How to manage dry skin, itching, and cracks around my lips?

Question

Hello doctor,

My face feels extremely dry. I have a lot of dryness under my eyes, and it feels slightly itchy. When I wash my face with plain water, it causes a burning sensation. I also have cracks around my lips. What should I do?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Given the symptoms that you have reported, such as the facial dryness, itching beneath the eyes, burning when using plain water, and fissures near the mouth area, there seems to be damage to the skin barrier, which might be a result of having sensitive or dry skin and could be exacerbated by the environment or some mild irritants. Your skin barrier has been damaged, making it more sensitive, hence causing the burning sensation caused by plain water.

Management of this condition should focus on restoring the skin barrier, hydrating the skin, and decreasing any inflammation. You should apply a lot of petroleum jelly to the affected areas two to three times a day, preferably right after washing. You may use moisturizer meant for sensitive skin generously. Use a mild, soap and fragrance-free face wash for cleaning. Lukewarm water is ideal.

To help calm irritation and repair the skin, Hydrocortisone 1% cream can be applied twice daily on the affected areas for just seven days, as overuse of steroid creams can thin the skin and worsen dryness. For your lips, regular application of petroleum jelly or a plain lip balm is recommended. Licking the lips should be avoided, as it increases dryness.

I would the following general lifestyle measures:

Avoid harsh chemicals or fragranced products on your face.
Keep your nails short to prevent scratching.
Stay hydrated.
Use a humidifier if the indoor air is dry.
Avoid long or hot showers.

Once the irritation settles, daily sunscreen use will help protect the skin barrier.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.