Do you need to take antibiotics for cheilitis?

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Cheilitis is common in clinical settings and can be caused by various factors, including some that may be allergic in nature, requiring the intake of antiallergic medication as anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective. Common antiallergic medications, such as loratadine, can provide significant anti-allergic effects. Topically, anti-allergic medications like dexamethasone acetate cream can also be applied to achieve a certain level of anti-allergic effect. For patients with contact cheilitis, it is recommended not to use antibiotics, as they generally do not have a significant effect on local lip inflammation. It is suggested that patients apply erythromycin ointment locally, which can also provide a good anti-inflammatory effect. The inflammation occurs at the epidermal extremities of the lips, and orally administered antibiotics, when they reach the lips, are usually at a low concentration and do not provide an effective anti-inflammatory effect. It is advised that patients primarily focus on local care, paying attention to the protection of the lip area and keeping it relatively moist. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
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Is cheilitis a skin disease?

Cheilitis is not a skin disease; it is a disease of the oral mucosa and falls under the category of oral mucosal diseases. Cheilitis is a mucosal disease characterized mainly by dryness, cracking, and scaling of the lips. Its types include dry scaling cheilitis, allergic cheilitis, benign lymphoproliferative cheilitis, granulomatous cheilitis, glandular cheilitis, fungal cheilitis, and photosensitive cheilitis. The onset of cheilitis is greatly related to long-term irritation and poor lifestyle habits. Seasonal changes and dry weather also increase the incidence rate, and windy conditions can easily lead to dryness and flaking. Cheilitis is also related to sun exposure, which can cause erosion of the upper and lower lips, known as actinic cheilitis. Patients with actinic cheilitis should first focus on avoiding light, reducing outdoor activities, and protecting their lips.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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What should be paid attention to normally for cheilitis?

Patients with cheilitis should pay close attention to their diet and lifestyle in their daily life. In terms of diet, patients should opt for light meals and consume more fresh vegetables and fruits. A diversified diet is important as it can effectively supplement the nutrients required by the body. Additionally, patients should avoid consuming spicy and stimulating foods as much as possible, because such foods are quite irritating to the body. Consuming them regularly may cause patients to experience inflammation in the lips or other inflammatory symptoms. Patients should also pay attention to their lifestyle, ensuring it is regular, drinking plenty of water, and maintaining early sleep and waking times. They should avoid frequently staying up late and increase some outdoor activities. Moreover, during dry seasons, patients should keep their lips moisturized by applying glycerin or lip balm, which helps hydrate the lips. (Medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Signs of improvement in exfoliative cheilitis

Exfoliative cheilitis is a type of skin lesion on the lip mucosa of unknown cause. Generally, the skin on the lips is delicate, and exposure to certain external stimuli can cause dryness, cracking, bleeding, and peeling. This condition is often associated with certain bad habits of the patient. For instance, due to dry weather, a patient might frequently lick their lips, leading to long-term irritation and consequently causing cracking and bleeding. It could also be possible that the patient has come into contact with some allergenic substances. This is commonly seen in females; for instance, an allergic reaction triggered by applying lipstick or lip balm can lead to peeling of the lips. In such cases, it is generally advised that the patient identifies and avoids the cause. When the patient's skin shows signs of crusting and peeling, it might generally indicate an improvement.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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What should I do if my chapped lips keep crusting over?

The patient's recurrent lip crusting indicates a chronic, recurring condition. It is recommended to conduct relevant examinations to identify any potential irritants that could be causing this repeated lip inflammation. For example, prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to actinic cheilitis, while living in a cold, dry environment might cause dehydration of the lip mucosa, leading to flaking and crusting. Additionally, some patients who do not consume fresh fruits and vegetables may lack vitamins, and frequently eating spicy and irritating foods can also lead to recurrent cheilitis. It is advised to eliminate these irritants and ensure proper moisturization of the lips.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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How to deal with chapped lips?

It is relatively normal for patients to experience peeling lips after developing cheilitis, as this is a very common clinical symptom during the progression of the disease. Patients should avoid peeling off the flaky skin on their lips with their hands, as this could potentially worsen the symptoms and may also lead to infections. After developing cheilitis, the first step should be to eliminate local irritants. For example, if engaging in prolonged outdoor activities, proper sun protection should be applied to prevent actinic cheilitis. Additionally, patients should maintain local moisture, such as using moist compresses to keep the lips hydrated, or applying a non-irritating moisturizing lip balm.