The lips, a fragile area to watch out for

Sometimes the appearance of a lesion or a pimple can worry us. While it may be a simple crack, other symptoms should not be taken lightly.

I chap your lips

With the cold, the wind, and the dry and overheated interiors, the lips undergo many attacks which damage them. Other factors can also explain a dryness of the lips: a predisposition to eczema, particularly fragile skin, sinusitis which forces you to breathe through the mouth, an allergy to certain cosmetics, diabetes, the taking of certain medications.

The right reaction

To get started, buy a moisturizing lip balm that you will always carry with you and that you can rub on the affected area as often as needed. Prefer those as a cream that deposits a light protective film on the lips (in addition, it replaces the gloss!).

Avoid passing your tongue over your chapped lips as this only stresses the dryness even if it relieves immediately. To remove small, dead skin, scrub gently with a toothbrush.

The corners of your lips are dry

You lack minerals such as iron and zinc but also vitamins of group B. For example, vitamin B3, also called niacin, is used for the production of energy from nutrients. Also, vitamin B12 is essential for growth, cell division, the functioning of all cells in the body, and the balance of the nervous system. Vegetarian people often encounter these types of deficiencies.

The right reaction

We put seafood and oily fish on our plate (salmon, tuna, oysters, shrimps ...) but also pulses (lentils, chickpeas) and oilseeds (nuts, almonds). As iron absorption occurs through vitamin C, we also eat kiwis and citrus fruits.

You have sores and redness at the corners of the lips

Unlike a simple dryness because of vitamin deficiency, the appearance of sores in the corner of the lips can be a sign of angular cheilitis, infection with bacteria, or fungi. Excessive dryness can cause this skin problem, sagging folds in the mouth that entered rubbing (age may be a factor), or a high acidity of the saliva. People with anemia also have a higher risk of angular cheilitis.

The right reaction

If the angular cheilitis is not yet too established, your doctor will only recommend that you moisturize your lips well and follow your brushing with mouthwash for impeccable hygiene. If the angular cheilitis is already in advanced condition, it may be necessary to apply an antibiotic or anti-fungal cream.

You have a pimple at the edge of your lip

It could be a simple inflammation of a hair follicle ... or a cold sore. It is an infection caused by a virus, the herpes simplex virus type 1 in most cases. Once you become infected with the virus (usually before the age of 20), it persists in your body for life, without causing permanent symptoms. From time to time, for various reasons (fatigue, fever, exposure to the sun ...), the virus "wakes up" and triggers herpes sore or cold sore.

The right reaction

You must first avoid triggering factors such as exposure to the sun or stressful situations. Then, it is useful to adopt a healthy lifestyle to strengthen your immune system and avoid relapses: get enough sleep, adopt a balanced diet, practice sports.

Small spots and scabs appear on your lips

These symptoms are not to be taken lightly as they may be actinic keratosis. Prolonged exposure causes these small lesions to the sun. I estimate that in 15% of cases; they progress to skin cancer. How to recognize actinic keratosis? Lesions form a small crust or scale, rough to the touch. Only a dermatologist can give you a reliable diagnosis.

The right reaction

You go to your dermatologist at the slightest doubt; you avoid exposure to the sun as much as possible and you put cream with a UV protection index on the lips.

If actinic keratosis is proven, the doctor may recommend two kinds of treatment: cryotherapy to burn the lesions with liquid nitrogen or surgical excision which involves removing the lesions under local anesthesia.