Health issues like low stomach acid, poor nutrition, and an unhealthy gut can lead to chapped lips. If you are dehydrated, the body will absorb water from the remaining body to hydrate its cells. This can cause constipation and dry skin and lips.
Your chapped lips could be caused by something aside from dry weather. An allergic reaction, yeast infection, or something more serious can make your lips feel dry and uncomfortable. Actinic cheilitis is a precancerous condition that turns one or both lips dry and scaly.
Cheilitis is often attributed to infections and inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease. Dental trauma and excessive saliva production may also turn a regular case of chapped lips into cheilitis. Bacteria can enter through the cracks and cause infection.
If you have gastrointestinal issues like inflammatory bowel disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Crohn's disease, you may have chapped or cracked lips.
If you notice that your skin and lips are dry even after drinking 10 glasses of water a day you obviously need more water. And the reason for this could be because you stay in a dry place, or have a very active lifestyle. But not drinking 8 glasses of water is not the only way to know if you are dehydrated.
Lack of oil glands in your lips. Not moisturizing your lips. Wearing irritating lipsticks or balms. Harsh or drying products like menthol, camphor, or salicylic acid.
Serious cases. If you find that your lips simply won't heal, there may be an underlying condition to blame and you should see a doctor. Chapped lips can get infected, as bacteria can enter through cracks and abrasions. This is known as cheilitis and must be treated by a doctor.
Health issues like low stomach acid, poor nutrition, and an unhealthy gut can lead to chapped lips. If you are dehydrated, the body will absorb water from the remaining body to hydrate its cells. This can cause constipation and dry skin and lips.
Low thyroid function may cause dryness of the mouth and lips, and B complex vitamin deficiencies or low zinc or iron levels have been reported to cause chapped lips, he adds.
Introduction: Dry mouth has been reported as a symptom of COVID-19. In this study, xerostomia (dry mouth) was reported in patients with COVID-19.
What does it look like? Solar cheilitis predominantly affects the lower lip because it tends to be more prominent. The homogenous pink color of the healthy lip (Figure A) is replaced with non-homogenous white/gray, pink, red, or brown areas and the normally sharp vermillion/skin border becomes less distinct (Figure B).
Dehydration is a major culprit when it comes to chapped lips. People may not notice when they are slightly dehydrated, so it is a good idea to make a habit of drinking water throughout the day. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in.
Cheilitis, or “lip inflammation,” is a condition that manifests as red, dry, scaling, and itchy lips.
Chapped lips is an early sign of low thyroid function. A more severe form of hypothyroidism is called HASHIMOTO'S DISEASE. In this case, the person's own immune system attacks the thyroid gland tissue causing inflammation and severe hypothyroidism.
You might feel the need to repeatedly lick your lips when you're anxious or nervous. Harsh environmental conditions can also dry out the skin and lips and make us feel the need to moisten them.
Low stomach acid can cause many issues, including skin issues like acne, eczema, perioral dermatitis and more.
Vaseline is an affordable, easy-to-find option in most grocery stores and pharmacies, and it's said to relieve dry skin, help heal wounds , and even help moisturize chapped lips.
Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. (which pull water into the skin like a sponge) are also helpful. A mild steroid, such as 1% hydrocortisone, can reduce inflammation if your lips are in pain.
Celiac Disease
Common signs and symptoms include diarrhea, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, gas, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, constipation, cramps, and even a rash. Because the body struggles with nourishment, there is often a nutrient deficiency, which ultimately can lead to dry, cracked lips.
Spicy foods are not good for pre- or post-chapped lips. Spicy foods compromise the skin barrier and can result in chapped lips or make currently chapped lips worse. Since spicy foods often have a burning sensation, it can cause severe pain to already chapped lips.
Drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin and lips hydrated. While dehydration isn't the only cause of dry lips, it can be a factor. Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day to remember to hydrate. This will do wonders for your entire body.
Symptoms include: dry, cracking lips. red and swollen or white patch on the lower lip. painless, scaly patches on the lip that feel like sandpaper (advanced actinic cheilitis)
A type of fungus called Candida can cause infections in the mouth and throat and even on the lips. This latter type of infection can be called lip fungus. When the mouth is affected by Candida (also known as oral thrush), the corners of the mouth can become cracked, explains the National Health Service (NHS).