Sore lips
When dry lips become inflamed
Sometimes dry lips can become inflamed andfeel sore. The medical term for inflamed lips is cheilitis.
Lips usually become inflamed as a result of mild irritation. They can also become inflamed if they're infected with bacteria or fungi that have entered cracks in the skin of the lips.
If the corners of your mouth are red and sore, you may have a type of inflammation called angular cheilitis.This is often caused bybacteria orfungi and istreated with ointments applied to the area.
Angular cheilitis can sometimes be asymptom of a type of eczema called contact dermatitis , and is more common in people who wear dentures .
It's also more common in older people with age,the creases around the corners of the mouth become more pronounced, andsaliva can build up in the crevices and irritate the skin.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out how to look after your lips when they're exposed to the sun, wind and cold. Applying a lip balm that contains petroleum or beeswax will help treat and prevent dry lips.
What not to do
It's very tempting to pick and bite off flakes of dried skin, but this will only make your lips bleed and heal more slowly. Irritating the skin around your mouth may alsotrigger a Herpes simplex virus
How to treat dry or sore lips
The best thing to do if you have dry or sore lips is to regularly apply a lip balm containing petroleum or beeswax. You may need totry a few different products before you find one that works for you.
When dry lips become inflamed
Sometimes dry lips can become inflamed andfeel sore. The medical term for inflamed lips is cheilitis. Lips usually become inflamed as a result of mild irritation. They can also become inflamed if the
When to see your GP
See your GP if your lips are red and sore and you think they're infected. They may prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal cream to treat the infection. This may also contain 1% hydrocortisone (steroi
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