Causes Of Dryness Around Mouth

By Sheetal Tewari

Dryness around mouth is a very common skin problem that keeps coming from time to time. You get itchy skin and a sensation of dryness around the mouth. Do you know why does this happen? Before going for any treatment, it is important to trace the roots of the problem that plague the sensitive area bordering your mouth.

Researchers have attributed dryness around the mouth to factors such as chapped lips, allergy, ageing and climatic conditions among others.

Causes Of Dryness Around Mouth

Lets have a look at the causes of dryness around mouth:

Allergy affects the skin: Dry skin around the mouth is often caused by some particular medicines or with the use of certain type of fluorides such as toothpaste. You should choose your toothpaste and opt for non-fluoride toothpaste to avoid dryness around the mouth. However, if the problem persists, you better consult a doctor.

Climate change: Dry skin around the mouth is more common during winters when oil glands produce lesser amount of oil than the body needs. This is attributed to low levels of humidity that causes dry skin around the month. Moreover, if you choose to stay in an air-conditioned room for long, this will
tend to worsen the problem, thus, leading to white flaky patches on the face.

Dehydration: Inadequate consumption of water often results in dehydration and also leads to the formation of rough patch on the face. Therefore, it is advised to drink water in order to avoid skin dryness. If you feel dry skin sensation around the skin, you must avoid excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee. Caffeine also causes dryness around the month.

Ageing: As one tends to age over time, the water or natural oils is lost through evaporation. As we age, there is a decrease in the production of natural oils by sebaceous glands and the body becomes increasingly vulnerable to contain water. The elders are also susceptible to dryness around the mouth
due to the decrease in production of proteins like collagen and elastin.

Medical reasons lead to rough patches: Diseases such as diabetes often leads to abrupt fluctuations in glucose levels which dries up the skin through dehydration. There are other medical conditions such as skin allergies, kidney diseases and cancer that leads to dry skin around the mouth.

Moisturise the skin and consult a doctor if the skin problem persists.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Story first published: Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 18:01 [IST]
Read more about: skin health