Eczema around the mouth

Mouth eczema affects many eczema patients. In some cases, mouth eczema makes it difficult to talk, drink or eat. Mouth eczema is highly visible and can affect the way others see you and your self-confidence.

Who is affected by mouth eczema?

Mouth eczema affects:

• Infants with atopic dermatitis whose saliva promotes eczema around the mouth;
• Children, suffering from eczema plaques on the body and especially in the skin folds;
• Adults with facial eczema and neck.

Mouth eczema can take many forms:

• Lip eczema: dry, damaged, cracked lips;
• Eczema around the mouth (or mouth contour eczema): red plaques, small pimples, tingling and burning sensations.

What causes mouth eczema?

Atopic dermatitis is the leading cause of mouth eczema regardless of age.

Contact eczemas may occur, e.g. if you are allergic to toothpaste or make-up, or even nail polish (handborne eczema).

Mouth eczema is promoted by bad habits: licking lips, touching the face and mouth, and by climatic factors such as cold or wind.

Some local or general medications can lead to mouth eczema. In particular, prolonged use of cortisone creams can lead to eczema around the mouth called perioral dermatitis.

How should you treat mouth eczema?

The treatment of mouth eczema is based on the careful and timely use of cortisone cream and sometimes other prescription or non-prescription, antimicrobial, hydrating or healing creams.

As a preventive measure, hydrating the skin and lips is essential, both in summer and winter.