Lips are one of the most aesthetically beautiful parts of the body, and as they say, the more beautiful, the more careful u ought to be! Lips are very delicate. It requires special attention and care in order to keep them away from harm. There are various adverse conditions that cause damage on our skin. Basically, lips are devoid of any sweat or moisture glands that are protective and a nourishing source for skin. This is why they tend to become drier and further unmanageable. Changing weathers make lips and skin all the more moisture starved. Be it dropping temperatures or increasing mercury with harmful rays; both are devastating for delicate skin membrane. Burning, chapped, peeling lips are a frequent problem in extreme climates. Regrettably, a lot of people add to the trouble by continuously licking their lips to alleviate the dryness which can direct to a condition known as lip licking dermatitis or lip licker's dermatitis.
What is Lip Licker's Dermatitis?
Now the question that arises is that what exactly is lip licking dermatitis? Actually, when the lips are exposed to extreme temperatures say very cold or very hot and penetrating, particularly dry and irritable winds, they become very dry and flaky, heading towards chapping. When this happens eventually there's a very likely yet unconscious inclination for an individual to lick one's lips to ease the extreme and irritable dryness. Unfortunately, revealing already burning, chapped lips to saliva only deteriorates the condition to worse- taking it to a vicious circle of lip licking, dryness, redness, and chapping. This problem is particularly frequent among children and it can be difficult to break this lip licking habit if proper steps aren't followed in proper time.
Basically, lip licking dermatitis is aggravated by licking the lips since the moisture from the saliva dries out the lips even further which ones virtually thinks is a moistening act. And this condition ultimately leads to further dryness, chapping, and scaling which can widen outside the lip area too. The redness and skin irritation thus keeps on spreading which might even lead to fungal or bacterial infection which is prone to saliva ridden areas. Lip licking commonly occurs in the ones with a depressive or anxiety problem. Aggravating stress can make the habit increase making it all the more tough to give it a break.
How to Treat Lip Licking Dermatitis?
As far as lip licking dermatitis is concerned, we have by now understood that it is a habit. Now it is clear as well as expected that it is significant to stop the lip licking tendency because the dryness and irritation would not get healed until the regular lip licking ceases. Also, an emollient is a very important source that needs to be repeatedly applied on the affected areas around the lip as well as on the lips, in say every few hours. That's because this would not just heal the dryness, redness and itchiness, but would also keep the instinct of pulling out your tongue suppressed providing lubrication and moisture cover on the affected areas. Petroleum jellies and for that matter even shea butter with aloe vera extracts are helpful for this purpose. But we have to very attentively understand and find out if this lip licking dermatitis is because of stress or not. As in case of stress, just emollients may not be ample and some very important measures have to be followed for managing stress levels including consulting your medical practitioner.
If lip licking dermatitis does not gets healed after a particular span of time, a skin specialist or a dermatologist has to be quickly taken advice from since burning, chapped and flaky lips may have other causes too. There have been cases that have been found out where the problem of lip licking dermatitis is so severe that the applicants and the creams have to be steroid based in order to get hold of the unbearable inflammation that affects the lips and the areas around the mouth. But as these are strong and very active, these have to be attentively used and only as the last option.
How to Prevent Lip Licker's Dermatitis
To prevent lip licking dermatitis in the extreme weather conditions and dry winds, the practice has to be totally under control and for the same, follow some quick following steps:
- In such weathers, wear a light layer of unflavoured, unscented and preferably a natural based lip balm especially when you go out.
- Always drink a lot of water so that you are hydrated and do not feel dryness.
- Take complete sleep cycles to avoid stress.
- Do not wear tempting fragranced and flavoured or sugary lip balms or other products so that you don't stick out your tongue getting attracted to the taste.
- Avoid using many cosmetics.
- Exfoliate and clean your lips alertly.
- Do apply proper spf sunscreen.
- Milk, milk cream, homemade butter and lip packs are best and most healing.
What is Expected Time for Results?
The time to get lip licking dermatitis healed totally depends on its stage. If the stage is initial, emolliates would eventually work, but if the condition is worse, stress management as well as proper medication is required which can take ample time.
Any Side Effects of These Home Remedies
Home remedies like shea butter, coconut or olive oil or other moisturising and exfoliation steps are not at all dangerous. But do take care of your allergies and do not scrub or exfoliate harshly in case of already dried and chapped lips.
A habit can be controlled with a strong will power and good lifestyle. Meditation is also very helpful in order to manage stress and divert from ill habits. We all love to possess beautiful lips and for the same, we have to control the habit of constant lip licking.
Want to know more treatments for Lip Licking Dermatitis? Read this article at Consumerhealthdigest.com-Lip Licking Dermatitis where it tackles about all the important points regarding causes, symptoms, treatments and prevention of Lip Licking...
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Add a Comment3 Comments
I have had this problem between my 12th and 30th years. Terrible pain, difficulty to speak and eat. This was what I had to go through. I used to suffer for one whole month every year.
November 25, 2016 - 10:57amThe lip and surrounding areas used to be so red that people who saw me used to think that I had lip above a lip since it used to look that red.
Petroleum jelly application helped me the most. Coconut oil used to make things difficult for me. I had this Himalaya lip balm with carrot seed oil in it, that actually gave best results.
I Have never had this problem come back in many years now.
This Comment
My daughter has severe eczema, and treating her skin was one issue. Now, she has the habit of licking her lips. Her lips are now so bad it pains me to tears to not be able to help her. Using steroid cream is a last option but I'm afraid of that because she's only four years old. The other day, right before bath time, I looked at her and thought she was sticking her tongue out at me. What I find instead, was broke skin under her lip to where she liked them so much it was a patch of blood under her lip. Tips like drinking water to keep hydrated really helps. Also, the use of Shea Butter with Aloe Vera was another helpful tip.
June 19, 2015 - 12:42amThis Comment
Hi jazz,
This is great information and tips for many with this habit.
Best,
Daisy
May 16, 2014 - 5:53amThis Comment