The Science Behind Eczema
Eczema is believed to be caused by genetics rather than an allergic reaction. It surfaces when the skin barrier, which protects from pollutants, irritants, and bacteria, becomes compromised and cannot provide proper protection.
In 2006, researchers found a strong link between people lacking a specific skin protein and the risk of developing eczema. Scientists built on those results to show exactly what goes wrong, meaning their results could even take us closer to an eczema cure.
In the past decade, scientists determined that eczema is associated with a lack of filaggrin, a filament aggregating protein that plays a vital role in the skins barrier function.
When individuals possess a genetic mutation that inhibits filaggrin supply, they can develop skin conditions such as eczema.
Keeping the skin hydrated can help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier to prevent or treat flare-ups. Flare-ups can occur sporadically and sometimes go away for years.
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How To Heal Chapped Lips
The best way to treat dry, chapped lips is using a gentle lip scrub and a lip balm that seals in moisture. For example, sugar is a great exfoliator because its a natural humectant, meaning it draws in water from the deeper layers of the skin. You want to be extremely gentle with exfoliation and not scrub your lips raw, Stevenson says. Use a scrub with sugar or a warm washcloth. Just dont scrub it so hard that it can cause redness, she says.
I exfoliate my lips gently a few times a week with a natural gentle sugar scrub, such as St. Ives Juicy Watermelon Lip Scrub because watermelon is known for hydration. Then, I follow it up with a healing ointment to help maintain and seal in hydration, Marchbein says.
Marchbein and Stevenson also say that you can use a humidifier in your bedroom at night to help moisten the air. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can also be helpful, Marchbein says.
Lastly, you want to avoid picking off flaky, dry skin. This can lead to more inflammation, bleeding, rawness and irritation, Marchbein says. She also recommends holding off wearing lip glosses, lipsticks and stains and lip plumpers until your lips have completely healed. Using these products can contribute to more irritation and dryness in this delicate area.
If you dont see any improvements with your lips after following these approaches, schedule an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to rule out the causes of chapping.
Eau Thermale Avne Cicalfate Restorative Lip Cream
Avène is another brand that seems to pop up quite often in dermatologist recommendations. Their restorative lip cream was one that was suggested by King.
It can help in the skin recovery process by protecting compromised skin from the environment, she said. It also has a zinc sulfate complex that helps with skin recovery, as well as beeswax, castor seed oil, and triglycerides, so its very helpful for dry lips.
It promises immediate soothing, cooling relief to nourish severely dry or cracked lips without any of those potentially irritating ingredients. If youre specifically worried about environmental aggressors damaging your lips, the copper-zinc sulfate is just what you need.
Promising review: This stuff works great! It’s the only lip balm that actually has gotten rid of the cracks and chapped areas on my lips. It does leave a white tint during application that usually clears within minutes. I usually apply this and then some vaseline on top. It’s a little expensive but I will continue to purchase it. It gets the job done. Paige
What else to consider: This product also comes at a higher price point than the drugstore brands, but most reviewers felt that it was worth it. Many also used it in conjunction with a thicker balm since it has more of a thin, silky texture.
Best for: wounded, compromised skin that responds best to a creamier lip treatment.
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Eltamd Uv Lip Balm With Spf
Just like all the rest of our skin, lips can be seriously damaged by the sun. Combine that with the cold, dry conditions you may face in the winter, particularly during outdoor activities like skiing, and its a recipe for disaster for your lips. Thats why you want a moisturizing, protecting lip balm with mineral sunscreen in it, like this EltaMD option. Its a creamy texture with glycerin for immediate and long-term moisturization as well as transparent zinc oxide with broad-spectrum SPF 36. There are no fragrances, parabens, or any ingredients known to cause sensitivities. Plus its water-resistant for 80 minutes, so its also great to use in the summer for beach days or any outdoor water activities.
Promising review: I live in the midwest where the winters are long and cold. Ive tried EVERYTHING. Decided to give this a try, as I am a long time user of this brands face lotion. True to its brand, THIS works! Love it so much, I just ordered five more . psychlady
What else to consider. As with many other creamy zinc products, some reviewers note that it can leave a bit of a whitecast on your lips. That being said, you can layer it under a lipstick or other lip product of your choice to get the benefits of SPF with some extra color or shine.
Best for: everyday protection from sun exposure, particularly helpful for all of those extra-drying outdoor activities.
Balancing The Skins Acidity Levels
Vinegar is highly acidic. The skin is naturally acidic, but people with eczema may have less acidic skin than others, which can weaken the skins defenses.
Applying diluted apple cider vinegar could help balance the skins acidity levels, but vinegar can cause burns if it is not diluted.
In contrast, many soaps, detergents, and cleansers are alkaline. They can disrupt the acidity of the skin, which can leave the skin vulnerable to damage. This may explain why washing with certain soaps can cause eczema flares.
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Common Symptoms Of Eczema On Your Lips
- Discolored lips
- Red and sore lips
- Dry and cracked corners
Dry itching skin could simply be just that, it may not mean you have eczema on your lips which is far more serious. You should always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.
The perioral skin and vermilion margin are the most commonly affected parts of your lips and indicate Eczematous Cheilitis.
Having a history of eczema in your family will also be a contributing factor in identifying eczema on your lips.
Its will take a bit of investigating to find out if you have simple dry lips or if you have eczema. You must seek help and advice from your Doctor, Gp and Medical Practitioner if you believe your dry lips is eczema.
They will examine not only your lips but also inside your mouth to help identify the symptoms. This is not a painful process unless your condition is so bad that it is painful to open your mouth. If this is the case moisturize them as much as possible before going to your appointment.
Who Gets Eczema On Their Lips And Why?
There are two main reasons why people get eczema on their lips and they are Endogenous and Exogenous.
1.Endogenous is an inherent characteristic inherited from a parent. The most common example of this is Atopic Dermatitis. It is unavoidable and there is no way of telling if you will have the condition at birth. Like many forms of eczema, you can and many people will grow out of the condition.
Can You Use A Lip Balm With Eczema/psoriasis
The answer is YES! We have two favorites. We use one that contains Shea Butter which is widely used to treat eczema. Its called Shea Brand Lip Balm and its available from Amazon. The other (which has recently become our top pick is by Waxelene. But these are just two of the many you can choose from.
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Treatment For Chapped Lips: What To Look For In Lip Balms And Ointments
When it comes to choosing the best lip balms for chapped lips, Stevenson says the most important thing is to avoid products with fragrances and flavors because they can irritate the skin even more. In addition to fragrances and flavors, you want to ditch menthol, salicylic acid and camphor in lip balms, according to the American Academy of Dermatology .
Flexitol Lip Balm 035 Ounce Tube
as of October 20, 2021 3:41 pm
Features
- LIP BALM: Flexitol Lip Balm is formulated with 2.5% urea to hydrate & soften severely dry, cracked, flaky, & chapped lips. Our unique, steroid-free balm helps restore soft, healthy-looking lips. Not waxy or sticky.
- PREVENT & TREAT: Help prevent peeling, flaky, itchy lips and relieve painful cracked & chapped lips with this steroid-free formulation. Non-addictive and non-habit forming, menthol & camphor provide cooling relief.
- USAGE & CONDITIONS: Flexitol Lip Balm can be beneficial to those dealing with chapped & peeling lips caused by chemotherapy, Accutane, isotretinoin, orthodontics, braces, lip licking, smoking & dehydration.
- INGREDIENTS: Flexitol products are made with clinically-proven & nourishing ingredients like urea, glycolic acid & lanolin and nourishing ingredients like vitamin E, aloe vera & shea butter.
- SKINCARE SOLUTIONS: Say goodbye to dry, cracked feet, rough hands, very dry skin, & chapped lips. Help maintain healthy skin with Flexitols range of products including lotions, creams & lip balms.
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Key Points About Atopic Dermatitis In Children
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Atopic dermatitis is a long-term skin condition. Its common in babies and children.
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A child with allergies or family members with atopic dermatitis has a higher chance of having atopic dermatitis.
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Itching, dryness, and redness are common symptoms.
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The goals of treatment are to ease itching and inflammation of the skin, increase moisture, and prevent infection.
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Staying away from triggers is important to manage the condition.
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It usually gets better or goes away as a child gets older.
How Can I Prevent Eczema On The Lips
You may not be able to prevent eczema from developing on your lips if you have atopic dermatitis elsewhere on your body, but you can reduce your risk by:
- Avoiding lipstick, lip balm or other cosmetics that contain fragrances or dyes.
- Cutting down on alcohol consumption.
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Keeping your lips moisturized with petroleum jelly.
- Not licking, scratching, biting or sucking your lips.
- Selecting mouthwash and toothpaste without alcohol or harsh antiseptics.
- Skipping very salty or spicy foods.
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Eczema On Lips Treatment
Treatment of eczema on lips in based on causative agent. However, there is always a chance that the correct cure may not be available. At a time you need to identify the factors that triggered the eczema for the curative solutions to be known, which will assist you to get rid of this problem. Once they have been noted down they will need to be eliminated in a systematic manner. America Academy of dermatology recommends the following treatments:
Other triggers to avoid or things to do include:
Types And Symptoms Of Lip Eczema
Types:
Eczema on the lips is characterized by several different types, including:
- External irritation, such as lip licking, cosmetics, and environmental factors, can cause irritant contact cheilitis.
- An allergic reaction to lip products, dental materials, toothpaste, or medication causes allergic contact cheilitis.
- A fungal infection, usually Candida, or a bacterial infection causes angular cheilitis. The infection may occur when saliva builds up in the corners of peoples mouths from lip licking, dentures, or braces. People with diabetes are more likely to develop angular cheilitis.
Symptoms:
One or both of the lips may show signs of lip eczema, as well as the skin inside the mouth and the skin around the mouth.
Eczema on the lips can cause the following symptoms:
- An itchy red rash on or around the lips
- Flakiness or dryness
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Eczema Cream: The Bottom Line
Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, is characterized by extremely dry skin, severe itching, red bumps that may leak fluid, and deep cracks. Eczema is believed to be caused by genetics rather than an allergic reaction. It surfaces when the skin barrier, which protects from pollutants, irritants, and bacteria, becomes compromised and cannot provide proper protection. Keeping the skin hydrated can help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier to prevent or treat flare-ups.
Along with avoiding the triggers that cause flare-ups and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet,
Several over-the-counter eczema creams can help alleviate even the most aggravating symptoms. Avoid those formulated with fragrances, dyes, alpha and beta hydroxy acids, and potentially dangerous ingredients like parabens and denatured alcohol.
The best eczema creams contain skin-soothing and reparative ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, aloe, honey, ceramides, fatty acids, and glycerin.
Whats the best eczema cream, in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below!
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Avoid Make Up Lipstick And Unlabeled Creams To Allow Your Lips To Heal
One of the best ways to improve lip dermatitis is to avoid your triggers when possible. These include any known allergens, as well as sensitivities to chemicals. Make up, lipstick, and certain creams may contain ingredients that are causing your lips to flare up.
Even after eliminating these triggers, it can take some time for the rashes to clear up.
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What To Look For In An Eczema Cream Or Eczema Lotion
It truly is vital that youre using an eczema treatment cream thats void of artificial fragrances, colors, and potentially dangerous ingredients like parabens and denatured alcohol because all of these can exacerbate the problem. Also, avoid any creams that contain alpha or beta hydroxy acids, which can dry out the skin even further.
Aside from reading the ingredient list, youll probably know that youre not using the correct cream or lotion if it burns when or causes further irritation when applied on areas of skin where eczema is present.
Eczema On The Lips Treatment Options
Not surprisingly, the most irritating part of dryness around lips is the symptoms. Thankfully, for most people, it is pretty easy to treat.
Simply add and adequately maintain moisture in the area. Non-irritating lotions, lip balms, and moisturizers can help provide protection from the elements, and help repair dry, cracked, and painful lips.
You can get a little added boost by applying them directly after a shower or face wash. Doing so will lock moisture into the lips to help the healing process and offer relief, but it is also important to carry such products around with you for easy re-application.
If your lips are inflamed and swollen, looking for a lip cream that features one-percent hydrocortisone may help to bring it down.
If you are noticing excessive inflammation and it seems to be a highly irritating recurring problem, pay a visit to your doctor to talk about further treatment options.
Other potential treatments for lip eczema/lip dermatitis include:
- Antibiotics
- Alternative medicines/home remedies
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What You Should Look For In A Lip Balm
As is the case for any hydrating product, you want the ingredients in your lip balm to include humectants, emollients, and occlusives, according to Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She says that having all three is particularly important for good lip products because some have humectants without the emollients and occlusives, which will actually dehydrate the lips in dry environments.
Lips can definitely take a lot more oil and what we would characterize as emollients than other places on the skin, Rabach said. Even for people that have acne problems who generally want to stay away from more oily or thick kinds of emollients, lips can definitely take it all.
Emollients are those saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons that help protect the skin and improve skin texture and appearance. They include things like squalane, mineral oil, vitamin E, petrolatum, and ceramides and work very well to help you feel that moisture on your lips.
Rabach suggests slathering on a thick layer of your most emollient-heavy lip products before bed since you dont have to worry about talking, eating, or mask-wearing while you sleep. Thatll allow more healing and prevent the usual dehydration that tends to happen overnight.
Your Lipstick Can Also Be An Anti
The Infinity Palette contains everything you need to design your own highly pigmented lip stains on the go, while travelling and with infinite colour possibilities in one basic palette. Lip base fortified with #DNALIP from Salmon Roe DNA and moisturising phytoceramides to volumise, anti-wrinkle and nourish your lips.
The LipSerum Stick formulated by Dr.TWL Pharmacy is from the Custom Lip Lab. It contains all the benefits of an anti-aging lip care product, and also brilliant intense food-safe colour that is highly pigmented. It is now available in the Infinity Palette, which allows you to be your own color scientist and mix all the lip colours you like!
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