Dry lips due to cold | Dry lips for babies

Dry lips due to cold

When a cold occurs, the mucous membranes are generally irritated and accompanying symptoms such as increased sweating or a runny nose are a source of fluid loss. Dry lips can also occur in this context, but are not directly related to the cold. It is important here, also with regard to the common cold, to ensure a sufficient supply of fluids and, in the case of dry lips, to provide additional care. For this purpose, the same care products as usual can be considered as long as they are well tolerated by babies.

Prognosis and prevention

As a rule, dry lips have a rather good prognosis in both adults and babies and, with adequate treatment, they also recede rapidly. The earlier the signs are recognized and the better the lips are cared for, the shorter the time for the symptoms to recede. If, on the other hand, one waits for the full picture with tears or peeling, the treatment may take a little longer. Here too, however, a good healing tendency can usually be expected. If you have a known predisposition to dry lips, you can of course take care products in advance to provide your lips with an adequate moisture depot, especially in the cold season.

Therapy

If dehydration is the reason for dry lips, an attempt should be made to rebalance the child’s fluid balance. The lips will then regenerate over time. Just as important as skin care for babies is the care of the lips.

Depending on how dry the baby is, it may be advisable to supply the child with fluid via the vein. Furthermore, the baby should be offered drinking as often as possible, in the form of breast milk via the breast, but also with the help of a bottle or a teaspoon. If the baby suffers from painful swallowing difficulties, light pain-relieving medication can help.

If the baby has a tendency to dry lips or if these are due to the cold winter weather and the heating air, high-fat, perfume-free, neutral creams, preferably from the pharmacy, can provide relief. Here one should be advised, since the small children like to lick the lip protection and one should be sure before that this is harmless for the baby. Who would like itself to try first at household remedies, can apply milking fat, olive oil, calendula ointment or Vaseline on the damaged lips.

For babies who are still being breastfed, applied breast milk can also help to moisten and heal the lips. Honey is not suitable as a household remedy for dry lips in children under one year of age, as it may contain bacterial spores that the baby’s immune system is not yet able to fight.