Usually in the winter season, we experience dry, chapped lips due to low humidity, cold temperatures, and harsh winds that strip the skin's natural moisture and reduce blood flow to the lips. But what when you have chapped lips throughout the year? In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Anusree Gangopadhyay, Consultant Dermatology, Fortis Anandapur, Kolkata, calls it cheilitis and discusses the many causes behind it, one of which includes nutrient deficiencies.
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Types Of Cheilitis
Cheilitis can be of many types, according to Dr Gangopadhyay. These include:
- Angular/infective cheilitis, which commonly appear in diabetic patients or due to the over intake of vitamin A
- Contact/eczematous cheilitis is an inflammatory lip reactions mainly caused by allergy post usage of cosmetics
- Actinic is damage in the lower lip due to overexposure to ultraviolet rays
- Glandular refers to a rare chronic inflammatory condition caused by smoking, and poor oral hygiene)
- Simplex is irritation in the lower lip due to bacterial infections
The most common cheilitis types were cheilitis simplex and eczematous cheilitis (28.5%); herpetic cheilitis (16.9%); and exfoliative and angular cheilitis (7.7%), according to a study published in the Journal Oral Diseases suggests.
The doctor says, “Cheilitis or chapped lips is another term for lip inflammation. The disease can be a part of certain other serious health issues (anaemia or iron deficiency) or an isolated one, or due to herpes or oral candidiasis. Cheilitis causes a mild pain, soreness, swelling or even itch in the lips.”
Most Common Causes Of Cheilitis
Most incidences of cheilitis are caused by nutritional deficiencies. These include:
- Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin), found in eggs, leafy vegetables and nuts, keeps the hair, nails and lips healthy, a deficiency of which may lead to sore lips
- Vitamin B-3 (niacin), found in whole grains, fish, meat, and dairy products, whose lack leads to cracked lips and mouth
- Likewise, meat, fish, legumes, green leafy vegetables are also rich in vitamin B-6 and B-12, deficiency of which may lead to mouth cracks or even dermatitis
- Vitamin B9 deficiency can also lead to inflamed lips, and cause major liver problems.
Along with this, dry or chapped lips can also be caused by:
- Lack of enough iron in body
- Deficiency of zinc
- Not enough water intake
- Too much intake of vitamin A
- Lack of vitamin C
Prevention And Treatment
To prevent chapped lips, Dr Gangopadhyay recommends having diets rich in vitamin B group, iron, zinc and vitamin C. It is also important to supply an adequate amount of moisture to the lips. Hence, staying hydrated, using lip balms, coconut oil, beeswax, and honey is advisable, she shares.
“Chapped lips, when too painful, can be cured within days or weeks using the vitamin, iron and zinc supplements prescribed by the doctor, but it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention for proper diagnosis of the type of cheilitis and its treatment if the problem persists,” she concludes.