to be an appropriate solution for the development of cheilitis in the form of hypovitaminosis. In this case, complexes are used, which include vitamins of groups B, A and E. To a large extent, the retreat of the symptoms of the disease accelerates a special diet. Along with the use of vitamins, acidic, spicy and salty foods are excluded from the diet.
Aloe
Treatment of cheilitis on the lips can be performed using traditional medicine. A good solution is the use of aloe. The juice of the plant produces a disinfecting effect on the skin, relieves inflammation, and promotes the speedy healing of affected tissues.
What is the treatment of cheilitis in this way? Take a large leaf of aloe, which is cleaned of thorns. Such raw materials are thoroughly crushed using a blender. The resulting mass is placed in a piece of gauze and squeezed juice. The liquid is combined with sunflower oil in a ratio of 1: 3. The substance is lubricated lips 3-4 times a day. With the development of allergic cheilitis, before using the medicine, you should make sure that there are no specific reactions to the action of the drug.
Chamomile
An excellent disinfectant for the development of cheilitis is the infusion of chamomile. The medicine produces a pronounced antiseptic and soothing effect on local tissues, which contributes to the speedy healing of the skin.
In order to prepare the medicine, take a tablespoon of dried plant harvest. Raw materials are poured into a glass of boiling water. The drug is allowed to infuse for half an hour. Cotton swabs are impregnated with warm liquid and applied to the affected areas on the lips. Such a compress is held for 20 minutes. Therapy can be performed as an adjunct to the use of pharmacological preparations.
Decoction of oak bark
A safe tool for the treatment of cheilitis in children is a tool prepared on the basis of oak bark. A healing composition is prepared according to the following scheme. Use about 2 tablespoons of chopped oak bark. The basis of the drug is poured with boiled water in an amount of just over one glass. The resulting mass is placed on the stove and boiled for half an hour. Then the product is cooled to room temperature. Another glass of boiled water is poured here to make up for the lost volume of liquid. Cotton swabs are impregnated with broth, which are applied to the affected lips. The product is left here for 20-30 minutes. Treatment is performed daily until signs of the development of cheilitis disappear.
Sage
To cure cheilitis at home, you can resort to the use of a healing product prepared on the basis of sage. To do this, take about 3 tablespoons of dried plant harvest. The raw material is poured with boiled water in an amount of 0.5 liters. The mixture is placed on a stove and boiled for 15-20 minutes. Then the product is cooled to room temperature. The composition is filtered. Cotton swabs are impregnated with the resulting broth. The latter are applied to the affected areas of the lips. Such a compress is held for 30 minutes. Treatment is performed several times a day.
Forecast
Timely access to a doctor and the implementation of appropriate treatment makes it possible to avoid the sad consequences of the transition of cheilitis to an advanced stage. When trying unreasonable unauthorized therapy, the manifestations of the disease are able to cover new tissue areas. At the time of the visit to a specialist, the skin may become resistant to drugs, which will cause a long time to suffer from pathology.
The most dangerous thing that can happen as a result of the formation of cheilitis is the transformation of healthy tissues into malignant. Against the background of the problem, precancerous conditions can develop.
Finally
So we found out what constitutes cheilitis, examined the symptoms and forms of the disease. As you can see, there are many effective solutions that are used to eliminate the trouble. Naturally, not all medicines against cheilitis are noted in our material. However, it is these funds that are most often used to combat the consequences of an ailment.
Finally, it is worth noting that with the development of the disease, you should not self-medicate. Any medicine, whether pharmacological drugs or folk remedies, must be approved by a doctor. Therefore, before resorting to therapy, you should once again take the advice of a specialist.