Introduction
Dry lips can occur in babies as in adults and have various causes. On the one hand, it can of course be that the baby does not take in enough liquid and this can be noticeable on the lips. But also genetic predisposition, dry room air or very cold climate can promote dry lips. It should be noted that not every household remedy should be used safely on babies, as they may still have an immature immune system and the mouth in particular is a potential entry point for hazardous substances.
Causes
Some babies suffer from dry skin and dry lips since birth. This can be genetically determined, insofar as dry skin is also known to the parents, but it can also occur without a medically apparent reason, even a few weeks after birth. Also in the cold season or after colds, children, just like adults, suffer particularly often from dry lips and dry skin.
Nevertheless, it makes sense to have this abnormality clarified by a doctor, especially if the condition worsens and the lips even tear or are about to tear, as it can be an indication that the baby is not drinking enough fluids and is dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration, also known as dehydration, include sunken eye sockets, less than six wet diapers in a day, a sunken fontanel, dark yellow urine and limpness. You may also notice that the child is drinking poorly. If the baby is bottle-fed, it is advisable to keep a record of how much food the baby has eaten per meal and how often. If dehydration has been identified as the cause of dry lips, it will be further discussed whether the child is dehydrated or loses too much fluid, for example as a result of diarrhoea, vomiting and/or fever.
Associated symptoms
If the lips are very dry, small tears can form under certain circumstances, which can also bleed. Also mouth corner rhagades, i.e. tears at the corners of the mouth, are typical for dry lips. If the baby has a lack of fluid and is dehydrated, the eye sockets can also darken and sink in in addition to dry lips and the urine can become less and darker. If these symptoms occur, it can be assumed that the lack of fluid is already advanced and a visit to the doctor is urgently recommended.
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