Chapped lips are typically caused by environmental exposures that lead to irritation, including saliva and licking your lips, spicy foods, and cold, dry weather, says Dr. Zeichner. The common cold and sun damage can also cause chapped lips, he adds, as well as medication like cholesterol-lowering agents.
Chapped lips are the result of dry, cracked skin on your lips due to cold or dry weather, sun exposure, frequently licking your lips or dehydration. You can treat chapped lips at home with the use of lip balm or ointment to ease any discomfort.
If your lips burn, sting, or feel uncomfortable when you apply a product to your lips, it means you're irritating your lips, so you want to stop using that product. Apply a non-irritating lip balm (or lip moisturizer) several times a day and before bed.
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. When the body is dehydrated, it pulls water from certain areas to ensure that the cells stay hydrated. This can cause dryness in the skin, including that of the lips.
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.
Chapped lips are a common symptom of deficiencies, especially in folate (vitamin B9), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and vitamins B6 and B12 ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ).
“You have to reapply it regularly after eat and drinking,” says Dr. Waldorf. Water left on the lips from food or drink can also evaporate, adding to dryness.
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).
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.
Hydration, low stomach acid, diet, and internal imbalances can all lead to chapped lips. Did you know that chapped lips are usually a sign of problems in the digestive tract? When you are dehydrated, your body draws water from other parts of the body (such as the intestines) to hydrate the cells.
Oral thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is when Candida, the type of fungus that causes yeast infections, overgrows in the mouth. Even though it's easy to think of oral thrush as an infection affecting only the inside of your mouth, it can actually also affect your lips.
Angular cheilitis usually isn't serious. The condition often goes away about two weeks after starting treatment. Severe angular cheilitis can result in scarring or weak, thin skin if it isn't treated.
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.
Yes you can! The hands are another delicate area of skin and any lotion that is designed for your hands should be safe for your lips. Hand lotions often include moisturizing ingredients like shea butter. Only use a small amount of hand lotion on your lips.
Honey can help moisturize your lips and protect cracked lips from infection. It also works as a mild exfoliator and can help remove dry, dead skin from your lips. Choose organic honey, and apply to your lips throughout the day using your fingers or a cotton swab.
Menthol and camphor — they produce the tingling sensation in many balms — can cause an inflammatory reaction. Phenol can worsen symptoms for many people. It's used in chemical peels, which is not a good sign when it's in a product designed for lips.
When your lips are dehydrated, it can be tempting to lick and moisten them. The effect is temporary and might make things worse. Licking your lips coats them in a layer of your saliva, which contains enzymes and chemicals used to digest food in your mouth. These enzymes can lead to additional dryness.
Reach for your lip balm instead. Don't peel or bite flaky skin. The skin on your lips is thin and delicate. Picking at it can cause it to bleed and hurt, slow the healing process, and cause more irritation.
If you aren't putting the right food into it, then chapped lips can be the result. There are eight water-soluble B vitamins. One study examined combinations like B9 and B12 or B3, B5, B6, and B10. It showed certain combinations improved healing and sped the production of skin cells.
Use vitamin E
If you have vitamin E capsules, you can simply cut one open and apply the product right to your lips. Vitamin E boosts circulation and may help generate new skin cells, making your lips softer.
The condition itself is not considered a serious health concern, but it increases the risk of skin cancer. Most people with actinic cheilitis develop similar symptoms. About 90 percent of cases involve the lower lip, although the condition can also develop on the upper lip.
Flavourings are the major cause of allergic contact reactions to toothpaste and there is considerable overlap with foods. Toothpaste and other oral hygiene products can cause cheilitis (inflamed lips) and stomatitis (inflamed mouth).
The lauric acid in coconut oil has nourishing properties that seep into your skin. Some coconut oils absorb quickly, providing moisture to heal dry, chapped lips.