A Scary Condition That Caused Her Chapped Lips
A young person who declined to share her name recently posted on CureZone’s exfoliative cheilitis message board to seek help answers concerning her chapped lips. She stated that it seemed as if her lips produced too much skin. Her yellowed, flaky lips were embarrassing to her, and she was unhappy to have been affected by a chronic disease called exfoliative cheilitis.
Exfoliative cheilitis is a rare condition that causes a person’s lips to stay chapped. There is a marked coorelation between exfoliative cheilitis and mental disorders. This may be the case because many people who suffer from mental disorders bite, lick, or pick at their lips more often. The gruesome appearance of an effected person’s lips may create psychological problems as well.
Someone with this disorder may withdraw from others or become depressed due to the appearance or his or her lips. The pain of the condition may also be a source of stress and anxiety. There have been many cases of people suffering from both exfoliative cheilitis and depression or a personality disorder.
Exfoliative cheilitis tends to affect younger individuals under the age of 30, and it happens more in females than in males. It is a chronic condition that begins as flaking on the lips and eventually worsens in appearance. Eventually, it can cause cosmetic concern. The lips can become discolored at the outer edges as well. As the condition progresses, it can become quite uncomfortable.
Other symptoms of this disease include:
Cracked lips
Flaking skin on the lips
Swelling
Tingling
Itching
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There have been reports of exfoliative cheilitis caused by poor oral hygiene, and this could be a trigger of the disease. It also appears in addition to HIV infection. Some researchers have theorized that dental implants and certain types of fillings might be the culprit for some cases of exfoliative cheilitis. Some patients with chronic chapped lips have been found to be suffering from a fungal mouth infection known as Thrush, a candida yeast overgrowth.
While there is no definite cure for exfoliative cheilitis, there are natural remedies you can try to lessen your symptoms and/or discomfort. You may be sensitive to highly acidic foods, so try eating a bland diet for a while to see if your lips improve. Staying hydrated may help as well. When you don’t drink enough water, your skin can become unbearably dry and itchy. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water per day.
If you test positive for candida yeast overgrowth, you may want to try holding a compress of cold water and vinegar to your lips. Vinegar kills the yeast that can cause skin infections.
There are also some theories that chronically dry lips might be a symptom of a food allergy. You may need to avoid certain foods if you notice that you often eat them right before a flare-up. Processed foods are not good for your body in many ways, so sticking to a more natural diet may lessen your symptoms as well.
Eat organic vegetables and fruits, and make sure to wash the off before you eat them. You may be lacking in certain vitamins and/or minerals if you notice that your lips are always itchy. Make sure you are taking iron, zinc, and vitamin B supplements if you are not getting these nutrients in your diet.
Omega 3 fatty acids are very helpful for the health of your skin, and it’s proven to reduce skin inflammation. Eating green leafy vegetables and fish can increase the omega 3 fatty acids in your body.
Exfoliative cheilitis can be uncomfortable, but the symptoms of this condition can be alleviated with proper diet and good mental health. If you think you may have exfoliative cheilitis, you should make an appointment with a healthcare professional to for a diagnosis and to develop a treatment plan.
