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Eczema can affect many areas of the face and body, including the lips and the skin around the mouth. It’s possible to develop eczema on the lips, under the lip, or even inside the mouth. Several types of eczema may show up in this area, leading to uncomfortable and irritating symptoms like a red or purplish, bumpy rash around the mouth and scaly, dry skin on the lips.
Eczema around the mouth and lips is sometimes confused with other skin conditions. You might mistake this itchy, bumpy rash for acne, seasonal dryness, or cold sores. It’s important not to make assumptions. If you think you may be experiencing eczema around your mouth or on your lips, make sure to get the right diagnosis and work with a dermatologist (skin doctor) to find the best treatment.
Symptoms of eczema around the mouth and lips may be similar to those on other parts of the body. Common symptoms include:
“I feel like I want to claw my lips off, they are so itchy,” wrote a member of MyEczemaTeam. “Can’t smile, can hardly talk, and it hurts to eat.”
These symptoms can affect a person’s mental health as well. “Flare-ups from my eczema made my anxiety go through the roof,” said another member. “It’s worse around my mouth.”
The irritation and itchiness can also make sleeping more difficult.
Several kinds of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, can cause symptoms around the mouth and on the lips. That’s why it’s important to see a healthcare provider or dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.
In addition to atopic dermatitis, here are some types of eczema that can affect the mouth and lips.
Perioral (around the mouth) dermatitis is a form of eczema that affects the area on or around the mouth and lips. A perioral dermatitis rash often resembles acne. The bumps may be red or skin-colored, and they are often dry and surrounded by dry skin.
The main difference between perioral dermatitis and acne is how it feels. Unlike acne pimples, the bumps and surrounding area caused by perioral dermatitis are likely to itch or burn. Usually, an area of several millimeters directly around the lips is spared from the rash.
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Eczematous cheilitis is a type of eczema that affects the lips. Symptoms like dry, scaly, itchy lips usually only affect the lips and not the inside of the mouth.
Angular cheilitis is a type of eczematous cheilitis that affects the corners of the mouth, leaving cracked sores that are often confused with cold sores. This condition may slowly go away on its own, and it can be managed with ointments and other medications.
Infective cheilitis is lip irritation caused by infections like the herpes simplex virus.
Lip licker’s dermatitis is a type of cheilitis caused by contact with an irritant or allergy. It can affect people of any age, but it’s more common in children. Unlike other types of irritant contact cheilitis, lip licker’s dermatitis is caused by your saliva. When you lick your lips a lot, it causes dryness and irritation. That dryness and irritation can then cause you to lick your lips even more, leading to worsened dryness and irritation. This often appears with discoloration around the lips where the skin is irritated by saliva from the tongue.
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In general, researchers are not certain what causes eczema, including eczema around the mouth and lips. Both genetic and environmental factors can play a role in the development of eczema. Eczema around the mouth and lips may have a specific cause, like saliva in the case of lip-licker’s dermatitis.
The long-term use of topical steroids such as hydrocortisone creams and inhaled steroid sprays can cause perioral dermatitis. Cleveland Clinic notes that the overuse of topical steroid medications is the most common cause of perioral dermatitis. Other factors linked to perioral dermatitis include infections like Candida albicans (a fungal infection), some cosmetic products, sunscreens, fluoridated toothpaste, chewing gum, stress, and extreme temperatures.
As a MyEczemaTeam member wrote, “I have eczema on my hands, but recently, it has spread to around my mouth and my eyes in the cold weather.”
Eczematous cheilitis may be caused by coming into contact with an allergen (through food or the environment), excessive lip licking or sucking, or irritants in cosmetic products or toothpaste.
If you develop eczema around your mouth or lips, make an appointment with your healthcare provider or dermatologist. They will ask questions about your symptoms and examine the affected area. In some cases, they may perform a skin biopsy to determine the type of eczema.
A dermatologist will determine whether you have atopic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, eczematous cheilitis, or another type of eczema. If they think a particular irritant, like cosmetics or topical steroids, is causing your eczema, they may instruct you to stop using that product or medication. Similarly, if saliva is causing your lip irritation, your provider will recommend you break the habit of licking or sucking your lips.
If your eczema isn’t caused by a specific irritant, they may treat it with topical, oral, or injectable medications, depending on its type and severity.
Topicals are applied directly to the skin to help reduce inflammation and irritation. Some are available over the counter, and others are prescription only. Your doctor may recommend a topical calcineurin inhibitor, steroid, or nonsteroidal cream to treat eczema around your mouth and lips.
Oral medications like antibiotics are sometimes used to help with inflammation from perioral eczema. They may be prescribed along with topical medications. If your eczema is severe, your dermatology provider might recommend other types of oral medications to help treat it.
Your dermatologist might recommend an injectable medication if your eczema is severe, not limited to your mouth and lips, and other treatments don’t work well for you.
Living a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, but it can make a big difference in the lives of people with eczema. Making changes to your daily routine may help prevent and improve symptoms of eczema around your mouth or on your lips.
If you have eczema on your face or around your mouth and lips, stop using lip and facial products that are harsh or irritating, such as scrubs or products with perfumes or dyes. Avoid known allergens and talk to your dermatologist about allergy testing if you suspect allergies might be causing your facial eczema. They may perform epicutaneous patch tests, usually on your back, which can help them figure out what allergen is responsible for your allergic contact dermatitis.
Only use topical and inhaled steroid medications as instructed by a healthcare provider, and talk to a dermatologist if you think these medications are causing eczema in or around your mouth.
Wash and rinse your face with warm water. Water that’s too hot or too cold can be irritating to eczema-prone skin.
Gentle but effective moisturizers are important for keeping dry, itchy skin at bay. Search the National Eczema Association’s product directory to find eczema-safe creams, cleansers, sunscreens, and more. Thick ointments will be better for the lips, whereas creams may be better for the skin.
Make sure you are getting enough quality sleep. Not sleeping enough or sleeping poorly leads to stress, which can exacerbate eczema.
Do what you can to reduce stress too, including meeting with a therapist or counselor if you need help.
MyEczemaTeam is the social network for people with eczema. On MyEczemaTeam, more than 55,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with eczema.
Have you developed eczema around your mouth or on your lips? How have you managed it? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below or by posting on MyEczemaTeam.
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A MyEczemaTeam Member
Wow yes it could be what we eat also , But I haven't figured mines out just yet. Lol
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