Cheilitis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!
Cheilitis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments that we should know. In addition, cheilitis (or cheilitis) are inflammatory processes of the lips caused by several factors. Those processes that are concomitant and due to systemic conditions, such as lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, pemphigus and syphilis, are excluded from the designation of cheilitis .
It may present as peeling, erosion, or swelling of the lips. The various types of cheilitis are actinic, glandular, contact, angular, among others. Angular cheilitis is the most common condition among the various forms of cheilitis , located in the buccal commissure (corner of the mouth). Normally, it is that small fissure at the angle where the upper and lower lips meet that makes it difficult to open the mouth and that if we open it a little more it bleeds and burns.
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Causes of Cheilitis: It is an inflammatory process of the lips caused by several factors, check out some of the causes of Cheilitis:
Actinic cheilitis: It is caused by continuous exposure to the sun, which can develop into cancer. It is more common in white men, over 40 years old, and is caused by continuous exposure to the sun, which can progress to cancer.
Glandular Cheilitis: It can be obtained by genetic, emotional causes and accompanying periodontal disease .
Contact Cheilitis: It arises due to substances that come into contact with the lips such as toothpaste, makeup, lipstick, food and musical instruments or other objects taken to the mouth in a compulsive way.
Angular or Mouthful Cheilitis: It can be caused by bacteria , fungi, allergic genetic constitution, nutritional changes and other factors. This type of cheilitis may have the accumulation of saliva in the corner of the mouth as the main triggering factor, facilitating wound contamination.
Among the risk factors, we can mention: aging, absence of teeth, use of dental appliances, use of ill-fitting dentures, oral candidiasis, allergy to dental products and poor oral hygiene. It is common in people with ill-fitting dentures.
Symptoms: Regardless of which form the patient has, they all imply lesions on the lips, however, each of them has its own particularities.
Actinic cheilitis: exclusively affects the lower lip , the wound becomes red and loses its delimitation with the skin. The area peels off and becomes rough and dry.
Angular cheilitis: local pain and burning, swelling, redness , peeling and local cracking that extends into the skin.
Contact cheilitis: it usually happens along the entire lip extension. It forms small bubbles filled with liquid.
How to Prevent: Preventive measures include applying lip sunscreens, suppressing the habit of putting objects in the mouth and biting or licking the lips, cleaning and disinfecting dentures.
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In angular cheilitis , there is a need to eliminate the triggering factors of the manifestation, which may require the fight against the infectious agent with topical antimicrobials, the adequacy of the dental prosthesis , the treatment of nutritional deficiency with supplements and the correction of the mechanical problem.