I can't bear to see a toddler whose lips are dry and chapped. Fortunately, there are many ways to solve this problem. You can improve the health of your toddler's lips by getting enough fluids and protecting his mouth from cold weather. Apply lip balm, petroleum gel, or another ointment to reduce swelling and irritation. Chapped lips in toddlers will go away in a few days.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Medication Rub
Step 1. Apply an oil-based product on the toddler's lips
There are types of ointments and oils that can treat chapped lips. For example, you can apply a thin layer of petroleum gel, olive oil, or vegetable oil. Also, try dripping a small amount of the contents of a vitamin E capsule on your toddler's lips.
Step 2. Apply lip balm on toddlers who are going out in cold weather
Use a clean cotton swab to apply an adequate amount of lip balm. Do it once in the morning and one more time before going to bed at night. Put it back on right before leaving the house.
- The most effective moisturizers are those containing beeswax or petroleum.
- Do not apply lip balm with your fingers because it can transfer germs to your toddler's chapped lips.
- Don't use scented or flavored lip balm that can encourage toddlers to lick their lips.
- Don't use lip balm that contains camphor or phenol, which can dry out your lips even more.
Step 3. Use a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15 if your child is going out
Excessive sun exposure can cause chapped lips. Moisturizers containing SPF 15 or more can protect your toddler's lips from the sun.
Sunscreen is only acceptable on toddler's lips if it is contained in a lip balm. Do not apply sunscreen directly to the lips
Method 2 of 4: Changing Behavior and Habits
Step 1. Don't tell your child to stop licking their lips
Toddlers usually don't follow orders obediently. Telling him to stop licking his lips will only make him do it more and not less.
Step 2. Teach your child to breathe through the nose, not the mouth
Air from the mouth will continue to pass through the lips, making them drier. When you see your child breathing through the mouth, demonstrate the correct breathing technique.
Step 3. Cover the child's mouth and nose with a scarf during winter
Cold weather contributes to dry lips due to loss of moisture. Scarves can protect chapped lips that are made worse by dry and cold air.
When the weather is cold, try to keep children playing indoors
Step 4. Install a humidifier in the child's room
Toddler lips are usually dehydrated when the weather is dry and cold. Place a humidifier in the house or room so that the air is not too dry.
Step 5. Make sure your child drinks 8 to 10 glasses of water every day
Dehydration is the main cause of chapped lips. If you don't get enough fluids, your lips may crack. Give him water when he eats and plays throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
Step 6. Reduce the child's anxiety
Usually, anxiety triggers the impulse to lick the lips. Frequently invite children to talk in a sweet and soothing way. Provide a safe and stable play environment, and keep him away from stressors (for example, a barking dog or another child that scares him).
Method 3 of 4: Addressing the Cause of the Irritation
Step 1. Keep toddlers away from allergens
There are several types of fragrances, dyes, and other allergens that can cause chapped lips. If you know your child has allergies, reduce their exposure. In addition, do not apply cosmetics such as lipstick on toddlers because cosmetics usually contain chemicals that can cause allergic reactions that make children's lips dry.
If your child has allergies, take them to the doctor. The doctor can perform tests to find out exactly what triggers the child's reaction
Step 2. Check the label of the child's toothpaste
Toothpaste containing the active ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate can dry out the lips and even cause irritation, which in turn leads to chapped lips. Check the ingredient label on your child's toothpaste to make sure it doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
Make sure your child's toothpaste also doesn't contain cinnamate, which is uncomfortable for people with chapped lips
Step 3. Do not give oranges to children
The acids in oranges tend to irritate the lips and make them sensitive to the sun. As a result, the moisture in the lips evaporates and causes chapping.
- In addition to ordinary oranges, which also need to be avoided are lemons, grapefruit, mandarin oranges, grapefruit, and limes.
- If you are concerned about the adequacy of your child's vitamin C intake, give them kale, bell peppers, broccoli, or strawberries. For other sources of vitamin C, ask your doctor.
Step 4. Give additional B vitamins
Deficiency of B vitamins can cause chapped lips. Increase your intake of foods that contain B vitamins, such as meat, fish, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, whole grains, and beans.
The exact amount of B vitamins a child needs depends on their weight and age. Please consult a pediatrician to determine the amount of B vitamins to be given
Method 4 of 4: Coping with More Serious Cases
Step 1. Take your toddler to the ER or call the doctor if his lips are red and cracked, and he has a fever for five days or more
These symptoms may be indicative of a more serious condition, but only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. Although rare, serious problems must be addressed immediately.
- Toddlers should also be taken to the doctor if chapped lips are accompanied by symptoms of pain (for example, coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath) or if there is a rash on other parts of the body.
- If you're drinking less than usual, look for signs of dehydration. These include an inability to hold fluid in the stomach, lack of energy, infrequent urination, or little tears when crying.
Step 2. Call the doctor if the child's condition does not improve
If your child's lips are chapped and don't improve after two weeks of treatment, schedule an appointment with the doctor. If the chapped lips also bleed, contact a doctor immediately.
Step 3. Take your child to the doctor if he has white patches or patches in his mouth
Look for white patches on the tongue, the inside of the cheeks, the inside of the lips, and the gums. If white patches are accompanied by chapped lips (especially chapped at the corners of the mouth), it could be a sign of Candida or a yeast infection. Your doctor can give you an antifungal fluid or cream to treat the infection.
The method of administration of the drug that the doctor recommends depends on the product itself. Consult a doctor or the manufacturer's instructions for specific instructions for use
Step 4. Check the child for dermatitis
If you have red, scaly patches on your lips, on the skin above and below your lips, and on the edges of your lips, it's probably not a common case of chapped lips. It is a medical symptom called dermatitis due to lip licking. Your doctor can suggest the best treatment, which is usually a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
- If your toddler's case is lip-licking dermatitis, usually patches of eczema (dry and scaly skin) will appear on other parts of his body. So, pay attention and call a doctor if you come across such a patch.
- In rare cases, your child may need a mild topical steroid, antifungal cream, or antibiotic cream. The doctor will give this additional treatment if needed.
- If the problem is dermatitis, ask the child to stop licking his lips.
Step 5. Apply Rosen's Ointment on the child's lips
Rosen's Ointment, also called 1-2-3 Ointment, is made from Burrow's Solution, a topical medication used to treat swelling, rashes, and skin irritation. This topical medication also contains Aquaphor skin moisturizer and zinc oxide. Apply on the child's chapped lips.
