Eczema On Lips: Causes, Treatment Options, & Prevention Tips

Eczema on the lips, also known as eczematous cheilitis or lip dermatitis, can be irritating and uncomfortable. This condition may cause inflammation, redness, scaling, and dryness, leaving the lips irritated (1). You might have to keep hydrating your lips to manage this condition and prevent dry skin and a lip rash. Read this article to know more about eczema on lips, its causes, and treatment options.

What Is Eczematous Cheilitis

Eczematous cheilitis is an inflammatory skin condition that affects the lips and causes scaling, redness, and dryness. It can be of two types (2):

• Endogenous: This type of eczematous dermatitis is caused by endogenous factors like gene mutation or loss of plasticity. Atopic dermatitis is a common example of endogenous eczematous cheilitis.
• Exogenous: This is caused by factors outside the body. Exogenous eczematous cheilitis is of two types: irritant and allergic. Irritant contact cheilitis is caused due to lip licking, cosmetics, foods, and other environmental issues. Allergic contact cheilitis is caused by allergens that may be present in dental products, medications, food, and lip products. Keep scrolling to learn the most common risk factors of eczematous cheilitis.

Trivia

Crusting and edema are some of the characteristics of exogenous eczematous cheilitis.

Causes And Risk Factors

1. Allergic Reactions

Allergens found in lipsticks, oral hygiene products like toothpaste, foods, ointment bases, fragrances, preservatives, antioxidants, and dyes may trigger eczematous cheilitis. Objects like dental materials, musical or occupational instruments, metals, leather objects that come in contact with your lips may also cause allergic reactions (3).

Did You Know?

Food items like crustaceans and eggs are known to be some of the triggering factors of eczema on lips (8).

2. Medication

Some medications like topical antibiotics, virostatic agents, disinfectants, and local anesthetics may also cause allergic reactions and irritate the lips.

3. Gene Mutation

Eczema is caused due to a mutation to a gene called filaggrin that is responsible for skin cell maturity and forming tough corneocytes (dead skin).

A mutation in this gene causes skin barrier dysfunction, leading to water loss, scaling, itching, and dryness (4).

4. Skin Deterioration

Loss of lip plasticity (lip thinning) and delayed hypersensitivity may also cause eczematous cheilitis. In addition, the condition reduces the number of beta-defenses (skin’s primary defense system) in the skin, which makes it prone to infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi (2), (4).

5. Family History

If you have a history of eczema in your family, you may also develop the condition.

Eczema on the lips may also be caused as a reaction to other conditions like atopic cheilitis, irritant contact cheilitis, and allergic cheilitis. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for.

Symptoms

The common symptoms of lip dermatitis or eczematous cheilitis are (3), (4), (5):

• Dryness
• Scaling
• Erythema (redness)
• Fissuring (splits or cracks with and without bleeding)
• Itching
• Boils
• Blisters
• Swelling
• Rashes

In a few cases, you may also notice lip discoloration. Scratching the affected area continuously may also lead to the thickening of the skin. If you notice any of these symptoms on your lips, consult a dermatologist. There are a few treatment options that your doctor may recommend.

Treatment Options

Treatment for eczema focuses on hydration and anti-inflammatory medication to calm flare-ups. It mainly centers around maintaining a daily skin moisturizing regimen paired with a fragrance-free ointment. The doctor may recommend (4):

• Topical ointments for hydration
• Topical anti-inflammatory medications like steroids
• Steroid-free products like pimecrolimus, tacrolimus, or Eucrisa
• Oral antihistamines

If you have a history of allergies, the doctor might do a patch or allergy test to identify potential triggers. They may ask you to stay away from harsh detergents, soaps, and products that may contain allergens like artificial dyes, fragrances, and preservatives.

The doctor may recommend a prick test. To do it, they may put a drop of allergen solution on your arm and prick the skin to let it enter. They will check the area after half an hour for any adverse reactions.

Apart from these treatment options, you also may try out a few home remedies to help minimize the symptoms of eczema on your lips.

Natural Remedies For Eczema On Lips

• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is an essential oil for eczema. Its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties can relieve dryness and itching (6).
• Honey: It works as a natural humectant and an antimicrobial agent and soothes and hydrates the skin to prevent infections (7).
• Aloe Vera: Its anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties help calm irritated skin and promote healing (8).
• Shea Butter: It is rich in vitamins and fatty acids that offer deep moisturization (9).
• Chamomile: Applying chamomile tea or oil can reduce inflammation and soothe the lips (10).
• Calendula: Calendula, extracted from marigold flowers, has anti-inflammatory and healing properties and may help treat eczema (11).

Ully, a YouTuber, shared her journey of overcoming a persistent issue with lip eczema. She used castor oil, which helped her lips a lot. She said, “After this, sort of the six-seven-month mark, my lips healed almost completely. They might have been a little bit dry here and there, but honestly, (they are) pretty much completely healed (i).”

Always perform a patch test while trying new remedies to avoid potential allergic reactions. Seek medical advice for severe or persistent cases.

Here are some preventative measures you can take to minimize the eczematous flare-ups on the lips.

Prevention Tips

1. Do a patch test before using any product to avoid allergic reactions.
2. Apply a lip balm or moisturizer to your lips to soothe dryness.
3. Do not scratch or rub your lips.
4. Do not put any random objects in your mouth. They may contain allergens and bacteria that may worsen the symptoms.
5. Do not pull the dry flakes from your lips.

Eczema On Lips: Triggers And Risk Factors

Eczema does not have a cure, but you can treat the symptoms with proper medicine and moisturization. Also, if you know what triggers the flare-ups, it will be easier to treat and avoid the condition to a great extent. Knowing whether you are predisposed to getting eczema may also help you prevent it.

Check out the infographic below to learn some of the common triggers and risk factors of eczema on lips.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vaseline good for eczema on lips?

Yes. Vaseline works great for eczema on lips (12). It helps moisturize and soothe irritated lips, relieve discomfort, and combat severe cracking of delicate skin.

Is lip eczema contagious?

No. Lip eczema is not contagious.

Is aloe vera good for eczema on lips?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the soothing and healing properties of aloe vera work well for eczema on lips. However, limited data is available to prove these claims.

Does tea tree oil help with eczema on lips?

Yes. Tea tree is better known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, and it has been found effective in treating eczema (13). Hence, you can use it to treat eczema on the lips.

Is olive oil good for eczema on the lips?

No. The low linoleic and oleic acid ratio in olive oil can damage the skin barrier and aggravate the eczema.

Illustration: Eczema On Lips: Causes Treatment Options & Prevention Tips

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

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