Causes And Prevention of Itchy Lips: Here Are the Signals Your Body Is Sending to You

Here, board-certified dermatologist Y. Claire Chang, MD, of Union Square Laser Dermatology, discusses the most frequent causes of itchy lips as well as remedies for the condition.

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Cheilitis, often known as chapped lips, is a broad name for an inflammation of the lips that frequently manifests as redness, dryness, cracking, peeling, and itching, according to Dr. Chang.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can also suffer peeling, little pain, and ulcers on your lips and in your mouth.

According to Dr. Chang, a number of factors, such as persistent lip licking or an infection, can cause this frequent inflammatory lip disorder. Less often occurring causes of cheilitis include autoimmune diseases and nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B and iron deficiency.

‌Fix it‌: The underlying reason determines the course of treatment. For instance, your dermatologist may recommend an anti-fungal ointment to treat your itching if you have cheilitis caused by an infection.

Or, if you lick your lips, you can learn to control the behavior and employ topical barriers (like petroleum jelly and other emollients, i.e., substances that moisten and soften your skin). According to Dr. Chang, topical steroids can also aid in reducing inflammation.

The Cleveland Clinic lists the following other tried-and-true methods for curing chapped, irritated lips:

• Stay hydrated
• Use lip balm or ointment as needed throughout the day
• Apply lip balm with sunscreen when outdoors
• Keep foreign objects away from your mouth (pens, jewelry, metal objects, etc.)
• Use a humidifier

Lip-specific allergic contact cheilitis is a kind of allergic contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis, which is brought on by coming into contact with an irritating material or being allergic to it, manifests as an itchy, uncomfortable rash, according to the Mayo Clinic.

According to Dr. Chang, “this unpleasant lip condition can cause an eczema-like reaction on or around the lips,” resulting in dryness, scaling, and cracking.

According to Dr. Chang, typical irritants or allergy triggers include:

• Lipsticks, lip balms, and other cosmetics
• Toothpaste, mouthwash, and metals found in other dental materials/products
• Fragrances
• Preservatives
• Certain foods (for example, mango, citrus fruits and cinnamon)
• Certain medications

‌Fix it‌: According to Dr. Chang, the greatest preventative and treatment is to avoid the allergy or irritant. She advises talking to your doctor about patch testing so you can find your specific triggers.

Patch testing entails applying sticky patches to your skin that contain minute amounts of potential allergens. If you experience a skin reaction to a certain patch, it’s possible that something in the patch is triggering an allergic reaction.

According to Dr. Chang, you can get more rapid comfort by using topical steroids to your itchy lips in the interim.

What’s in your medicine cabinet may have anything to do with your irritated lips. Yes, some drugs can cause your lips to become irritated. Dr. Chang describes this condition as drug-related cheilitis.

Retinoids (including isotretinoin, acitretin, and etretinate), antiretroviral medications (such protease inhibitors like indinavir), lithium, and chemotherapy treatments are some of the usual offenders, according to her.

Fix it: If you think your medication is the cause of your itching lips, talk to your doctor who may change your dosage or give you a different prescription. Dr. Chang advises “regular use of topical emollients can help” if changing to a different medication is not an option.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic disorder that causes dry, itchy, and inflammatory skin. Additionally, it can appear anywhere on the body, even on the lips.

According to Dr. Chang, people who have atopic dermatitis may also develop atopic cheilitis. These patients frequently have a personal or family history of atopy, or a hereditary propensity to develop allergy disorders including eczema, hay fever, and asthma, according to the expert.

According to Dr. Chang, those who have eczema on their lips are also more likely to develop allergic or irritating contact cheilitis.

Fix it: Consult your dermatologist if your lips are affected by eczema. According to Dr. Chang, “treatment [typically] includes frequent emollient application and topical steroids.”

You might have an oral herpes outbreak if your lips are itching.

Herpes labialis often called cold sores or fever blisters, are lip lesions brought on by an infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV), according to Dr. Chang.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the virus that causes cold sores, herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), spreads through infected saliva or skin. It follows that kissing, sharing razors, lip balm, or eating utensils are ways to catch it.

According to Dr. Chang, cold sores often start as little red blisters and crusting on or around the lips. They are also accompanied by tingling, burning, or itching, which can start even before the blisters appear.

According to her, a few things can make fever blisters more common. These consist of:

• Recent fever or illness
• Fatigue
• Emotional stress
• Excessive sun exposure
• Menstruation
• Immune suppression

‌Fix it: Sadly, there is no treatment for herpes. Dr. Chang claims that after an HSV infection, the virus “remains dormant within the neurons and might be reactivated to cause repeated symptoms.”

However, there are ways to control breakouts better. Dr. Chang believes that early in the disease, oral antivirals might be used to shorten the duration and severity of cold sores. Symptom relief may also be provided by topical anesthetics.

Additionally, you might not even need any medications if you only have a mild case of fever blisters.

Your lips’ itching may be caused by a fungal infection.

According to Dr. Chang, a common oral yeast infection known as oral thrush or candidiasis is most frequently brought on by an overgrowth of the fungus candida Albicans.

According to the Mayo Clinic, candida fungus typically exists in your mouth without causing any issues. However, when your system is out of balance, it might promote unpleasant symptoms and fungal overgrowth.

Dr. Chang notes that oral thrush can cause the following problems within the mouth in addition to severe itching:

• Sensitivity or a burning sensation
• Whitish yellow, curd-like patches
• Red, inflamed areas

Dr. Chang continues, “A candida overgrowth can also result in angular cheilitis, which causes crusty, red, irritated regions in the corners of the mouth.

Oral thrush is more common in some persons. According to Dr. Chang, wearing dentures, being immunosuppressed, or using certain drugs (such as steroid inhalers, topical antibiotics, or steroid inhalers) all increase your risk for developing candidiasis.

Fix it: A dentist or doctor can identify candidiasis. Also, topical or oral antifungals may be used to treat oral thrush and angular cheilitis, according to Dr. Chang.

Hives are an itchy skin reaction that can appear anywhere on your body, including on your lips and mouth. According to Dr. Chang, there is usually a precise trigger for this itchy skin rash.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), the following are some of the most typical:

• Some foods (especially peanuts, eggs, nuts, and shellfish)
• Medications, such as antibiotics (especially penicillin and sulfa), aspirin, and ibuprofen
• Insect stings or bites
• Physical stimuli, such as pressure, cold, heat, exercise, or sun exposure
• Latex
• Blood transfusions
• Bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and strep throat
• Viral infections, including the common cold, infectious mononucleosis, and hepatitis
• Pet dander
• Pollen
• Some plants

Your immune system releases chemicals (like histamine) in response to certain triggers, which results in an itchy rash.

According to Dr. Chang, hives often persist for less than 24 hours and manifest as red, edematous, and itchy sores.

Also, according to Dr. Chang, hives can also cause angioedema, a swelling around the eyes, cheeks, lips, and tongue, in addition to itching. She continues, “Angioedema can impair or restrict breathing and may call for emergency care.”

Warning

Actinic cheilitis, another cause of itchy, inflamed lips, is brought on by prolonged, excessive sun exposure, according to Dr. Chang.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, your lips’ skin is more vulnerable to sun damage than other parts of your body since it is thinner and has less pigment than those in other locations. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some persons are more susceptible to developing actinic cheilitis than others, including those who have fair skin, work outdoors, are elderly, have albinism, or reside in an area with a strong sun.

Also, according to the Cleveland Clinic, even though it usually affects the lower lip, you can suffer one or both of the symptoms listed below in your lips:

While it typically affects the lower lip, you may experience the following symptoms in one or both lips, per the Cleveland Clinic:

• Dry, scaly or sandpaper-like skin
• Chapped, cracked, crusty skin
• White or yellow discolored patches of skin
• Swollen, thin or fragile skin
• Burning or numbness
• Pain, soreness, or tenderness

‌Fix it‌: According to the Cleveland Clinic, actinic cheilitis is regarded as a precancerous condition since it has the potential to progress into skin cancer squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, getting the right care is essential to avoiding cancer.

Visit your dermatologist frequently if you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms so that they can keep an eye out for any early cancer warning signals.

Actinic cheilitis can be treated with cryotherapy or topical chemotherapeutics to lower your risk of developing skin cancer, according to Dr. Chang.

Using topical emollients or moisturizers will frequently help you relieve irritated lips on your own. According to Dr. Chang, if these methods don’t work or if you experience any further related symptoms (such as swelling or bleeding), you should see a doctor to determine the cause and administer the proper treatment.