| - | Inflamed lips on cheilitisHow to make your lips pretty again?  Cheilitis, or inflamed lips, can have many causes. The most common form, called angular cheilitis, presents as cracking at the corners of the mouth and can be brought on by an infection, excessive saliva, or dental trauma. It is frequently seen in children who suck their thumbs and in elderly people who have ill-fitting dentures.
Other forms include actinic cheilitis, a condition in which the lip becomes puffy, blotchy red and pale pink, and may develop occasional white plaques and chronic ulcers. It typically shows up in people over the age of 59, who have had many years of sun exposure. Because this can be a precursor to the development of skin cancer, it should be treated by a dermatologist to ensure that it does not progress. | | | Less commonly, cheilitis can signal an underlying disease. Granulomatous cheilitis, a lumpy swelling of the lips, can be a symptom of Crohn's Disease, an inflammatory disease of the intestines. Chronic cracking of the corners of the mouth can be a sign of Sjogren's syndrome, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks its moisture glands.
According to Dr. Bruce P. Robinson, "Because there are a variety of causes, any person experiencing soreness or cracking at the corners of the mouth should be examined by a dermatologist to obtain the correct diagnosis and effective treatment." | | |
