Why do babies grow beards in winter?

In winter, parents may find that there is a layer of black and red stuff on one side of their baby's lips, just like a beard, and it is usually accompanied by cracks and small skin fragments. This situation is very troubling for parents, as they are afraid that their children may have some serious illness. So let's take a detailed look at what causes babies to "grow beards" in winter.

The more you lick, the drier it gets, and you end up with a "beard"

"Many children are troubled by growing 'beards'. Parents also generally say that their children often have small red macules and papules around their lips, and occasionally the nearby skin will also develop cracks and fine desquamation."

What is the reason? Is it the saliva that caused the trouble?

Although saliva has certain bactericidal and moisturizing effects, some enzymes in saliva also have a certain stimulating effect on the epithelial cells of the lips. Under long-term stimulation, the protective layer of the lip epidermis is destroyed, which will cause inflammation. People who suffer from tongue-licking dermatitis not only grow "beards", but some even have "sausage lips", and often have red rashes, cracks and peeling around their lips.

So why do children grow beards in winter?

After listening to Coco’s mother’s description, the doctor quickly determined that the child had “tongue licking dermatitis”. If not treated promptly, the skin around the lips will turn dark brown and will be difficult to fade.

"The climate is dry and cold in winter, and many children will feel their lips are dry, so they will often lick or purse their lips, causing tongue licking dermatitis. Many children will develop the habit of licking their lips with their tongues when they feel their lips are dry. Frequent licking of lips will damage the protective layer on the surface of the skin, making the lips prone to water loss, causing inflammation and dermatitis. Over time, when licking lips becomes a habit for children, the more they lick, the drier their lips become. The skin inflammation gradually worsens, and pigments continue to accumulate, forming a "beard." The doctor explained, "The symptom is mainly manifested as a circle of clearly bordered erythema around the mouth, and papules, chapped lips and desquamation may also occur."

"It's not wrong to apply facial cream after suffering from tongue licking dermatitis, but the key is to correct the habit. When parents find that their children have such symptoms, they should take them to the hospital immediately, otherwise it will be difficult to fade away once the 'beard' becomes darker in color."