How to Treat Chapped Lips

Apply lip balm. Choose a colorless, unscented beeswax lip balm or a sunscreen lip balm. Lip balm protects lips from weather conditions, so don't forget to apply it on sunny or windy days. Lip balm also heals lip cracks and reduces inflammation. Apply lip balm before going outside, after eating or drinking, or whenever you feel the balm has worn off.

• Avoid flavored lip balms if you have a habit of licking your lips. Opt for unscented sunscreen lip balms.
• Avoid using lip balms in jars, as frequently using your fingers to apply can introduce bacteria that may worsen lip cracks.
• Wrap a scarf or wear a mask to protect your lips on windy days to avoid further irritation and promote healing.

Avoid peeling dry skin. Scratching, peeling dry skin off your lips, or biting your lips may be hard to resist, but it severely hampers the healing process. Peeling can cause damage and bleeding, slowing down recovery or leading to inflammation. Additionally, you may experience pain from injuring your lips.

• Do not exfoliate chapped lips! The lip skin should be treated gently to heal properly. Exfoliation can cause further inflammation.

Hydrate to speed up healing. Dehydration is a common cause of chapped lips. Drink plenty of water and apply moisturizing products to your lips. Mildly dry lips can heal within hours by staying hydrated. For more severe cases, it takes longer: drink water during meals, before and after exercise, and whenever you feel thirsty.

• Dehydration often occurs in winter. Avoid dry heating systems and use a humidifier if possible.

Consult a doctor. If your lips become red, painful, and swollen, you may have developed cheilitis. Cheilitis is often caused by irritation or infection. Lips crack when overly dry, and bacteria can enter these cracks, leading to inflammation. In such cases, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal treatments until the inflammation subsides. Lip licking is also a common cause of cheilitis, especially in children.

• Cheilitis can be a symptom of contact dermatitis. If you develop a rash, consult a doctor to check for this condition.
• Cheilitis can be painful and persistent.
• Certain oral medications, creams, and supplements can increase the risk of cheilitis, such as retinoids. Others include lithium, high-dose vitamin A, d-penicillamine, isoniazid, phenothiazine, and chemotherapeutic agents like busulfan and actinomycin.
• Chapped lips can be a symptom of various diseases, including immune-related conditions (like lupus or Crohn's disease), thyroid disorders, and psoriasis.
• People with Down syndrome often experience chapped lips.

Avoid licking your lips. You may unconsciously lick your lips to moisten them when they feel dry. However, licking removes the natural oils, leading to further dehydration and cracking. If you catch yourself licking your lips, apply lip balm. If you cannot stop, consult a doctor for treatment advice. Frequent lip licking, biting, or pressing may indicate disorders like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB).

• Regularly applying lip balm can remind you not to lick, bite, or press your lips. Choose an unscented, sunscreen lip balm.
• Children aged 7 to 15 are prone to developing cheilitis from frequent lip licking.

Breathe through your nose. Breathing through your mouth can dehydrate your lips. If you tend to breathe through your mouth, practice making nasal breathing a habit. Sit quietly for a few minutes each day, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Additionally, you can use nasal strips while sleeping to widen your nasal passages.

Avoid allergens. Steer clear of dyes and allergens that affect your mouth. Even mild allergies or reactions to food can cause dry, chapped lips. If you haven't been diagnosed with allergies but experience symptoms like digestive issues or redness along with dry lips, consult a doctor for testing. You may need a referral to an allergist if the issue remains unresolved.

• Check the ingredients in your lip balm. Avoid any allergens, such as red dyes.
• Some people are allergic to para-aminobenzoic acid found in sunscreen lip products. If you notice throat swelling or difficulty breathing, stop using the lip balm and seek medical attention.

Care for and moisturize your lips. How can you protect your lips from cracking? Treat them as if they are already chapped. Drink water during meals, keep a glass of water nearby for when you're thirsty, and apply moisturizer when going outside or using a heater. Wrap a scarf around your face on cold, windy days, and use sunscreen lip balm on hot, sunny days.

• Unless you're trying to break the habit of licking your lips, you don't need to apply lip balm daily. However, remember to use it on sunny or windy days if you prefer not to apply it regularly.