How to Maintain Lip Hydration (Even for Severely Dry Lips)

Dealing with dry lips can be incredibly distracting, as the tight, tingling, and parched sensation is hard to ignore. Often, this becomes a frustrating cycle where efforts to restore moisture fall short, leaving you back where you started. Dermatologists share their top tips for achieving long-lasting lip hydration.

What Causes Lips to Become Chapped?

Lips are prone to dryness and cracking because they lack the protective keratin layer and oil-producing glands found in the rest of your skin, explains Serena Mraz, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Solano Dermatology and Associates.

“This makes lips more exposed to environmental factors like sun, wind, and extreme temperatures,” she adds. “With a weaker natural barrier, it’s essential to provide extra protection against these elements to keep lips healthy and hydrated.”

Your lip balm might be causing addiction or an allergic reaction, both of which can lead to ongoing dryness.

Early Signs of Lip Dryness

While severely dry lips are easy to spot, there are early warning signs to watch for before the condition worsens.

• Surface wrinkling 
• Flaking or scaling 
• Cracks at the corners 
• Feeling of tightness 
• Texture resembling paper 
• Darkening of lip color 
• Increased sensitivity to salty or spicy foods
• Loss of natural shine 

Professional Advice for Lip Hydration

According to Dr. Mraz, preventing lip dryness is far easier than treating it once irritation sets in. Whether you’re noticing early signs of dryness or aiming to avoid it altogether, these steps will help maintain soft, hydrated lips.

Avoid Licking Your Lips

While licking your lips might seem like a quick fix for dryness, it actually worsens the problem. Dr. Jacquiline Hay-Hakim, a board-certified dermatologist, emphasizes that saliva evaporates quickly, leaving lips drier than before. Moreover, enzymes in saliva can damage the delicate lip skin, causing further irritation and chapping.

Steer Clear of Harsh Products

Review your lip and skincare products to ensure they don’t contain irritating ingredients. Dr. Hay-Hakim advises avoiding common irritants like fragrances, flavors, menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, and beeswax.

Opt for SPF-Infused Lip Balm

Shielding your lips from environmental factors includes protecting them from sun exposure. SPF not only prevents dryness but also reduces the risk of skin cancer and premature aging. Dr. Hay-Hakim recommends using a lip balm with SPF during the day or when outdoors for both hydration and UV protection.

Apply Products in Layers

Just like the skin on the rest of your body, lips thrive with a combination of hydration (water-based) and moisturization (oil-based). Choose a product that offers both, such as Blistex Medicated Lip Balm. To seal in the benefits, apply an occlusive layer like Vaseline or lip oil on top.

Reapply Every Two Hours

No matter which lip product you use, make sure to reapply it every two hours. Dr. Mraz explains that frequent reapplication is crucial because activities like lip licking, eating, drinking, or kissing can wear down the product. For those prone to lip licking, even more frequent reapplication may be necessary.

Incorporate a Lip Treatment

In addition to your daily lip care routine, consider using a deep-conditioning lip treatment once or twice a week. These treatments are packed with hydrating and nourishing ingredients to keep your lips soft and healthy.