Lip licker’s dermatitis can be one of the most uncomfortable conditions to be faced with. Dermatitis is a broad term for any kind of inflammation of the skin. Lip licker’s dermatitis is just one kind of condition in the many that make up dermatitis and usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. During the winter months, it is common for skin to become rather dry. Dry skin comes with a number of problems such as excessive scratching, an irritation of the skin and, even the desire to provide extra lubrication to the affected parts with any resources available. Given that the lips form some part of the mouth, the most natural reaction to provide the additional lubrication would be simply to lick your lips, thereby putting some saliva over the irritated skin. However, the saliva will only serve to increase the amount of redness as well as the irritation being felt by the skin. While the condition is, quite obviously, not a contact induced form of dermatitis as it had been caused by your own saliva, there are a few substances present in the saliva that lead to the inflammation of the lips, only if performed habitually and frequently.
First and foremost, to get rid of the condition, you would need to make sure that you get rid of the habit of licking your lips. Licking chapped lips, in fact, will cause more damage than good as this will strip the lips of any oil content that was present. Applying some kind of non medicated balm such as chap stick is your best option as it retains the layers of oils present in the affected region while also making sure that your lips are well moisturized. However, it is important that an excessive usage of these products could lead to a suppression of the formation of natural lubricants which can lead to constant lip dryness. Making sure that you keep your body well hydrated with a high water intake will prevent the occurrence of dehydration or even the existence of dry lips to begin with. Placing a humidifier in your room will also make sure that your lips do not become excessively dry while you are fast asleep. Most individuals that have a habit of licking their lips also tend to bite their lips. This tends to remove any protective covering which can accelerate the dying process of the cells. One should also remember that chapped, dry lips are more susceptible to infection and measures must be taken to prevent this from happening.