Itchy lips: Causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more – Medical News Today

Itchy lips can feel uncomfortable, particularly when dryness and cracking also occur. There are several reasons why lips may become itchy.

Dry, sore, or itchy lips are a common occurrence that a person can relieve with over-the-counter (OTC) treatments at home.

Itchy lips usually have a link with hot or cold weather or appear as a symptom of seasonal or contact allergies.

Less often, a person may experience itchy lips due to an underlying health condition. In these circumstances, a person may require treatment from a doctor.

In this article, we examine the causes of itchy lips and look at treatment and prevention methods.

Itchy lips have various possible causes, including:

Cheilitis is the acute or chronic inflammation of the lips, and it has many types.

Cheilitis simplex, which people are likely to refer to as severely chapped lips, may occur for many reasons, including:

Common symptoms of chapped lips include dryness, cracking, and itchiness.

A person can treat chapped lips by minimizing their exposure to extreme weather and using lip balms or ointments.

Allergic contact cheilitis is allergic contact dermatitis that affects the lips. It is similar to other allergic reactions of the skin.

When a substance comes in contact with the lips, it may cause swelling, redness, and itchiness. Substances that may cause allergic contact cheilitis may include:

Some people may refer to this form of the condition as lipstick cheilitis because the ingredients in lipsticks can act as irritants.

A person can typically treat allergic contact cheilitis with topical corticosteroids or emollients.

Drug-related cheilitis occurs when lesions emerge around the lips due to medications.

Researchers suggest that retinoids and other medications, including topical antibiotics, local anesthetics, and lip care products, are most likely to cause drug-related cheilitis.

Some people may have an allergic reaction to the medication or retinoid, causing dry, cracked lips and an itching sensation.

Switching medications and trying a different lip moisturizer may help relieve drug-related cheilitis.

Infectious cheilitis is inflammation of the lips that occurs due to an infection. There are several potential causes of infectious cheilitis, including:

Treatment involves treating the underlying condition. However, a doctor may also recommend alleviating the symptoms using ointments and creams, such as:

Herpes simplex is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) resulting from a virus. It causes painful, red or discolored blisters on the outside of the lips and may also affect a persons genitals.

Herpes may initially cause severe flu-like symptoms along with painful sores on the lips. Subsequent episodes may be less severe and will primarily involve cold sores.

There is no cure for herpes. Instead, treatment focuses on preventing flare-ups and reducing symptoms when they occur. Oral antiviral medications may help prevent symptoms from returning.

Thrush is an overgrowth of Candida. Candida is a fungus that lives on the skin and around the mucous membranes but does not usually cause any health issues.

If an imbalance occurs, the fungus can grow out of control and cause itchy, painful white patches in the mouth and cracking around the corners of the lips.

A doctor may recommend an antifungal medication to treat oral thrush.

Often, a person can treat their lips with OTC lip ointments or balms. If the condition worsens, a person can ask their doctor for advice on additional ways to treat dry, itchy lips.

A person should speak with their doctor if they develop a rash on their lips or suspect that a medication may be causing their lips to itch.

If a person is experiencing any other symptoms alongside itchy lips, they should tell their doctor, as an underlying condition may be responsible.

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Itchy lips: Causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more - Medical News Today