Chapped lips

Chapped lips
Chapped lips
Classification and external resources

Chapped lips
ICD-10 K13.0
ICD-9 528.5

Chapped lips or Cracked lips is a condition whereby the lips become dry and possibly cracked. It may be caused by the evaporation of moisture. Often the lips become dry because the layer of oil that is naturally produced by the body to coat the lips is removed or is lacking. Causes vary, but the most common cause of chapped lips is due to cold weather conditions.

Contents

Symptoms

Erythema around the lips (in this case seen mainly above) - a common concomitant symptom in chapped lips.

Symptoms of chapped lips may include the lips being dry, red and swollen, small cracks, and peeling of the skin on the lips. If the skin on chapped lips becomes extremely dry, stretching of the lips may cause large cracks, which may be painful and/or bleed.

Cause

The main cause of this problem is the absence of moisture from the lips, which can make them dry out very quickly, leaving them chapped. This happens often in the winter season when the air is dry. Lips normally have a very thin oily film on their surface that provides natural protection against moisture loss. However, in some cases, this film is removed, sometimes due to excessive licking habits, and this causes the lips to become chapped.

Treatments

Lip balm can provide temporary relief. It is often believed that petroleum jelly can heal chapped lips, however it only aids in preventing moisture loss, but does not repair or penetrate the lips. Medical grade (USP) lanolin accelerates repair of lips [1] and is used in some lip repair products. Certain enzymes present in saliva (normally used for digestion) irritate the lips, and the evaporation of the water in saliva saps moisture from them. [2] For these reasons, licking one's lips should be avoided. Honey has antibacterial properties which can help heal and soothe chapped lips.[3] Nasal sebum may also be used as a remedy.[4] Acidic drinks such as orange juice further irritate chapped lips and consumption of acidic drinks is advised against.[citation needed]

See also

  • Angular cheilitis — a more severe condition involving an infection and deep cracking around the mouth.

References

  1. ^ "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology", Volume 56 , Issue 2 , Pages AB94 - AB94
  2. ^ http://www.dermadoctor.com/article_Chapped-Lips_185.html
  3. ^ "Parrsskincare http://www.parrsskincare.com/manuka-honey-skincare.cfm
  4. ^ Tkac, Deborah (1990). The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies: Thousands of Tips and Techniques Anyone Can Use to Heal Everyday Health Problems (Hardcover). Rodale, 134. ISBN 0878578730.
v · d · eOral pathology: Stomatognathic disease (K06, K11–K14, 523, 527–529)
Vestibule of mouth
Cheilitis (Angular, Actinic) · Herpes labialis · Plasma cell cheilitis · Cheilitis granulomatosa · Chapped lips
Cheilitis exfoliativa · Cheilitis glandularis · Allergic contact cheilitis
Drug-induced ulcer of the lip · Epidermization of the lip
Oral cavity proper
Hard, soft,
and periapical tissues
gingival disease: Gingivitis (Desquamative gingivitis), Pericoronitis, Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, Noma, Epulis · Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Salivary glands
Tongue
General
To be grouped
from derm
Acquired dyskeratotic leukoplakia · Angina bullosa haemorrhagica · Behçet syndrome · Cutaneous sinus of dental origin · Cyclic neutropenia · Epulis fissuratum · Eruptive lingual papillitis · Melanocytic oral lesion · Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome · Mucosal lichen planus · Oral Crohn's disease · Oral florid papillomatosis · Oral melanosis · Plasmoacanthoma · Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia · Pyogenic granuloma · Pyostomatitis vegetans · Recurrent intraoral herpes simplex infection · Stomatitis nicotina · Trumpeter's wart · Vestibular papillomatosis

M: MOU

anat/devp

noco/cofa(c)/cogi/tumr, sysi

proc (peri), drug (A1)

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chapped lips — Dry, cracked or sore lips, usually in cold, windy, dry weather and less often in warm weather. Sun exposure can contribute to chapping of the lips. Licking or biting the lips does not help the situation. The lips are more sensitive to chapping… …   Medical dictionary

  • Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry — Single by Relient K from the album Two Lefts Don t Make a Right...but Three Do Released 2003 Format CD …   Wikipedia

  • chapped — [tʃæpt] adj [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: chap to chop, crack open (14 21 centuries)] chapped lips or hands are sore, dry, and cracked, especially as a result of cold weather or wind >chap v [T] …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • chapped — adjective dry and flaky due to excessive evaporation of water from its surface For chapped lips, or chapped nipples, the tincture of catechu, or benjamin, ... / For severely chapped hands or face, the oxide of zinc ointment or camphor …   Wiktionary

  • chapped — adjective chapped lips or hands are sore, dry, and cracked, especially as a result of cold weather or wind chap verb (T) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • chapped — adjective used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure chapped lips • Syn: ↑cracked, ↑roughened • Similar to: ↑rough, ↑unsmooth …   Useful english dictionary

  • chapped — [ tʃæpt ] adjective chapped skin or lips are dry and painful, especially because of cold weather …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • chapped — UK [tʃæpt] / US adjective chapped skin or lips are dry and painful, especially because of cold weather …   English dictionary

  • Lip — Infobox Anatomy Name = Lip Latin = labia oris GraySubject = GrayPage = Caption = Female lips Precursor = System = |non visible organ Artery = inferior labial, superior labial Vein = inferior labial, superior labial Nerve = frontal, infraorbital… …   Wikipedia

  • Mouth ulcer — Oral ulcer Classification and external resources Aphthous ulcer on the lower lip ICD 9 528.9 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”