Dermatologist Bruce P. Robinson, MD, FAAD, assistant clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, outlines common and uncommon lip and mouth problems and their solutions.
A cold sore, or a "fever blister," usually appears on the outside of the lips or mouth. They are extremely common, and for some people, they return again and again. Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus.
Although experts still don't know all of the ways a cold sore can be triggered, some things that can cause a cold sore include stress, fatigue, a cold, fever or the flu, exposure to the sun, hormonal changes such as from menstruation or pregnancy, or trauma (a cut, dental work, shaving or facial surgery).
"Cold sores are extremely contagious," said Dr. Robinson. "If you have a cold sore, do not kiss anyone until it is completely healed."
There's no cure, but treatment is effective. Antiviral medications speed the healing process, which eases the pain and discomfort of the sore by slowing the reproduction of the virus. Medicines can be most effective when used at the first sign of a cold sore.
Chapped lips often occur with dry winter air – or in the hot summer sun. Because lips do not contain oil glands, they tend to dry out very easily and become chapped, no matter what the season.
People who lick their lips frequently might find that the more licking they do, the drier their lips get. To keep your lips moist, use a petroleum- or beeswax-based product, or plain petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline), Dr. Robinson said. Avoid flavored products because they can tempt you to lick your lips more often. He recommends that people whose lips are especially chapped use a plain balm because medicated balms often contain menthol, which can potentially be drying.
You can prevent chapped lips by:
- Increasing the moisture in your home with a humidifier.
- Not licking your lips.
- Covering your face with a scarf in the winter, especially on windy days.
- Wearing lip balm with sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
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