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Itchy, dry, peeling, and red around the mouth

Dec 03, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Itching, dryness, peeling, and redness around the mouth may be caused by dry environment, bad habits, dietary irritation, contact dermatitis, or angular cheilitis. These symptoms can be improved through moisturizing care, correcting habits, adjusting diet, and medication. If symptoms persist or worsen, or are accompanied by exudation or pain, prompt medical attention is needed. Insufficient air humidity can lead to dehydration of the lips and surrounding skin.

Itching, dryness, peeling, and redness around the mouth may be caused by dry environments, bad habits, dietary irritants, contact dermatitis, or angular cheilitis. These symptoms can be improved through moisturizing care, correcting habits, adjusting diet, and medical treatment. If symptoms persist or worsen, or are accompanied by oozing or pain, prompt medical attention is necessary.

1. Dry Environment: Insufficient air humidity leads to moisture loss in the lips and surrounding skin, impairing the skin barrier and causing dryness, peeling, and mild redness and itching. It is recommended to increase environmental humidity using a humidifier, apply fragrance-free lip balm regularly, and avoid frequently licking the lips.

2. Bad Habits: Frequently licking or biting the lips, or peeling off flaking skin with hands, damages the skin barrier and exacerbates moisture loss, leading to redness and itching. It is advised to consciously correct these habits and gently soften and remove flaking skin instead of tearing it off directly.

3. Dietary Irritants: Long-term consumption of spicy or hot foods, or frequent contact with irritating foods such as citrus fruits or mangoes, can irritate the skin around the lips and cause discomfort. It is recommended to reduce intake of irritating foods, clean the perioral area with lukewarm water after eating, and apply moisturizing products.

4. Contact Dermatitis: Exposure to allergens such as lipstick, lip balm, or utensils can trigger localized skin inflammation, manifesting as redness, itching, dryness, and peeling, possibly accompanied by mild swelling. Under medical guidance, topical medications such as desonide cream, tacrolimus ointment, or oral antihistamines like loratadine syrup may be used to relieve symptoms.

5. Angular Cheilitis: Inflammation at the corners of the mouth and surrounding skin due to vitamin B deficiency or bacterial infection can cause redness, itching, dryness, and peeling, with possible cracking in severe cases. Patients may use vitamin B2 tablets, erythromycin ointment, or zinc oxide ointment as directed by a physician to alleviate symptoms.

Maintain cleanliness of the lips and surrounding skin, choose gentle, non-irritating moisturizers, maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins, avoid suspected allergens, and follow a regular sleep schedule to minimize skin irritation and support skin barrier recovery.

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