Do you ever have sensitized, dry, cracked corners of your lips? This very common phenomenon is often difficult to treat even by regularly applying balms and other treatments to nourish and repair the lips. In a video published on Tik Tok, dermatologist Dr Adel announces “you don’t have dry lips, you have angular cheilitis”, which is also called perlèche. That“appears as redness at the corners of the lips, a crack or a crust, which can be painful” noted the French Society of Dermatology.
Chapped corners of lips: what is caused and how to get rid of them?
This means that you “probably lick your lips too often without even realizing it” However, this sensitizes the skin, causes inflammation and therefore the lips crack, indicates the doctor. “It can also mean that you are deficient in certain vitamins, such as iron, vitamin B12. You may also have an infection from bacteria or fungus.” According to the French Society of Dermatology, it can also be an oral hygiene problem, a drop in immunity or even a skin problem such as eczema or psoriasis. It is therefore interesting to consult a doctor to establish the causes of a perleche, especially if it recurs.
To take care of your lips, Dr. Adel strongly advises against certain balms that contain perfume, mint or camphor because these ingredients are sensitizing and weaken the skin. “Instead, choose Vaseline which acts as a “barrier” between the yeast and the outside elements.” She also advises doing a blood test which will help determine whether you have vitamin or iron deficiencies.
How to moisturize your lips?
In a previous article, Dr. Kiran Mian, a dermatologist interviewed by Bustle magazine, indicated that clarified butter is excellent for taking care of your lips. This is ghee, widely used in Indian cuisine. It contains linoleic, palmitic and stearic fatty acids, which strengthen the skin’s hydrolipidic barrier. Linoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties. “Ghee also contains antioxidants and vitamins A, E and K, all of which help keep skin healthy.”, specifies Dr Mian who advises applying it in the evening and not in the morning to avoid photosensitization to the sun. Finally, moisturize regularly and avoid using matte makeup like certain lipsticks which can be drying.
@aamnaadel hate to break it to you but these are NOT just dry lips… 👄 #dermatologist #dradel #angularcheilitis #drylips #crackedlips #lipcare #lipbalm #skintok #skincare #skincareroutine #skincareproducts #foryou #fyp
Source: Perlèche patient information sheet, French Society of Dermatology.