Mom, suck blisters are a condition of chapped lips experienced by babies. This condition occurs when the baby moves the lip muscles excessively (orbicularis oris) when sucking the nipple.
Muscleorbicularis orisThis serves to move the lips and allow the baby to suck on the breast.
Blisters are fluid-filled bumps on the skin. They are tender and can be painful if pressed or opened, making it difficult for a baby to feed or making them fussy due to the pain.
Premature babies are also susceptible to experiencingsuck blistersbecause they can’t breastfeed well yet. This is normal, as their brains aren’t yet fully developed. Furthermore, babies don’t have enough fat to support their tongue when sucking on a nipple or bottle.
Reason Suck Blister on Baby’s Lips
1. Sucking
Babies can develop breastfeeding blisters on the inside of their lips. This is caused by an incorrect latch while breastfeeding. This can lead to sores or blisters on the lips.
2. Cold Sores
Cold sores cause blisters on the lips. Sometimes called fever blisters, they can appear on babies’ lips and are caused by the Herpes simplex virus 1.
If your baby has a sore, you should cover it and avoid kissing them, as this can transmit the virus. Herpes infections are especially dangerous for newborns.
When a baby is exposed to a virus, these blisters usually disappear and reappear as they get older. Therefore, it’s important for mothers to pay attention to these three things in their babies:
- Seeing a cold sore on a baby’s lip
- Baby has a fever
- Doesn’t want to breastfeed normally
Babies with cold sores on their lips will likely heal on their own within a week or two. However, sometimes cold sores in babies can cause complications.
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for cold sores. To help manage them, mothers can help protect their baby’s skin with lotion, sunscreen, and lip balm especially for babies before going outside.
Also, some treatments can help make babies feel better when they have a cold such as:
- Apply a cold or warm towel compress to help relieve pain.
- Continue breastfeeding regularly to keep your baby hydrated.
- Avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.
- Give pain relievers as directed by your doctor.
- Apply a cooling lip cream that is sold over the counter for children.
3. Allergy CausesSuck Blisters
Blisters can occur due to an allergic reaction. Babies may be allergic to ingredients in lotions, creams, or lip balms used on or near the lips. Blisters can also occur due to food allergies.
4. Impetigo
Impetigo is an infection caused by bacteria.StaphylococcusorStreptococcuswhich causes blisters on the lips and around the mouth.
Impetigo can burst and ooze fluid, forming a crust over the lips. The infection can even appear as larger, clear, fluid-filled blisters.
If your baby has impetigo, consult a doctor immediately. They will usually prescribe an antibiotic cream to treat the infection.
If the infection also occurs around the mouth, your doctor may recommend that you use a bandage to stop the spread of bacteria.
5. Canker sores
Oral thrush can cause white blisters on a baby’s lips. White patches can also appear inside the mouth, on the tongue, cheeks, and roof of the mouth.
It looks like cottage cheese or milk and can be painful to suck on or swallow. This is caused by an overgrowth of yeast.
Thrush can be treated with a doctor-recommended antifungal medication, which can be applied to the baby’s tongue and lips. If you’re breastfeeding and your nipples are sore and red, you may also have sore nipples.
If this happens, you can pass the infection back and forth between you and your baby. Therefore, you should apply medication to your nipples.
When your baby is old enough, you can also give them probiotic yogurt, and even sterilize soothers, teething toys, and bottles.
6. Baby sucks too hard
Most lip blisters in newborns are caused by the baby’s strong sucking during breastfeeding. These blisters are also known as:
- Suction abrasion (suck blisters)
- Friction abrasion (friction blisters)
- Sucking calluses (Suck calluses)
SymptomSuck Blister atau Bibir Lepuh pada Bayi
The characteristics of a baby who has suck blisters or sucking blisters are a slight swelling on the baby’s upper lip, a little peeling from the lips, blisters in the middle of the baby’s upper lip and lower lip, sometimes not very visible except when the lips are open.
Additionally, symptoms can include skin lumps around the lips filled with clear fluid. These lumps can burst and become painful.
If the blisters are caused by an improper latch, your baby may not experience any more severe symptoms. However, if the blisters are caused by an infection, your baby may experience symptoms to watch for, such as:
- Fever
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Smelly fluid from blisters
- White patches or white blisters
- Crusty skin
- Swelling
- Spreading blisters
How to Treat Suck Blisters in Bottle-Fed Babies
If your baby is bottle-fed or formula-fed , latch-on can also be managed. Here are some methods you can try:
- Consider the breastfeeding position, making sure the baby can take the bottle nipple completely into his mouth and not try to hold it with his lips.
- Try several breastfeeding techniques to allow for a comfortable sucking speed.
- Check that the size of the nipple is appropriate for the baby’s age and development.
How to TreatSuck Blisters
Treat suck blisterIt depends on the cause. While some can heal on their own, there are also ways to treat them, namely:
1. Overcoming Suck Blisters by Continuing to Breastfeed Your Baby
Mothers should continue breastfeeding their little ones as usual and should consult a lactation consultant to help their babies get a good latch.
As your baby gets used to the sucking motion, the blisters will disappear. This can sometimes take several months.
2. Apply a few drops of breast milk to relieve blisters.
Breast milk is packed with hundreds to thousands of nutrients, fats, and vitamins that are designed to nourish and heal.
For example, immunoglobulin A is a blood protein that bacteria contain to fight infection, and palmitic acid is a natural moisturizer.
Apply a few drops of breast milk to your baby’s lips to reduce the risk of infection and to soothe and moisturize them.
3. Apply Olive or Coconut Oil
Rub a few drops of olive oil or coconut oil on your baby’s lips as an effective moisturizer.
4. Use Lanolin Cream
You may have used lanolin cream to care for your nipples. However, applying a small amount to your baby’s lips can also help soothe chapped lips.
Breastfeeding Latch Tips
Tickle your baby’s lips with your nipple to encourage them to open their mouth wide when latching on. This may take a few tries, so be patient.
When the baby’s mouth is wide open, with the chin lowered and the tongue down, you can put the breast into his mouth.
Point your nipple toward his nose. Try to get as much of the bottom of your areola into his mouth as possible.
With a deep latch and your breast further back in your baby’s mouth, your baby’s tongue can milk the milk. This will help prevent additional blisters from forming.
There are several things that can make it difficult for a baby to breastfeed properly.
- If your baby is tongue-tied, he or she will not be able to lift his or her tongue to cover the lower gum line and work against the breast.
- If a baby is lip-tied, his lips will not have the range of movement necessary to take your breast far enough into his mouth.
When Should You Go to the Doctor?
Sometimes a blister on a baby’s lip can be a sign of something more serious. See a doctor immediately if your baby has a blister with the following symptoms:
- Stop breastfeeding, eating, or drinking fluids
- Wounds near their eyes
- Red, hot, swollen skin
- Seizures
- High fever
- Spreading the wound
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid breathing
- Snoring
- Blue skin
- Short periods of not breathing
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Bloody
- Rash
That’s some information about suck blisters.Hopefully this information is useful for you, Mom!
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
