Cheilitis is an inflammatory disease of various possible forms. Treatment usually involves treating the cause.
What is cheilitis?
Cheilitis is an inflammation that affects the lips. In medicine, different forms of cheilitis are distinguished. These forms include, for example, the so-called cheilitis simplex (the most common form of inflammation) and cheilitis angularis. In the latter, the corners of the mouth are affected by inflammation. Cheilitis can occur as an independent disease or as a symptom of other diseases. The symptoms of cheilitis can be varied; for example, sufferers often experience redness and swelling of the lip. Corresponding swelling may be accompanied by scaling and/or painful tearing of the lip. Occasionally, cheilitis is also accompanied by the formation of blisters or so-called ulcerations – defects in the skin and mucous membrane that extend into deep layers of the skin.
Causes
Cheilitis can be caused by a variety of factors. First, inflammation of the lip may be caused by allergic reactions, for example – to food or cosmetics. Infections with pathogens such as viruses, bacteria or fungi can also result in cheilitis. If cheilitis is caused by deficiency symptoms, this is usually iron deficiency. Various agents in medications also occasionally result in cheilitis. Another factor that can promote the inflammatory disease on the lip is strong exposure to light; UV radiation in particular can cause damage to the lip. Last but not least, various tissue changes can also be hidden behind cheilitis. Possible tissue changes include, for example, tumors (growths) or so-called precancerous lesions (preliminary stages of cancer).
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
As a rule, very unpleasant symptoms occur with cheilitis. The affected person suffers from a strong inflammation, which occurs mainly on the lips, but can also spread to the face of the affected person. The lips are reddened and appear chapped or cracked. In many cases, cheilitis thus also has a negative effect on the aesthetics of the affected person and can significantly reduce them. Many patients therefore also suffer from depression and other psychological upsets. On the lips it can also come to the formation of small blisters, which are often associated with severe pain. If cheilitis occurs due to an allergy, patients usually also suffer from the other symptoms of this allergic reaction. Furthermore, cheilitis can lead to a deficiency of iron. The severity of the symptoms can vary greatly in this disease and does not always have to restrict the daily life of the affected person. Cheilitis can be treated relatively easily, with no particular complications or other discomfort. The application of creams or ointments directly relieves the discomfort.
Diagnosis and course
A diagnosis of the cause of existing cheilitis usually begins with a patient interview in which the affected person provides information on such points as the onset and previous duration of the inflammation. In combination with factors of the patient’s recent medical history, this can already give the treating physician initial indications of existing causes. If, for example, there is a suspicion that cheilitis has been caused by pathogens, this can be checked with the aid of a smear test on the affected tissue. Various pathogens can also be identified on the basis of a stool sample. Allergy tests can provide clues to cheilitis as a possible allergic reaction. An existing iron deficiency as the cause of cheilitis can be tested by a blood test. The course of cheilitis depends, among other things, on the causes of the inflammation and the medical measures that take place. If the cause of cheilitis can be clearly identified, the inflammation can be successfully controlled in many cases.
When should you go to the doctor?
Skin changes on the lips that do not recede after one week at the latest should be examined by a doctor and treated if necessary.If symptoms such as chapped or burning lips and lumps or growths at the corners of the mouth develop, immediate clarification is indicated. This is especially true if the symptoms cause disturbances in speech or food intake. Allergy sufferers, especially people with allergies to certain foods or cosmetics, should go to their family doctor with said complaints. If the condition remains untreated, it can cause permanent tissue damage in the worst case. In addition, it can lead to malnutrition and dehydration due to the impeded food intake. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor at the first sign of inflammation. He or she can determine whether cheilitis is present and then suggest a suitable therapy. Sometimes it is enough to change one’s lifestyle and to pay attention to a healthy diet and sufficient exercise. However, sometimes there are serious underlying causes of cheilitis that cannot be treated without medical help.
Treatment and therapy
Therapeutic steps in the treatment of cheilitis are primarily based on the causes of the inflammatory condition. If, for example, the cheilitis is based on an allergy to certain foods, the treating physician usually recommends a change in diet, in which corresponding components should be largely avoided. A change in diet is often also advisable if cheilitis is caused by iron deficiency; if an iron deficiency cannot be adequately compensated for by dietary intake in individual cases, the administration of dietary supplements may be advisable. If infections have led to cheilitis, a targeted fight against the corresponding pathogens usually takes place. If, for example, bacteria are responsible for a corresponding infection, such a fight can be carried out, among other things, by the local application of antibiotic ointments. If certain medications have led to the onset of cheilitis, the attending physician often changes the medication. Finally, if tissue changes are present in a patient as the cause of cheilitis, it may be advisable, for example, to surgically remove corresponding changes, depending on the medical assessment.
Outlook and prognosis
Cheilitis has a favorable prognosis. Patients with a healthy as well as stable immune system experience relief of symptoms a few days after drug treatment and subsequently cure of the disease. If there are no sequelae, the patient is discharged from therapy cured in a short time. In some cases, the cracks in the skin cause further discomfort to the skin or the invasion of additional pathogens. The good prognosis changes dramatically as soon as blood poisoning occurs. There is a danger to the patient’s life in these situations, which requires immediate action. For lasting freedom from symptoms, the cause of cheilitis must be diagnosed and treated. A deficiency of the organism can be treated and treated well. If an allergic reaction is present, the patient must permanently avoid the triggering stimulus. A change in food intake often leads to recovery. If the patient has an infection or other inflammation, it must be treated. Subsequently, the cheilitis can also heal. The weaker the affected person is and the more intense the underlying disease, the less favorable the prognosis. In the worst case, surgery is performed to remove the cheilitis. This treatment route is most often chosen in cases of tissue disease.
Prevention
Because possible causes of cheilitis are many, it is difficult to provide an all-encompassing prevention. However, the risk of cheilitis occurring can be reduced, for example, by avoiding/combating nutritional deficiencies. Strengthening the body’s immune system also helps prevent infections with pathogens that can subsequently cause cheilitis.
Follow-up
In most cases of cheilitis, only a few measures of direct aftercare are available to the patient. The further course of the disease depends very much on the exact cause of the disease, so the underlying disease must be treated first and foremost.The affected person should consult a doctor at the first signs of cheilitis in order to prevent further complications and discomfort, as self-healing is not possible. The treatment is usually carried out by taking medication. The patient should always ensure that the medication is taken regularly and in the correct dosage in order to alleviate the symptoms properly. In some cases, the diet must also be changed, whereby the doctor can also create a nutrition plan. Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet also has a positive effect on the course of cheilitis. In some cases, surgical interventions are also necessary, after which, however, no special aftercare is required. Whether cheilitis leads to a reduced life expectancy of the patient cannot be universally predicted in this context.
Here’s what you can do yourself
What patients can do themselves to treat chelitis depends on its trigger. In the case of systemic causes such as diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency or an insufficient supply of iron, the best means of self-help is regularly a change in lifestyle habits. Counterproductive factors are obesity, an unhealthy diet, little sleep and excessive consumption of alcohol and nicotine. On the other hand, a diet rich in vitamins and fiber, avoidance of meat and sausages and convenience products, and regular exercise in the fresh air have a beneficial effect. In case of a severe iron deficiency, the intake of dietary supplements is indicated. If cheilitis is an allergic reaction, the triggers must be identified and avoided. Fruit, especially conventionally grown, should always be well washed and preferably peeled, as pesticides used in agriculture are often responsible for allergic reactions in and around the mouth. Inflammation of the lips can also be caused by UV rays. In these cases, the lips must be treated with a sunscreen. For this purpose, lip care sticks with a sun protection factor are offered in stores. Blisters and ulcers should be dabbed regularly with alcohol, regardless of the trigger of the disorder, to prevent secondary infections. The same applies to rhagades of the corners of the mouth. These can be treated very well with medicated zinc ointment from the pharmacy or drugstore.
