Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook
Eczemaon the lips can cause itchiness, redness, and scaling on or around your lips. It causes much more severe chapping than other causes of chapped lips and tends to be long-term.
This article looks at the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lip eczema.
Elena Slepitskaya / Getty Images
Eczema on the lips can cause symptoms such as:
The skin around your mouth the area where the red part of your lips meets the skin is the most commonly affected part of the lips.The corners of the mouth can also be affected.
Eczema vs. Dry Lips
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you experience unusual symptoms such as afever, chills, diarrhea, or spreading of the rash, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Causes and Triggers
The major causes of lip eczema are atopic dermatitis and reactions to irritants or allergens.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic (long-term) condition that can cause dry, itchy skin on any part of the body, including the lips. It is believed to have genetic causes.
People with atopic dermatitis have an overactive immune response, which damages the skin barrier. This lets moisture escape and leaves the skin vulnerable to bacteria and environmental irritants.
Allergic Contact
Irritant Contact
Angular Cheilitis
Finding Out What Might Be Triggering Your Eczema
Talk to adermatologistif you believe you have lip eczema. Your dermatologist will examine you, take note of your symptoms, and ask you questions about your personal and family health history, such as the duration of your symptoms, other conditions you may have, allergies, and any new products you started using recently. They may also order certain tests, such as:
Conditions That Can Be Mistaken for Lip Eczema
Other conditions have similar symptoms and can sometimes be mistaken for lip eczema. These include:
Home Remedies and Treatments
For irritant or allergic types of lip eczema, the treatment will involve identifying the cause of the irritation or allergy and discontinuing use of a product or limiting contact with the trigger. For lip eczema related to atopic dermatitis, managing the condition should help alleviate the symptoms of lip eczema.
What to Eat When You Have Eczema
Medications
Lifestyle Changes
For atopic dermatitis, consider these treatment tips:
These tips can not only help you alleviate the symptoms of lip eczema but also prevent flare-ups of eczema in the future.
How Long Does it Take for Lip Eczema to Go Away?
Is There Such a Thing as a Diet for Eczema?
If you have atopic dermatitis, there may be times when your eczema disappears. This is known as a remission period.However, there are other times when you may have a flare-up, which is when your condition gets worse. The goal of treatment is to prevent flare-ups. Be sure to avoid triggers, moisturize, take your medicine, and do anything else your healthcare provider recommends.
If you find that your lip eczema is causing you a lot of distress, talk to a therapist and friends or family for support.
Summary
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis - How to classify cheilitis?Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16Gonzaga AK, Bezerra HI, Cavalcante IL, et al.An update about cheilitis.J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol. 2021;33(5):555-60. doi:10.1016/j.ajoms.2021.02.001Lugović-Mihić L, Blagec T, Japundžić I, Skroza N, Delaš Adžajić M, Mravak-Stipetić M.Diagnostic management of cheilitis: an approach based on a recent proposal for cheilitis classification.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(2):67-72Rosen A, Ngshanyi S, Tosti A, Schachner L.Allergic contact cheilitis in children and improvement with patch testing.JAAD Case Rep. 2016;3(1):25-28. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2016.10.002Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - Skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13The National Eczema Society.Eczema and its management: A guide for healthcare professionals.Kemény L, Varga E, Novak Z.Advances in phototherapy for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(11):1205-1214. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2020.1672537Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660Shan J, Ali K, Da J, et al.Dupilumab in the treatment of cheilitis in atopic dermatitis patients.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:2437-2443. doi:10.2147/CCID.S391944Sho Y, Sakai T, Sato T, et al.Stratum corneum ceramide profiles provide reliable indicators of remission and potential flares in atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(12):3184-3191.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2022.06.012
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis - How to classify cheilitis?Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16Gonzaga AK, Bezerra HI, Cavalcante IL, et al.An update about cheilitis.J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol. 2021;33(5):555-60. doi:10.1016/j.ajoms.2021.02.001Lugović-Mihić L, Blagec T, Japundžić I, Skroza N, Delaš Adžajić M, Mravak-Stipetić M.Diagnostic management of cheilitis: an approach based on a recent proposal for cheilitis classification.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(2):67-72Rosen A, Ngshanyi S, Tosti A, Schachner L.Allergic contact cheilitis in children and improvement with patch testing.JAAD Case Rep. 2016;3(1):25-28. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2016.10.002Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - Skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13The National Eczema Society.Eczema and its management: A guide for healthcare professionals.Kemény L, Varga E, Novak Z.Advances in phototherapy for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(11):1205-1214. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2020.1672537Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660Shan J, Ali K, Da J, et al.Dupilumab in the treatment of cheilitis in atopic dermatitis patients.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:2437-2443. doi:10.2147/CCID.S391944Sho Y, Sakai T, Sato T, et al.Stratum corneum ceramide profiles provide reliable indicators of remission and potential flares in atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(12):3184-3191.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2022.06.012
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis - How to classify cheilitis?Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16Gonzaga AK, Bezerra HI, Cavalcante IL, et al.An update about cheilitis.J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol. 2021;33(5):555-60. doi:10.1016/j.ajoms.2021.02.001Lugović-Mihić L, Blagec T, Japundžić I, Skroza N, Delaš Adžajić M, Mravak-Stipetić M.Diagnostic management of cheilitis: an approach based on a recent proposal for cheilitis classification.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(2):67-72Rosen A, Ngshanyi S, Tosti A, Schachner L.Allergic contact cheilitis in children and improvement with patch testing.JAAD Case Rep. 2016;3(1):25-28. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2016.10.002Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - Skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13The National Eczema Society.Eczema and its management: A guide for healthcare professionals.Kemény L, Varga E, Novak Z.Advances in phototherapy for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(11):1205-1214. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2020.1672537Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660Shan J, Ali K, Da J, et al.Dupilumab in the treatment of cheilitis in atopic dermatitis patients.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:2437-2443. doi:10.2147/CCID.S391944Sho Y, Sakai T, Sato T, et al.Stratum corneum ceramide profiles provide reliable indicators of remission and potential flares in atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(12):3184-3191.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2022.06.012
Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis - How to classify cheilitis?Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16
Gonzaga AK, Bezerra HI, Cavalcante IL, et al.An update about cheilitis.J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol. 2021;33(5):555-60. doi:10.1016/j.ajoms.2021.02.001
Lugović-Mihić L, Blagec T, Japundžić I, Skroza N, Delaš Adžajić M, Mravak-Stipetić M.Diagnostic management of cheilitis: an approach based on a recent proposal for cheilitis classification.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(2):67-72
Rosen A, Ngshanyi S, Tosti A, Schachner L.Allergic contact cheilitis in children and improvement with patch testing.JAAD Case Rep. 2016;3(1):25-28. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2016.10.002
Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, Meštrović-Štefekov J, Stanić-Duktaj S, Lugović-Mihić L.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis - Skin lesion characteristics.Acta Clin Croat. 2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13
The National Eczema Society.Eczema and its management: A guide for healthcare professionals.
Kemény L, Varga E, Novak Z.Advances in phototherapy for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(11):1205-1214. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2020.1672537
Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660
Shan J, Ali K, Da J, et al.Dupilumab in the treatment of cheilitis in atopic dermatitis patients.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:2437-2443. doi:10.2147/CCID.S391944
Sho Y, Sakai T, Sato T, et al.Stratum corneum ceramide profiles provide reliable indicators of remission and potential flares in atopic dermatitis.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(12):3184-3191.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2022.06.012
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