Cheilitis causes painful cracked lips and can be caused by poor nutrition, allergies, or medication. It can be easily treated with supplements or by identifying and removing the cause. In rare cases, it may be a sign of a serious health condition.
As a medical condition often manifested by painfully cracked lips, cheilitis can be associated with a number of causes. In general, the inflammation of the lips that is common with cheilitis causes great discomfort. The good news is that cheilitis is often treated very easily and can be contained in a very short period of time.
There are several reasons why cheilitis can develop in an individual. One of the most common has to do with poor nutrition. A lack of proper amount of iron in the blood or a vitamin B12 deficiency can set the stage for cheilitis to develop. When there is evidence that the root cause of chapped lips stems from poor eating habits, adding vitamin supplements may help. However, the best long-term solution is to change your eating habits and incorporate foods that provide the minimum daily amount of iron and vitamin B12 on an ongoing basis.
Another potential cause of cheilitis is an allergic outbreak. Like any part of the body, the lips can be affected by the introduction of certain compounds into the body, skin or general environment. In cases where there is no apparent cause for your breakouts, it may be worth looking into recent changes in the use of skin products, including lip balm or makeup. Once the allergen is identified and removed from use, the cheilitis condition should begin to heal.
Cheilitis can also occur as a reaction to prescribed medications. While this is a relatively rare occurrence, an outbreak of chapped lips should be reported to your doctor right away. A doctor will be aware of how to deal with this type of situation. Often, the condition resolves as soon as the drug is stopped and the doctor switches it to another drug.
In very rare situations, cheilitis can be a sign of a serious health condition. If the incidence of chapped lips seems to occur for any reason other than frequent exposure to wind and does not seem to heal with the use of over-the-counter lip balms, don’t hesitate to see a doctor right away.
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