Will chronic cheilitis heal on its own?

The occurrence of chronic cheilitis is related to many factors, the most common of which are cold, tobacco, alcohol, overheated food, lip licking, etc. The characteristics of chronic cheilitis are dry and chapped lips, which can easily cause pain. Chronic cheilitis is characterized by repeated occurrences, and many times the symptoms are not very obvious, so some patients hope that the disease can heal on its own. So, will chronic cheilitis heal on its own? Let’s take a look below.

There is no way to heal cheilitis on its own.

Clinical manifestations

Symptoms

1. The disease can occur on both the upper and lower lips, but is more common on the lower lip.

2. The symptoms recur repeatedly, sometimes mild and sometimes severe, worsen in dry seasons, and do not heal.

Disease classification

1. Chronic desquamative cheilitis: The red part of the lips is dry and cracked, and there are yellow-white desquamations on the surface. The desquamations can be torn off painlessly, and there is bright red "skinless" tissue underneath. The perioral skin and oral mucosal tissues are usually spared. Patients generally do not have any symptoms, but if secondary infection occurs, local swelling, pain, etc. will occur.

2. Chronic erosive cheilitis: The red part of the lips is repeatedly eroded, with inflammatory exudate, forming yellow scabs, and if there is bleeding, blood scabs may form. The falling of scab may form erosion surface, which is very painful. Patients may experience swelling and itching.

Disease treatment

1. Avoid all external stimulation and correct bad habits.

2. Patients with mild desquamation and no subjective symptoms can apply a small amount of lip balm.

3. For patients with chronic desquamative cheilitis with desquamation and chapped skin, you can first use warm water for local wet compresses to remove desquamation and then apply antibiotic or hormone ointment. Note: Do not use it for a long time.

4. For chronic erosive cheilitis, first use local wet compresses with medicine to remove the scabs, then apply antibiotics or hormone ointments topically. In severe cases, local hormone injections can be used for treatment.

5. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment: Based on the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment, Chinese medicine is used for systemic or local treatment.

Disease prevention

Patients with this disease should avoid irritants, including cold, wind, and spicy food; correct bad habits, such as licking lips, biting lips, or peeling lips with hands; quit smoking and drinking; and keep lips moist.