Inflammation on the lips: what is cheilitis and how to treat it. Lower lip hurts on the inside

Often, representatives of the fair half of humanity encounter discomfort in the genital area, which in turn is a good reason to pay attention to women’s health and to visit your doctor, because this symptom may indicate the presence of various diseases of the female reproductive system. So why do the labia hurt? And how dangerous is it? In this article we will answer this question for you.

Why do the labia hurt: reasons

So, it is immediately worth noting that in order to identify the true cause of painful sensations in the labia, it is necessary to pay attention to the moment when the pain itself directly occurs, because this will greatly contribute to identifying the diagnosis. For example, quite often a woman experiences pain in the labia area during sexual intercourse, which in most cases indicates the presence of various inflammatory processes occurring in this area or in the pelvic organs. Below we will tell you about such diseases in more detail.

Vulvovaginitis.

Vulvovaginitis is a disease of the female reproductive system, the essence of which is the presence of an inflammatory process that occurs in the vaginal mucosa, as well as on the external genitalia. As for the causes of this disease, in most cases this pathology develops against the background of violation of personal hygiene rules - it is this factor that most often contributes to the development of vulvovaginitis. Various bacteria that are sexually transmitted (chlamydia, gonococcus), herpes virus, staphylococcus, streptococcus, as well as helminths are also the causative agents of this pathology.

In addition, those at risk are those who take corticosteroid medications and use various gels for intimate hygiene, which in turn lead to disruption of the microflora in the intimate area, or more precisely, to dysbacteriosis. Various ovarian diseases, excess body weight, diabetes mellitus and the presence of a malfunction of the endocrine system can also affect the development of this disease.

As for the symptoms of this disease, with vulvovaginitis a woman, as a rule, experiences pain in the labia, which in turn increases in volume; itching and burning are also present. The presence of white discharge, in some cases mixed with blood from the vagina, is another sign of this pathology. As for the period of occurrence of painful sensations, with vulvovaginitis a woman experiences a certain discomfort during urination and during sexual intercourse;

Candidiasis.

Candidiasis, or simply thrush, is a diagnosis that almost every woman has heard more than once, because, according to statistics, approximately 90 percent of all women are susceptible to this pathology. Most women believe that this pathology is exclusively a female gynecological disease, however, in fact, this is not entirely true. But the thing is that this pathology occurs as a result of the reproduction in the body of a certain group of yeast fungi, which in turn can occur not only in the reproductive system, but also in the oral cavity and in the gastrointestinal tract. It is also worth noting that candidiasis is not exclusively a female disease; Men and even newborn children are also susceptible to it.

As for the causes of “female” thrush, in this situation the above pathology can develop against the background of several factors. For example, a weakened immune system, any changes in hormonal levels, frequent changes of sexual partners, as well as the use of certain contraceptives, lead to the above diagnosis.

As for the manifestation of thrush, with this disease the patient experiences discomfort and itching in the labia area, which occurs during sexual intercourse and at the time of urination; the appearance of cheesy discharge is another distinctive feature of this disease;

Bartholinitis.

Bartholinitis is another inflammatory disease of the female reproductive system, which can be caused by bacteria such as Trichomonas, Escherichia coli, streptococci, staphylococci, etc.

As for the causes of this disease, in most cases bartholinitis develops against the background of a weakened immune system, as well as as a result of non-compliance with personal hygiene rules. Frequent change of sexual partners is another reason that can provoke the development of the above pathology.

As for the manifestations of this disease, bartholinitis manifests itself through the occurrence of a rather sharp and burning pain that occurs in the area of ​​the labia majora, which at the same time increases in volume and acquires a red tint. In this case, a discharge mixed with pus may also appear. Often the patient experiences an increase in body temperature to 38 degrees and general weakness and malaise;

Vulvodynia.

Vulvodynia is a pathology of the female reproductive system, the essence of which is the presence of painful sensations in the complex of all genital organs of the female body. It is worth noting that, despite the fact that with this pathology a woman may experience painful sensations of different nature (the pain can be dull and aching, while others experience quite intense and acute pain, itching), which in turn can last for a fairly long period and at the same time greatly disrupt the usual way of life, however, vulvodynia is not a dangerous disease: it is not sexually transmitted and is not a symptom of cancer.

As for the reasons as a result of which this pathology develops, even a thorough examination in a gynecological office and taking all the necessary smears cannot give an exact answer as to why this pathology develops. However, it is known that vulvodynia can exist against the background of various chronic diseases (for example, any kidney pathologies, diabetes mellitus, etc.); the occurrence of an allergic reaction to personal hygiene products or irritation to synthetic underwear also entails the development of this pathology.

As for the manifestation of vulvodynia, in this situation the main symptom of this pathology is pain that is concentrated in the area of ​​the labia majora and minora, and in some cases in the anus. with even a very slight touch to the affected area, the patient experiences pain, itching and burning; at the same time, the genitals themselves acquire a red tint and become dry. If this pathology is not treated, the above symptoms may become chronic, which in turn will cause regularly disturbing pain in the labia area;

Gardnerellosis.

The essence of this pathology, which in turn quite often becomes the cause of painful sensations in the labia, is the presence of vaginal dysbiosis, which, in turn, develops against the background of the proliferation of various opportunistic microorganisms in the vagina. It is worth noting that quite often this disease occurs against the background of the presence in the female body of bacteria such as Trichomonas, gonococci, streptococci, chlamydia, candida and others.

As for the manifestation of this disease, gardnerellosis manifests itself in almost the same way as other inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system, namely, painful sensations in the labia area, as well as vaginal discharge. Which may be gray in color with an unpleasant odor; At the same time, burning and itching in this area are also observed.

It is also worth mentioning the consequences of untreated gardnerellosis, namely the possible frequent termination of pregnancy in the future, infertility and various inflammatory diseases of the uterine appendages. Premature birth and possible infection of the child at birth are another unfavorable “consequences” of this pathology. That is why, if you have the above symptoms, it is recommended that you visit your doctor to undergo an examination and prescribe adequate treatment.

As for the causes of this disease, in this situation many factors can provoke the development of gardnerellosis. For example, frequent changes of sexual partners, various sexually transmitted diseases, weakened immunity, as well as the use of hormonal drugs and vaginal suppositories entail the development of the above diagnosis;

Various sexually transmitted diseases.

Today, modern venereology knows more than 20 different infections that are sexually transmitted and which manifest themselves as symptoms such as pain in the labia. By the way, it is worth noting that almost all sexually transmitted diseases in women manifest themselves more “calmly” than in men. In addition to the painful sensations themselves, which in turn are not pronounced, a woman is also faced with vaginal discharge, which can take on different shades and have an unpleasant odor, which in turn makes any venereal disease similar in its symptoms to any inflammatory process, occurring in the labia and uterine appendages.

It is also worth noting that all sexually transmitted diseases can be divided into two groups; The first group includes, so to speak, “classical” venereological diseases, which, if not detected in a timely manner, can pose a certain threat to human health. And now we are talking about such “dangerous” diagnoses as lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis and gonorrhea. These diseases listed above are very difficult to treat and have very serious consequences for the entire female body as a whole.

The second group of sexually transmitted diseases includes numerous pathologies, the causative agents of which are microorganisms such as candidiasis, genital herpes, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, trichomoniasis, etc. It is worth noting that in most cases, pathologies that are provoked by the above bacteria practically do not manifest themselves at the initial stage; Another feature is that several harmful bacteria can exist in the female body at the same time, which as a result creates the main threat and danger to women’s health.

As you can see, such a painful symptom as pain in the labia may indicate the presence of many dangerous diseases in the female body, which, being in an advanced stage, can cause the development of infertility and, in principle, negatively affect women’s health. That is why, if a symptom such as pain in the labia occurs, it is strongly recommended to contact your doctor for examination and prescribing adequate treatment.

The skin on the lips is very sensitive, which is why any, even slight damage to its integrity can cause pain. In addition to physical discomfort, diseases of the skin of the lips - cheilitis - also bring psychological inconvenience, since their symptoms always worsen the aesthetics of the face. Most often, with cheilitis, burning of the lips, redness and peeling appear. But not only cheilitis can provoke the appearance of unpleasant sensations on the lips. What are the causes of burning lips and how to eliminate the unpleasant symptom, you will learn from our article.

Cheilitis as a cause of burning lips

The main cause of burning skin on the lips is cheilitis. This term is collective and refers to a whole group of inflammatory diseases of the red border and mucous membrane on the inside of the lips.

The development of cheilitis is not uncommon; both adults and children are susceptible to the disease. The frequency of spread of the disease is explained by the structural features of the skin of the lips. It has a minimal thickness of the stratum corneum, but is not protected by fatty tissue, which is why it is more susceptible to the influence of both external and internal negative factors. And given that the skin of the lips is always open, the likelihood of damage becomes even higher.

Cheilitis can be either an independent disease or a sign of other, more dangerous diseases of the internal organs. Primary cheilitis is treated by a dentist-therapist. If inflammation develops against the background of other diseases, the patient is referred to specialized specialists. You may need the help of a dermatologist, immunologist, or allergist.

Varieties and symptoms

There are many types of cheilitis, as well as the causes that cause them. Their common manifestations, as is clear from the photographs of patients, are redness of the skin of the lips and around them, burning, swelling. Let's look at the main types of cheilitis and find out the features of their treatment.

Exfoliative cheilitis

Develops in people experiencing severe stress or depression. It can have 2 forms:

• exudative is manifested by itching, burning, peeling of the Klein zone - the area located in the center of the red border, as well as the formation of gray-yellow crusts, while the edges of the lips remain intact;
• The dry form is characterized by the appearance of light crusts along the entire red border.

To treat the disease, it is important to reduce the level of stress experienced by the patient. He is prescribed sedatives or tranquilizers. To relieve inflammation, it is recommended to treat the affected skin with anti-inflammatory ointments and gels. Additionally, vitamin complexes and immunostimulants are prescribed.

Meteorological cheilitis

As the name implies, this type of disease develops due to exposure to adverse weather conditions - wind, sun, cold. Men whose work involves prolonged exposure to the open air are more susceptible to meteorological cheilitis. The disease manifests itself as dryness and burning of the lips, crusts and cracks on them.

The main therapeutic measure in this case is to protect the lips from the effects of negative factors. It is recommended to treat the affected areas with moisturizing creams that stimulate tissue regeneration. Vitamin complexes containing vitamins B and PP are prescribed for oral administration.

Actinic cheilitis

Burning lips are one of the signs of actinic cheilitis.

The disease occurs against the background of increased sensitivity of the body to ultraviolet rays. A characteristic feature is the seasonality of symptoms. Unpleasant sensations arise in the spring and summer and disappear on their own during the cold season.

Symptoms of actinic cheilitis include burning, redness of the skin of the lips, and the formation of white scales and blisters on them. Actinic cheilitis can develop into precancerous diseases, so it is very important when the disease develops to use sunscreen on your lips and try to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.

Allergic cheilitis

The cause of discomfort may be. It develops as a reaction of the body when the skin of the lips is exposed to an irritant. It can be a substance that comes into contact with the skin of the red border or mucous membrane, which is part of lipstick, toothpaste or gum rinse, face cream. Allergic cheilitis often develops as a reaction to foods.

Symptoms characteristic of this type of disease are burning, itching, redness, swelling. The lips become painful, swell, and may become crusty.

To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, antihistamines (Suprastin, Zodak, Tavegil) are prescribed. Corticosteroid ointments can be used locally. In addition, it is recommended to take vitamin complexes and rinse your mouth with medicinal decoctions. The main condition for recovery is the elimination of the irritant.

Eczematous cheilitis

This type of cheilitis occurs in people suffering from eczema. The inflammatory process on the lips is manifested by swelling, burning, itching, crusts and scales form on the skin of the red border. Often the pathological process also affects the skin around the mouth.

For treatment, antiallergic drugs, corticosteroids, calcium and sodium preparations are prescribed. With the development of microbial eczema, antimicrobial agents are prescribed.

The delicate skin of the lips is exposed to negative external factors.

Other causes of burning lips

In addition to cheilitis, burning of the skin of the lips and around them can occur due to the following factors:

• chapping of the skin in the wind: manifested by peeling, the appearance of small cracks, burning, tightness and pain, most often occurring in the autumn-winter period;
• drying of the skin in the sun: manifests itself in the summer due to exposure to high temperatures;
• lack of vitamins, especially A, E and group B, negatively affects the condition of the skin, including the skin of the red border;
• taking medications (especially long-term antibiotic therapy) can lead to dryness of the oral mucosa and skin of the red border;
• burning in the lips can be observed under severe stress or emotional overstimulation;
• hormonal imbalances can cause discomfort;
• burning on the lips is one of the first symptoms of herpes.

Separately, it is worth mentioning about herpes. The disease manifests itself as redness and swelling of the soft tissues, followed by the appearance of numerous small blisters filled with clear liquid at the affected area. Around day 4 they burst, turning into ulcers. During this period of disease development, there may be an increase in body temperature and enlargement of the lymph nodes under the jaw. By 5-8 days from the onset of the disease, yellow crusts appear on the affected areas. You should not tear them off, as this will complicate the healing process of the skin. By the end of the second week, the affected areas are completely restored.

As you can see, a burning sensation can be one of the signs of serious diseases that require drug treatment. At the same time, very rarely this symptom is the only one; as a rule, it is accompanied by other uncomfortable sensations: swelling, redness, itching, the formation of crusts, blisters and erosions. To quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms, do not delay your visit to the doctor! Be healthy!

Burning and bitterness in the mouth is accompanied by painful sensations on the lips, gums, tongue, cheeks or throat. This chronic condition is better known as burning lip syndrome. Among its other names, we also note glossodynia and stomatalgia. Only a qualified doctor can determine why this happens. It is quite difficult to independently find the root cause of a burning sensation in the mouth and associate it with any disease.

According to statistics, the feeling that the oral cavity is on fire is most often detected in women. In men, lips and mouth burn 7 times less often. This chronic painful syndrome is mainly detected in middle-aged people, less often in young people.

Why does burning of the tongue and lips occur?

The exact reasons why it bakes in the mouth have not been established. However, scientists and doctors, working and experimenting for a long time, have identified a number of symptoms that can lead to the development of dentalgia. Let us list the most common symptoms that are detected in patients at an early stage of the development of dentalgia.

Oral diseases

These are, in particular, lesions of the mucous membrane. It is the individual areas that are in an inflamed state that cause the unpleasant sensation that the mouth and lips are on fire. The main diseases are aphthous stomatitis, that is, a fungus. It appears in the form of granular white formations in the oral cavity on the tongue and cheeks. We also note dry mouth syndrome (xerostomia), which can be overcome by drinking plenty of fluids.

Allergic reaction

An allergic reaction often results in a burning sensation on the tip of the tongue and appears when a person has eaten a product that is unusual for the body (we recommend reading:).

• It can develop due to the use of medications, unusual smells, and stress.
• Oral hygiene products can also cause allergies, and subsequently lead to dentalgia.
• A separate type is contact allergy, which occurs when dentures burn the tongue. In this case, it is advised to stop using the prosthesis for some time.

Gastrointestinal diseases

This group includes gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastro-food reflux. The latter is a function of the stomach, during which the liquid ejected from it enters the esophagus, which causes pain. Therapy involves the use of medications that envelop and protect the digestive organs from secreted fluid.

Other reasons

Scientists identify other reasons:

Treatment of burning sensation

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To begin treatment for “burning tongue” syndrome, it is necessary to correctly determine what caused it. To do this, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the patient, listens to complaints about unpleasant symptoms and sometimes prescribes laboratory tests to finally make a diagnosis. If the dentist, after an examination, rules out all kinds of diseases of the teeth and gums (mouth ulcers, dryness, etc.), then the diagnosis will continue with a therapist or a specialized doctor, who will prescribe examinations to identify the reasons why the oral cavity burns.

Medicines

When the cause is an allergic reaction, antihistamines are used for treatment. In this case, the root cause is clear, which means that tingling of the tip of the tongue and lips can be avoided if you strictly follow the doctor’s instructions.

When the “burning tongue” syndrome appears due to anemia, medications containing iron and vitamins are used for therapy. In special cases, the only correct solution that will get rid of the disease is a blood transfusion. If a patient has gastritis or GERD, that is, a gastrointestinal disease, they take medications whose action is aimed at protecting the gastric mucosa, use a special diet and use antibiotics.

To carry out therapy for infectious diseases of the oral cavity, antibacterial agents are used that will destroy harmful bacteria and eliminate burning sensation in the oral cavity. When the root cause of the disease is related to the brain, antipsychotics are used, as well as drugs used to maintain vascular tone.

Only a qualified doctor can determine the diagnosis and establish the root cause of the “burning tongue” syndrome. The patient is not able to understand all the medical subtleties, so self-medication in this case is dangerous, as it can aggravate the situation.

If the doctor has not prescribed medications or any procedures, then other therapy is necessary. Determining the main cause of burning lips and tongue is sometimes extremely difficult, so the patient should not rely on intuition and his own medical knowledge (we recommend reading:).

Relieving symptoms using traditional methods

To eliminate tingling of the tongue and lips, you can use folk remedies (more details in the article:). However, before you start treatment, you should know exactly what caused your lips to hurt (we recommend reading:). As a rule, a herbal infusion used as a mouth rinse has a beneficial effect.

The effect of the drugs presented above may vary. For the treatment of “burning tongue” syndrome, there is no general method that would suit all patients, so the doctor prescribes therapy individually for each person.

Prevention of glossalgia

To relieve discomfort in the oral cavity, the following rules should be followed:

1. do not use rinsing products made on the basis of alcohol-containing components;
2. giving up bad habits, including drinking alcohol and smoking, will protect the oral cavity from unpleasant sensations;
3. buy chewing gum that does not contain sugar, but contains xylitol, that is, a sweetener;
4. Drink coffee, juices, and sparkling water less often, since the acidity level in these drinks is exceeded;
5. Toothpaste used daily to brush your teeth should not contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a substance used as a cleanser.

Eliminating unpleasant sensations in the mouth may not be a quick process, so if after a few weeks the symptoms have not gone away and your lips are still burning, then you should not give up. Treatment must be continued in any case. It is advisable to seek additional advice from your doctor. Provided that all preventive measures are followed and proper treatment is performed, dentalgia will recede and unpleasant sensations in the mouth can be forgotten.

The burning sensation is considered one of the most unpleasant, so to protect yourself from the occurrence of this chronic disease, regularly monitor your oral hygiene. It will be helpful to visit the dentist at least once a year. Normalizing a diet containing vitamins, nutrients and microelements, and giving up bad habits will also have a positive effect in the fight against “burning tongue” syndrome.

Let's look at the reasons why lips hurt. This may be due to an infectious disease with an accompanying high body temperature, cold, excessive sun exposure, or itching in the lip area. Usually a blister or rash immediately appears on the lips, which causes pain. In another (popular) way it is called fever.

Herpes on the lips - why does it occur?

This disease looks like lumps located in the corners of the mouth that hurt. Usually they can occur due to reduced immunity, deficiency of vitamins and some microelements in the body. At the beginning of the disease, it is painful for a person to move his lips when talking. In the corners of the lips there is drying of the skin, constant itching or burning, pain. In the process of eating sour, salty or spicy food, the pain intensifies.

Mechanical injury - lips hurt

As a result of the impact, a mechanical injury occurs, which then hurts. In addition to the fact that after this the person feels pain, the lips may also become swollen; it all depends on the strength of the blow received. Impacts can also cause microcracks and wounds on the lips, which will hurt.

Cut or biting lips

Cuts in the mouth or bites can most often occur on the inside of the lips in young children. In the first year of their lives, most babies cut or bite their lips when they fall. The same thing can happen to adults, but less often. For example, you might bite your lip while talking while eating. Sometimes your lips can become very swollen if you touch them too hard with your teeth.

Fashion for lip decoration

Recently, it has become a custom among young people to decorate their lips in every conceivable and inconceivable way. Such methods include tattooing and lip piercing. With such procedures, an infection may well get into the wounds if it was done unprofessionally, and then the lips will hurt. Why? Ulcers appear at the puncture sites, and the whole process is accompanied by pain. Tattooing is generally a painful procedure.

Freezing

Many of us wonder: why do our lips hurt in the cold? It's simple - from exposure to cold air and gusts of wind, the skin on the lips dries out and they crack and hurt. This whole process is painful. Therefore, women are recommended to lubricate their lips with rich cream or hygienic lipstick in cold weather.

Colds

Due to increased body temperature, the skin of the lips dries out, which can cause cracks that can sometimes bleed.

Oncological diseases of the lips

In the later stages of the disease, severe pain is felt. This occurs due to a tumor that actively affects the process of destruction of lip tissue.

Inflammation on the inside of the lips with redness and swelling, itching and burning sensation, is inflammation of the oral mucosa.

Such inflammation in adults often develops when the immune system is weakened.

The “entry gate” for infection is microtrauma of the mucous membrane of the inner side of the lips that occurs during brushing teeth, chewing food, and dental procedures. Infectious agents penetrate the mucous membrane, provoking the development of inflammation. The microflora of the oral cavity always contains pathogenic microorganisms, but the immune system does not allow them to multiply, and when it fails, the pathogenic microflora begins to develop rapidly, causing inflammation.

Based on the degree of damage to the mucous membrane, there are:

• catarrhal;
• ulcerative;
• aphthous stomatitis.

The appearance of catarrhal stomatitis caused by poor oral hygiene, the presence of caries-affected teeth, and significant deposits of stones.

If left untreated, its next stage often becomes ulcerative stomatitis(although it can also occur independently). Ulcers of a round or oval shape with a reddish edging affect not only the surface layer, but also penetrate deep into the tissues, causing pain. If treatment is not continued, colonies form from the ulcers, which, merging, spread from the inside of the lips to the entire oral cavity.

- a phenomenon that is far from rare. Initially, blisters appear, which quickly burst, leaving deep, painful ulcers with a white center and a red edge. Sensitivity in the mouth increases, swelling and bleeding of the gums appears, body temperature rises, up to high values. External manifestations are so painful that they interfere with eating and speaking.

The inner surface of the lips is often affected by the herpes virus. Once it has penetrated the body, it is not completely cured, and from time to time it makes itself felt, activating when the immune system is weakened or under severe stress. Herpes on the inside of the lips is not so noticeable to others, but no less dangerous.

Stomatitis in adults is often a consequence of other diseases: diabetes, blood or cardiovascular problems, or an allergic reaction.

Treatment of inflammation on the inside of the lips

Treatment of mild inflammation comes down to the use of oral baths with antiseptic solutions - furatsilin, potassium permanganate, chlorhexidine. It is recommended to eat non-hot, liquid, non-irritating food.

Moderate and severe forms of inflammation require the use of anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents.

To increase the body's defenses immunostimulating therapy is indicated.

When inflammation subsides use products that improve the healing of ulcers - or rose hips, Solcoseryl dental ointment, Mundizal-gel, Piralvex gel or solution.