Each mother once wondered, “Why does a child's lips crack and what to do in this case?” At first glance, the problem is insignificant, but it causes a lot of inconvenience. The child becomes irritable, tearful, sleeps poorly, is naughty. Wounds on the lips must be treated in a timely manner, otherwise the problem may become more acute.
The causes of cracking on the lips are not so many, and in the article we will consider the most basic ones. Etiology can be either harmless or hide pathological causes. So why do lips crack in children? We will deal with this issue.
Skin features in children
In children, the skin is very different from adults. She is too tender and vulnerable. In the first years of life, the sweat glands are not fully developed, therefore, the child gives away excess heat through pulmonary respiration. Moreover, if the baby breathes too much air in a room where it is always hot, the load on the sweat glands increases greatly, and the skin begins to suffer. In a perfectly dry form, the baby practically does not have skin, this is due to the saturation of lipids (this is an innate feature). All chemicals destroy this lipid barrier, so various irritations often occur. Dry skin can also occur with some health problems.
The skin on the lips of children is also very delicate and thin, so wounds and cracks often form on it.
Why does a child's lips crack
The main cause of this problem is dry lips. There are no sebaceous glands, and any lack of moisture immediately affects the thin skin. If a child's lips crack, the reasons may be as follows:
- Weather conditions: dry air in summer and cold in winter. Heat or wind adversely affects the healing rate of skin lesions.
- If the baby consumes little water. Children are very active, they metabolize at an accelerated rate, and if there is not enough fluid, dehydration immediately affects the thin skin of the lips, in which there are no sebaceous glands.
- The body lacks vitamins A and E. The skin at the same time loses its elasticity, becomes thinner, lips dry, cracks appear. If they are not healed on time, the condition will worsen. It will hurt the child to smile, speak, and even just open his mouth.
- If the baby breathes more often with his mouth than with his nose, his lips on the street are weathered instantly, especially in winter. In the absence of a runny nose of parents, this should alert. Be sure to contact the ENT. The cause may be a curved nasal septum or adenoids.
- The kid often licks, bites his lips. This leads to their weathering. Sponges can also wind up if a child drinks or eats something outdoors in winter.
- Allergy.
- Herpes.
- Increased stress, fatigue, stress.
- Side effect of drugs.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Treatment
If the reason why children crack their lips is because of the weather, be sure to start using lip balms and hygienic lipsticks. Choose products that contain vitamins.
Various fatty creams that do not contain water, as well as regular petroleum jelly, will help to cope with this problem. Often pediatricians recommend using the cream "Lifeguard" or "Bepanten."
Means of TM "La Cree" were developed specifically for the smallest consumers. The composition excludes perfumes and dyes, includes only hypoallergenic, natural ingredients. The daily care balm will help soften and heal small wounds and cracks. The cream promotes accelerated cell regeneration. La Cree is safe for babies, even if they lick it off their lips.
If a child's lips crack to blood and crusts form, in no case do not rip them off, and do not let the baby do this. Thus, the infection can penetrate the body very quickly, while the sores will spread even more. Wound healing agents must be applied to places of irritation.
If relief does not occur for a long time, you need to show the child to a specialist. He will help determine the cause and prescribe the necessary medicines.
Proper care
If the lips crack in children, proper care is necessary. It will help to cope with the problem. The main points include the following points:
- When cracks are formed, strict hygiene is required. Wounds should always be clean. Do not allow the baby to bite his lips, touch them with his hands. If infection gets, the wound may fester.
- Honey can be used to treat cracked lips . Spread a mouth on them for the baby at night. At first, honey can cause tingling, so you can do this while the baby is sleeping, so he will not feel anything.
- Older children can already control themselves and not lick funds from the lips. Ointments and creams can be used.
- Constantly replenish the lack of vitamins. You can use them in the form of tablets, as well as topically. Buy vitamins capsules and treat them with the skin on the baby’s lips.
- Keep track of the emotional state of children. Permanent cracking on the lips can indicate frequent stresses, fears and stresses on the body.
- Pay attention to how much fluid your child consumes. It is best to drink clean water. In order not to irritate the lips once again, you can use a straw.
- Use hygienic lipsticks, balms, various oils (sea buckthorn, castor, olive).
Prevention
To prevent lips from cracking in children, observe preventive measures. Simple recommendations will help protect baby's delicate skin.
- Encourage children from an early age to use hygienic lipsticks.
- On a personal example, show that you can not bite, lick your lips. Explain why.
- Humidify the air in the room, increase the amount of liquid for drinking, especially during an illness.
- Strengthen the immune system.
- The main thing is to immediately begin treatment for dry lips, do not bring the condition to the appearance of cracks.
Folk remedies
On cracked lips in children, so-called jams often form on the sides. Traditional healers recommend treating them with earwax. Lubricate the wounds more often, very quickly everything will pass.
One of the main folk remedies is sea buckthorn oil. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Dampen the cotton wool with the product and apply it on the lips. The procedure must be repeated several times a day.
A good remedy for dry lips is a composition of fresh butter and honey. Apply it several times a day.
The pine buds need to be placed in a jar (fill the container halfway). Pour them with vegetable oil. Insist means should be 2-3 weeks. The oil needs to be filtered and lubricated with wounds on the lips until it heals. Also, this remedy helps with a runny nose and sore throat.
As soon as your lips begin to dry, grease them with goose or pork fat, and you can use fresh butter.