Dry lips in children
introduction
Not only in the cold seasons do we struggle with dry lips. Children are particularly often affected because they are less able to recognize and communicate the first signs and are particularly dependent on others.
Dry lips not only look unsightly, they can tear and represent a gateway for bacteria and viruses. This is particularly problematic for small children, since at the beginning of the oral phase they like to put a wide variety of objects in their mouths that can be contaminated with germs.
Symptoms
The lip owns no subcutaneous fatty tissue and is on the Top and outside not horny, in contrast to the inside of the lips and the rest of the Throatcovered with a keratinized layer of cells. Besides, she owns neither sweat nor sebum glands, and must therefore be passively moistened. If this does not happen, the following symptoms occur:
The The lip becomes cracked and brittle. Small remnants of skin are annoying and open even larger wounds when they are removed.
Small bleeding is an advanced stage. There may be scabs which are very uncomfortable. That's because the lip is well supplied with blood, and the Vessels lie close to the surface. That's why the lip looks lighter than the rest of the skin.
Rhagades are tears in the skin that occur when the elasticity is reduced and typically occur on dry and rough skin. They heal without scars during treatment.
root cause
Dry lips in children have a number of causes, which usually occur in combination. On the one hand can cold, dry winter air favor the development, on the other hand, children are not aware of the necessary care to the same extent and are particularly dependent on adults.
In addition, many children chew their lips or get injured by objects that they put in their mouths. In particular, one must adequate hydration Care should be taken as dry lips are also a sign of general dehydration (Lack of fluids) is.
In addition, there is a natural prevalence in day-care centers or kindergartens inevitably higher risk of infection by germscausing infection and further worsening of symptoms. The immune system is not fully trained in children up to the age of 10, so special care is required.
Furthermore can also Iron deficiency or Vitamin B2 deficiency lead to dry lips. Iron is found in large quantities in meat and fish and must therefore be substituted, especially in vegetarians. Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin or colloquially simply called “growth vitamin”, can be found in dairy products but also in asparagus, broccoli and spinach. With a balanced diet there is normally no deficiency, but the vegetables mentioned above are often very unpopular with children. A defect shows through Skin cracks, especially in the area of Corners of the mouth and lips.
Furthermore, the Autoimmune disease Hashimoto's disease, better known as Hypothyroidism, along with a number of other symptoms such as dry, itchy skin and listlessness also lead to dry lips .. There is one underlying reason misdirected destruction of thyroid tissue through the body's own defense system. The symptoms, however, are unspecific and in the initial stage can also be those of an overactive thyroid. A clarification by the family doctor in the form of a small blood count and, if necessary, a referral to an endocrinologist will clarify this. An underactive thyroid causes few problems with the appropriate setting and can generally be treated well.
Dry and chapped lips in children
Dry and chapped lips are particularly common in children during the winter months. Cold and dry air play an important role here. The dry and chapped lips are often accompanied by a feeling of tension and pain.
Acidic and salty foods or drinks can lead to severe burning, which can lead to avoidance of these foods. The affected children often tend to put their tongues over their lips and moisten them, as this can temporarily relieve the feeling of tension. However, this should be avoided if possible, as manipulating the lips increases the symptoms in the long run.
In addition to dry and chapped lips, there can also be torn corners of the mouth (rhagades). These also occur more frequently in the winter months and are usually associated with chapped lips. The cause of chapped lips and corners of the mouth can be a vitamin D deficiency in the months with little sunshine. It is therefore advisable to have a doctor clarify whether the child is affected by a vitamin D deficiency.
Furthermore, in the case of rough corners of the mouth, fungal attack from fungal spores that are located in the oral cavity can occur. In the case of injuries to the corner of the mouth that do not heal for a long time, a doctor should be consulted and, if necessary, an antimycotic (antifungal agent) administered in the form of an ointment.
Extremely dry lips in children
Extremely dry lips in children can develop for the same reasons as chapped and dry lips in general.
If your lips are dry, applying a lip care cream will usually help. Bepanthensalbe®, Kaufmanns Kindercreme® or Linolafett® are suitable for this. If the rough spots do not heal within a week, a dermatologist should be consulted.
Here, for example, creams containing corstison can alleviate the symptoms. Even with dry lips, a vitamin deficiency should always be considered.
Dry and reddened lips in children
The redness of dry lips is caused by a small inflammatory reaction on the stressed skin.
The redness is not that bad, but it can be very painful. Here too, treatment with fatty ointments should be started and not moistening with the tongue.
therapy
Usually enough to treat dry lips Creams such as marigold ointment, or Milking fat. These are special moisturizing and strengthening the lipid layer of the cell envelope. Paradoxically, water itself dries out the skin, so constant moisturizing of dry lips is counterproductive. Hence should also on lip balm with flavor should not be used as children tend to lick it off and use it to moisten their lips.
Care sticks with jojoba or sesame oil are recommended as they contain neither flavor nor artificial ingredients. They can be obtained cheaply in the pharmacy.
A well-known home remedy is the application of Honey on dry lips, as this promotes healing and greases the lip. As long as it is not licked off (see above) this is a cheap and highly recommended home remedy.
Especially in winter is also on one adequate protection from the cold to pay attention, for example through a face mask.
Adequate fluid intake combats the basic problem, are particularly suitable warm tea, buttermilk or mineral water. But often the cause is also due too dry room air, especially in winter when the heating is running at full speed and the rooms are rarely ventilated. A humidifier or intermittent ventilation can help.
In the case of iron or vitamin deficiency, adequate substitution in tablet or effervescent form is indicated. Hashimoto's disease can be caused by substituting hormones Thyroxine and triiodothyronine can be treated successfully.
Can you use Kaufmann's Kindercreme® for treatment?
Kaufmann's Kindercreme® can be used on any area of the skin. It is free from preservatives and therefore very gentle. It also has a water-repellent effect, which is very beneficial to the skin on the lips.
Kaufmann Kindercreme® contains zinc and thus contributes to wound healing. The cream is recommended for the treatment of dry and chapped lips.
Prognosis and prevention
Since the skin usually regenerates very quickly, a significant improvement can be expected after a few days with adequate care. Sustainable care of the affected area is also important in order to prevent re-germination.
However, if the lips are already in an advanced stage of dryness, with inflammatory processes in the event of a visible infection, should home remedies are avoided and a Consult a doctor. Then, if necessary, therapy is with Cortisone or Antibiotics necessary.
If children tend to have chapped lips anyway, the lips should also be treated preventively with an anti-cold stick or a lip balm. Often this is exactly where the problem lies, as some lip protection sticks contain harmful or skin-incompatible ingredients that have not been adequately tested. It should not be saved in the wrong place here, your family doctor or pharmacist will certainly have an individual recommendation.
In winter sports such as skiing or sledding, the so-called wind-chill effect can result in much lower temperatures at already low temperatures. A face mask or mask helps here.
