What causes a child's lips to become dry, cracked, and bleed?

Sep 07, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

Chapped and bleeding lips in children may be caused by dry weather, lip-licking habits, vitamin deficiencies, cheilitis, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, or other factors. Parents should pay attention to keeping their child's lips moisturized, avoid excessive dryness, and guide the child to develop good lip care habits, such as regularly applying lip balm and reducing lip-licking, to maintain healthy lips.

In general, a child's chapped and bleeding lips may be caused by factors such as dry weather, lip-licking habits, vitamin deficiencies, cheilitis (lip inflammation), or hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Treatment may include general care and medication under the guidance of a doctor. Specific analysis is as follows:

1. Dry Weather

During cold, dry seasons, low humidity in the air can cause rapid evaporation of moisture from a child’s lips, leading to chapping and bleeding. It is recommended to use a humidifier in daily life to maintain adequate indoor air moisture.

2. Lip-Licking Habit

Some children have a habit of licking their lips. Although saliva temporarily moistens the lips, it contains enzymes that, upon evaporation, draw away more moisture, making the lips even drier and more prone to cracking and bleeding. This lip-licking habit should be corrected in daily life.

3. Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamin deficiency, particularly deficiencies in B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, can impair skin health, making it more susceptible to damage and resulting in symptoms such as chapped and bleeding lips. This condition may be accompanied by oral ulcers or gum bleeding. Under medical supervision, treatment may include medications such as vitamin B2 tablets, vitamin AD drops, or enalapril maleate and folic acid tablets.

4. Cheilitis (Lip Inflammation)

Cheilitis is commonly caused by habits like lip-licking or lip-biting, or allergic reactions. Inflammation can lead to redness, swelling, and dryness of the lips, resulting in chapping and bleeding. Symptoms may include itching or a burning sensation on the lips. Patients should follow medical advice and use medications such as tacrolimus ointment, acyclovir tablets, or mometasone furoate gel.

5. Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by enteroviruses such as Coxsackievirus and spreads via respiratory droplets or direct contact. It may also result in chapped and bleeding lips in children. Symptoms may include fever and oral blisters. Under medical guidance, treatment may involve medications such as ibuprofen granules, acetaminophen granules, or ribavirin tablets.

In daily life, parents should pay attention to keeping their child’s lips moisturized to prevent excessive dryness. They should also guide children to develop good lip care habits, such as regularly applying lip balm and reducing lip-licking behavior, to maintain healthy lips.

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