Itchy lips: Causes and prevention

Sometimes you experience sudden itching on your lips, which can be very uncomfortable, but you're unsure why your lips are itching. So, how can you prevent itchy and painful lips?

1. Causes of Itchy Lips

Itchy lips can be caused by various factors, including: exposure to allergens, certain medications, trauma, weather, infections, and other causes.

1.1 Itchy Lips Due to Exposure to Allergens

Itchy lips caused by exposure to allergens is a condition where the lips become itchy, swollen, scaly, or even inflamed due to some contacts with allergens found in lips cosmetics (lipstick), sunscreen, mouthwash, toothpaste, or perfumes.

Additionally, foods containing preservatives or the use of artificial flavorings can also cause itchy lips. Typically, itching caused by exposure to allergens is a temporary condition and will resolve within about 24 hours.

1.2 Itchy Lips Due to Medication

If you are taking medication to treat a medical condition, such as drugs containing retinoids or the antibiotic penicillin, it may cause side effects such as itchy lips, with symptoms including cracked lips and bleeding on the lips.

1.3 Itchy Lips Due to Trauma

Itchy lips caused by trauma is a condition where the skin on the lips becomes irritated and overly sensitive. The habit of frequently biting or lips-licking can also lead to swelling and itching. If the lips are not further irritated, the itching might stop, but it may reoccur if the lips continue to be exposed to irritation.

1.4 Itchy Lips Due to Weather

Itchy lips due to weather is a condition where the lips become itchy, dry, swollen, cracked, or even bleed due to prolonged exposure to dry, cold, and windy weather, especially in regions with harsh climates. Itchy lips due to weather are commonly seen in individuals who frequently work outdoors.

1.5 Itchy Lips Due to Infection

Itchy lips caused by infections from certain fungi (Candida), viruses (HSV), or bacteria (group A streptococcus, Staphylococcus) can cause significant discomfort. In addition to itchy lips, infections may lead to other symptoms, and once these symptoms resolve, the itching will also subside. Alternatively, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to control and treat the infection.

1.6 Itchy Lips Due to Other Causes

Itchy lips caused by other factors include conditions such as lupus, hives, persistent rashes (lasting for 6 weeks), nutritional deficiencies, and facial paralysis due to Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.

2. Itchy Lips, Dry Lips

In addition to the causes mentioned above, sometimes itchy lips are due to dryness, which causes an itching sensation. Dry lips are primarily caused by environmental factors, which weaken the protective skin barrier on the lips, leading to irritation, redness, and itching.

Typically, dry lips are mainly caused by high temperatures, dryness, and heat in the environment and are not a sign of a medical condition. On the other hand, itchy lips can be a symptom of certain diseases. Itchy lips are often accompanied by dry lips, so failing to distinguish between these two symptoms could lead to a misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.

3. When should you see a doctor for itchy lips?

If you experience itchy lips along with the following unusual symptoms, you should immediately visit a healthcare facility or a doctor for consultation and to diagnose the underlying causes:

• Rash on the face
• Continuous bleeding from the lips
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the lips

Additionally, if you experience persistent itchy lips for several weeks, accompanied by cracked lips and bleeding, you should see a doctor immediately. Don't forget to inform the doctor about any cosmetics or medications you have used recently.

The doctor may recommend a blood test to check if the itchy lips are caused by an allergic reaction or may perform a culture check to identify any fungi or bacteria causing the infection.

4. How to treat itchy lips?

Depending on the cause of the itchy lips, the treatment method will vary, specifically:

• Due to infection: Oral antibiotics, antifungal creams.
• Due to allergies: Oral or topical antihistamines.
• Due to dry lips: Use fragrance-free and chemical-free moisturizers to enhance the skin's protective barrier against dry, hot, and harsh weather conditions.

When prescribed medications to treat itchy lips, always remember to discuss potential side effects with your doctor.

5. Preventing Itchy Lips

Itchy lips can be prevented from recurring by the following methods:

• Protect your lips: Your lips need protection at all times of the year with moisturizing lip balms (during dry, cold seasons) and scarves, cloth coverings, or sunscreen (during hot, high-temperature seasons). When using lip-care cosmetics, make sure to choose fragrance-free products that do not contain allergens.
• Avoid harmful habits to your lips: Licking or biting your lips are harmful habits that should be eliminated to prevent itching. While licking your lips may seem to help keep them moisturized and less dry, in fact, it actually makes them drier. If you are using cosmetics or skincare products that contain chemicals that affect your lips, consider changing products and usage methods to avoid causing itchy lips due to contact with chemical cosmetics.
• Drink enough water: Finally, keep your lips from becoming dry, cracked, or itchy by drinking enough water every day, especially in the winter.

Itchy lips can be caused by various factors such as exposure to allergens, harsh weather, medication side effects, or infections. To prevent itchy lips, use lip care and protection products, avoid harmful habits, and drink enough water daily.

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