Actinic cheilitis is an inflammatory process that develops as a result of hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. The main place in which the lesion is localized are the lips. This article will describe the causes, symptoms and treatment of actinic cheilitis.
Features of the disease
It is important to know the description of the disease (actinic cheilitis, in particular) in order to know how to deal with it. Pathology has a chronic origin, and the individual predisposition of the human body plays a very large role in this. People who suffer from actinic cheilitis are considered allergic. If for a long time they are under the influence of direct rays of the sun, then their lips begin to swell slowly, then hyperemia develops, an unpleasant burning sensation and itching occurs. This disease differs from meteorological actinic cheilitis in that it arises due to the sensitivity of certain sections of the lips to external factors. If a sick person is constantly in the sun, then after a while his lips begin to peel off very much, and their contour becomes bright red. As a rule, pathology is characteristic of children who are very much in the sun.
Due to the fact that actinic cheilitis has a chronic form, it has certain periods of exacerbation. These periods, as a rule, arise in the warm time and fall in the middle, late spring, summer and the first months of autumn. In winter, an exacerbation of the disease is extremely rare.
Also, actinic cheilitis can often occur in men whose age is in the range of 30-60 years, and at the same time they have light-colored skin. It is worth noting that many experts consider this disease to be one of the signs of pathologies that develop due to too high sensitivity to sunlight. It can be, for example, solar dermatitis.
The risk group can also include those people who have bad habits, especially smoking. It must be remembered that because of this habit, a completely harmless disease can easily develop into a malignant lesion of the lips and occur only in their individual areas.
Causes of the disease
The main reason for the development of pathology is considered to be too high sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, which manifests itself in the form of an allergic reaction. In most cases, actinic cheilitis is of a congenital type due to heredity.
If the disease began to develop at a later age, then its appearance could be provoked by diseases such as the chronic form of cholecystitis, hepatitis, gastritis, pancreatitis and some others.
Disease classification
Modern dentistry distinguishes only two different types of actinic cheilitis, namely:
- exudative lesion;
- dry type of pathology.
The first form of pathology is characterized by severe swelling of the lips. In addition, the vessels located in the lips are very filled with blood, which leads to a discoloration, as well as the formation of dark brown spots. Sometimes small bubbles may even form.
Patients complain of a sensation of itching or burning in the lips, which is permanent. If the reaction is too strong, then the symptoms are supplemented by noticeable painful sensations. When the pathology begins to progress, the bubbles burst, which leads to erosion on the surface of the lips. After some time, they begin to become covered with a dense crust. If you do not start treating the exudative form of the pathology in time, there is too much risk that the skin of the lips will become rough or even very noticeable scars will appear on it.
The second form - dry actinic cheilitis - is considered simpler. The main characteristic will be a strong redness of the skin of the lips, the surface becomes dry, after a while you can observe the process of peeling.
Signs of the disease
The main sign of pathology is considered to be the period of exacerbation, which occurs from mid-spring and summer. During an exacerbation, the lips of a sick person begin to dry out very much, and the development of the disease begins with their outline. Then the color turns bright red. On the surface of the lips, you can notice the scales of the skin, which have already managed to peel off. If the human body reacts very seriously to ultraviolet, then the formation of scars is not excluded. In most cases, this disease affects the lower lip. At the same time, the upper lip remains completely healthy. Depending on the symptoms of actinic cheilitis disease, its shape is determined.
Symptoms of exudative form
In the presence of an exudative form of pathology, the symptoms will be slightly different. The border of the lower lip is very swollen, and its surface is covered with spots. After some time, small bubbles filled with liquid form. The affected area causes severe discomfort in the person, aching pain in contact with any objects, itching, burning. Due to the fact that later the bubbles burst, and ulcers of different sizes form on the lip, there is a risk of developing cancer.
Dry symptoms
The main causes and symptoms of dry actinic cheilitis are severe redness of the affected area of the lips and peeling due to prolonged exposure to the sun. During the diagnosis, you need to carefully examine the affected area, because the symptoms are approximately the same as in exfoliative cheilitis.
It is important to remember that, regardless of the form of the disease, pathology creates the most favorable conditions for cancer cells to appear. Because of this, during the diagnosis of the disease and therapy, those skin particles that have already been exfoliated, as a rule, are given for additional research. This will allow you to accurately determine the type and form of pathology, as well as the nature of its formation.
How is the diagnosis of the disease
In order to diagnose a disease such as athenic cheilitis, the doctor examines the patient's complaints, and also necessarily conducts a visual examination of a dental nature. In addition, the specialist collects an anamnesis in order to determine the form of the pathology for sure, because different types of cheilitis can have approximately the same symptoms. Depending on the diagnosed disease, the most appropriate therapy is selected.
Proper treatment of pathology
If after the examination a diagnosis such as actinic cheilitis was made, then therapy primarily involves the exclusion of a factor that leads to irritation and becomes the cause of the development of an allergic reaction. If we take into account the fact that the pathology develops due to too long a stay under the influence of ultraviolet rays, then you should try to be in the sun as little as possible.
It is unrealistic to cure a disease if, for example, a person’s labor activity is associated with constant exposure to the sun. Specialists in this situation can only pick up special tools that slightly eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of pathology. Doctors advise patients with such an activity to change it to a safer one and then proceed with the treatment of actinic cheilitis.
If we talk about treatment with medications, then most of the attention is paid to taking various vitamin complexes to strengthen the immune system and the body as a whole. To achieve better treatment results, you can take a course of using corticosteroids or use ointments based on them.
Vitamins of group B are rubbed into the lips affected by the disease , as well as vitamin A in liquid form. Good results can be obtained using traditional medicine. For example, rinse the oral cavity with decoctions of medicinal herbs. It is worth noting that it is important to consult your doctor about this issue so that there are no complications. When the causes of actinic cheilitis are known, treatment is prescribed individually for each patient.
Disease prevention
If we talk about prevention, then most of the attention is paid to the fact that a person should spend as little time as possible in direct sunlight. In order to slightly alleviate the symptoms of the disease, it is always necessary to use special ointments, creams with photoprotection. They perfectly reflect ultraviolet rays, so the risk of developing exacerbation of actinic cheilitis is reduced several times.
This is a very unpleasant disease that causes severe discomfort. If you have a predisposition to this pathology, then you should do everything possible to at least eliminate the symptoms that cause discomfort, because it is not currently possible to completely cure the problem.
You should contact a specialist for help immediately after you notice the first signs of an allergic reaction to ultraviolet rays, so that treatment can be started as soon as possible and the pathology will not degenerate into oncology.
Forecast
The prognosis for recovery is quite favorable, especially if treatment is started on time. If the pathology has an exudative form, then the risk of a malignant tumor is almost zero. In the case of a dry form of the disease, the risk of degeneration of the pathology into a malignant form, as well as the appearance of oncology on the lower lip, is significantly higher.