What is it?
A type of skin inflammation around the lips due to saliva from repetitive lip licking.
- The resulting scaling, redness, chapping and crusting make a well-defined ring around the lips.
- The rash may extend as far as the tongue can reach and frequently spares the angle of the mouth.
Cause
- Repeated licking resulting in a cycle of wetting and drying
- Persistent and continuous respiratory condition from the mouth which may cause dry lips and result in the temptation to repeatedly lick the lips with the aim to keep them moist.
- Lip chewing
- Thumb sucking
- Excessive drooling
- Wind instrument players i.e. trumpet saxophone, flute
- Compulsive licking of lips due to stress and anxiety and other psychological disorders.
- Epilepsy
Syndromes
Treatments
Anti-astringent
(zinc oxide, titanium oxide, calamine)
- These ingredients help to absorb moisture and hence reduce the rash.
Imidazoles cream
(Anti fungal agents)
- These work by disrupting the fungal cells (they break down the wall of the yeast cell, the cell membrane by stop producing a product called ergosterol).
- They also have antibacterial properties and are useful if a bacterial infection has occurred in a yeast infection and can be used on large areas.
- To be effective use it according to the length the manufacturer states.
- Please note miconazole containing products can interact with warfarin.
Antiseptic Agents
(Cetrimide, Benzalkonium)
- These help to keep the skin clean and prevent secondary bacterial infection.
Vitamin B5
- Vitamin B5 helps to repair damaged skin.
Barrier creams
(dimethicone)
- These protect the skin by forming a water repellent layer.
Creams
- Creams hydrate the skin like emollients and prevent water evaporating from the skin.
Some creams are also used as soap substitutes.
- They should be used liberally and regularly (four to six times daily). It is not unusual to use 250g-600g of cream each week. Most people believe that is too much, but it is not.
- One should take a tub to school/work and it can be used all the body if required and not just on patches. Again it should be used even if one has no flare-ups.
- A good tip is to warm cream with hands to make it easier to apply.
- It should be used especially after one has had a bath or shower to lock water in the skin, since it is then one loses a lot of water from ones skin when drying oneself (ideally within three minutes of bathing and showering to ‘trap’ moisture).
- Rub the cream softly in a downward fashion in direction of hairline.
- Do not rub vigorously.
- If itching is a particular problem, creams can be kept cooled in a fridge before applying them.
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
This condition does not clear up easily until one stops sucking their lips and/or control and/or prevent other factors (see causes)
This condition can be have similar symptoms to:
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Irritant contact cheilitis (Lip Sucking) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
- NHS
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- Medscape
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- Pharmaceutical Journal
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- Healthline
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- Medical News Today
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- WebMD
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- Cleveland Clinic
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- Drugs.com
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- National Organisation of Rare Diseases
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- Verywell Health
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