Cheilitis is an inflammation which occurs on or around the lips. This inflammation causes the lips to crack and this often leads to bleeding. Such cracks can be quite deep and they take a long time to heal. Cheilitis can be triggered by various conditions. Some of these causes are related to the climatic conditions of the place where the affected person lives. Cheilitis can also be an indicator of underlying medical conditions. It is also a symptom of a vitamin deficiency. In most cases, the person is found to be deficient in any one of the vitamins of the B-group. Cheilitis which occurs at the corners of the mouth is commonly referred to as angular cheilitis.

Most cases of cheilitis are caused when the lips are exposed to the harmful rays of the sun. People often do not moisturize their lips and the area around the mouth. They also do not use lotions which contain sunscreen. When such people expose their skin to the sun, the sensitive skin on and around the lips is damaged. It becomes dry and develops cracks. This dryness is basically due to the fact that the skin loses moisture rapidly when it is exposed to the sun.

Cheilitis results due to deficiency of vitamin B. So, if you watch out your diet, you can avoid the problem to a great extent. Green leafy vegetables and dairy products are good sources of vitamin B. Hence, consuming them in greater quantities reduces the problem. You can have them in the form of salads or mixed with dhal. Having good amount of leafy vegetables not only improves cheilitis but also helps to improve the constipation problem as they are rich in fiber. Other rich sources of vitamin B include liver, lean meat, peanuts, whole grain cereals, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes and bananas. There is yet another benefit of having a balanced diet is having a perfect immune system that fights very well against bacterial infections. Continue to learn Chinese medicine Treatment for Behcet's Disease.