Is the crusting of cheilitis a sign of healing?

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on May 10, 2025
00:00
00:00

Inflammation of the lips, when crusts start to form, indicates that the patient's cheilitis is healing. Crusting generally occurs in the later stages of healing, which is a positive sign. However, when crusts have formed, patients should avoid picking at them with their hands or forcibly tearing them off. Doing so may cause additional bleeding and rupture, possibly increasing inflammation and impeding the healing process. Therefore, patients can apply some anti-inflammatory ointment to the affected area. When applying, it is best to use a cotton swab instead of touching directly with the hands. Additionally, patients with cheilitis should pay careful attention to lip care in their daily life. During dry seasons, it is appropriate to apply some lip balm, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and avoid frequently licking the lips. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
57sec home-news-image

Can I still apply lipstick if I have cheilitis?

When patients suffer from cheilitis, they certainly should not apply lipstick. During cheilitis, cracking, bleeding, or dryness may occur. At this time, patients should apply anti-inflammatory ointments, which can promote the healing of cheilitis and also alleviate cracking and dryness. If patients apply lipstick during this time, it may aggravate the inflammation of the lips and hinder the healing process of cheilitis. Therefore, it is recommended that patients avoid applying lipstick when suffering from cheilitis. Some cheilitis might be allergic cheilitis; in this case, applying lipstick is even more inappropriate as it may also be an allergen. Hence, patients with cheilitis should pay attention to local hygiene, clean food residues, brush their teeth morning and evening, and rinse their mouths promptly after meals.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
38sec home-news-image

Can applying honey on the lips relieve cheilitis?

Applying honey on the lips can have a moisturizing effect and alleviate dryness. When patients suffer from cheilitis, it is recommended that they undergo anti-inflammatory treatment. Applying some anti-inflammatory ointment locally can be very effective. For this condition, it is generally advised that patients identify the cause of the lip inflammation and treat it accordingly. Removing some of the triggers can effectively alleviate cheilitis. Regularly maintaining lip moisture by applying lip balm or glycerin can also be very beneficial.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
1min 15sec home-news-image

What should I do about recurrent cheilitis?

There are many types of cheilitis, and when patients experience recurrent cheilitis, it is recommended that patients first understand the type of cheilitis. It is commonly seen in allergic cheilitis or some contact cheilitis, or some chronic cheilitis, and different types of cheilitis have different treatments. If it is allergic cheilitis, a little anti-allergy medication, such as loratadine, can be used. Taking one tablet before bedtime each day, usually for two or three days, can be very effective. If it is a type of chronic cheilitis, such as irritation from strong light or other detrimental irritations, such as the patient frequently licking with their tongue, being in a chronically moist environment, it will not heal easily. For this type of cheilitis, in addition to applying some anti-inflammatory ointments or recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel locally, both can be very effective, but the patient must not lick it with the tongue. Licking it afterwards can cause some of the moisture in the lips to evaporate, leading to slow healing of the lips. (Please use medications under a doctor's guidance.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
1min 15sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
50sec home-news-image

Can chapped lips be exposed to the sun?

Patients with cheilitis are advised not to expose themselves to the sun. The exact causes of cheilitis are not fully clear, but clinical doctors generally believe that certain external irritants are directly related to the onset of cheilitis. For example, stimuli from cold and dry climates or prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to the occurrence of cheilitis and may also exacerbate the condition in patients. Therefore, patients with cheilitis are advised against sun exposure before it is clear which specific cause is responsible. Those suffering from cheilitis should first eliminate local irritants, such as frequent licking or biting of the lips, and maintain local moisture. This can be achieved by methods such as moist compresses to relieve dryness.