Skin science article

Eczema on the Lips: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Locations: AdvertisementAdvertisement Eczema on the lips is a skin irritation that can make your lips red, itchy, cracked and painful. The condition might be the result of eczema or an allergic reaction. Moisturizers or ointments containing steroids usually he

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished September 10, 2026

Locations:

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Eczema on the lips is a skin irritation that can make your lips red, itchy, cracked and painful. The condition might be the result of eczema or an allergic reaction. Moisturizers or ointments containing steroids usually help.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Care at Cleveland Clinic

Image content: This image is available to view online.

View image online (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/-/scassets/images/org/health/articles/22741-eczema-on-the-lips_1365786201)

Eczema on the lips, also known as eczematous cheilitis, is inflammation or irritation on the skin of your lips. It’s sometimes associated with atopic dermatitis. It can lead to dry, scaly or painfully cracked lips. It’s a more severe form of chapped lips. Chapped lips are usually temporary, but eczema on the lips tends to be long term (chronic).

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

You can get lip dermatitis if you have an allergic reaction to a substance, such as toothpaste or lotion. Or people with lip eczema may also have atopic dermatitis elsewhere on their bodies. It isn’t contagious, so it can’t spread from person to person.

The term “cheilitis” describes general lip irritation. Eczematous cheilitis is the most common form, but other common types include:

Angular cheilitis, which usually affects the corners of the mouth and is often the result of a fungal or yeast infection.
Infective cheilitis, which can be the result of the herpes simplex virus or bacterial infections such as group A streptococcal infections. Some forms are contagious.

Eczema on the lips tends to be a common skin problem in children, but adults can get it, too. It may affect people who:

Have allergies.
Have eczema.
Have atopy (an inherited risk of developing allergies).
Use cosmetics or other products on their lips.

Potential causes of eczema on the lips include:

Allergens in the environment, food, lip products or medications.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
Excessive lip licking, biting or sucking.
Irritants such as those found in lipstick, lip balm, toothpaste or mouthwash (contact dermatitis).
Loss of lip plasticity (hydration and elasticity), often due to age or exposure to hot, dry conditions.

Lip eczema can affect your top lip, bottom lip or both. It may also spread to the skin around your lips. Rarely, it invades the inner mucous membrane of your mouth. Some people don’t have lip irritation for weeks or months, then symptoms flare up and get worse.

Lip dermatitis can make your lips:

Your healthcare provider evaluates your lips and checks for other areas of skin irritation or inflammation. They also review your health history, including any allergic reactions you’ve had in the past. Be sure to let them know if anyone in your family has a history of atopic dermatitis or other allergic skin conditions.

Your healthcare provider may perform tests to confirm a diagnosis of eczema on the lips:

Allergy testing, such as a skin patch test or skin prick test, to find out if a specific substance is causing your lip irritation.
Blood or urine tests to check for viral or bacterial infections.

If you have lip dermatitis, try to stop habits such as licking, biting or sucking your lips. You should also avoid irritants such as lip balms or lipsticks. Your healthcare provider may recommend:

Petroleum jelly or unscented, hypoallergenic moisturizer to soothe dry, cracked lips.
Steroid ointment to reduce inflammation.

In rare cases, people with severe lip eczema need oral steroids (taken by mouth) or a special prescription skin cream or ointment that prevents your immune system from overreacting to allergens.

Care at Cleveland Clinic

Eczema on the lips, like atopic dermatitis, tends to be a chronic condition. It can come and go, so your lips might be clear for a long time before you have a flare-up. In children, the condition tends to improve as they get older.

You may not be able to prevent eczema from developing on your lips if you have atopic dermatitis elsewhere on your body, but you can reduce your risk by:

Avoiding lipstick, lip balm or other cosmetics that contain fragrances or dyes.
Cutting down on alcohol consumption.
Drinking plenty of water.
Keeping your lips moisturized with petroleum jelly.
Not licking, scratching, biting or sucking your lips.
Selecting mouthwash and toothpaste without alcohol or harsh antiseptics.
Skipping very salty or spicy foods.

Contact your healthcare provider if you have:

Severe lip sores that are open, bleed or don’t improve with treatment.
Hives (urticaria) and swelling (angioedema) around your face, lips or eyes.

Call 911 immediately if you or someone else has shortness of breath (dyspnea) or trouble swallowing, which could be signs of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Eczema on the lips is a skin condition that can make them red, dry and cracked. Talk to your healthcare provider if your lip irritation doesn’t go away in a few days. They can make sure you don’t have an illness or infection. Lip ointment, moisturizers or steroids usually helps lip eczema.

Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.

Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.

Bhutta BS, Hafsi W. Cheilitis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470592/). [Updated 2021 Feb 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Accessed 4/18/2022.
Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T. Differential Diagnosis of Cheilitis - How to Classify Cheilitis? (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6531998/) Acta Clinica Croatica. 2018 June;57(2):342-351. Accessed 4/18/2022.

Every day, people see your skin, hair and nails. At Cleveland Clinic, our expert and caring dermatology team will make sure they’re healthy and strong.

AdvertisementAdvertisement