Dry lips are caused by dehydration, cold or dry weather, lip licking, sun, or some medicines.
Common causes
- Dehydration.
- Cold, dry weather.
- Lip licking.
- Sun exposure.
- Mouth breathing.
- Medicines (isotretinoin).
- Lip balm ingredients (allergy).
- Vitamin deficiency.
Fix
- Drink water.
- Use petroleum jelly or beeswax balm with SPF.
- Avoid licking.
See a doctor
If lips crack, bleed or last over 2 weeks.
Why lips dry out
Lips lack oil glands and have a thin outer layer, so they lose moisture quickly. Common causes are cold or dry air, wind, sun exposure, lip licking, mouth breathing, dehydration, certain products with menthol, camphor or fragrance, and medications such as isotretinoin, retinoids and some diuretics.
- Lip licking creates a cycle, because saliva evaporates and dries the lips further.
- Angular cheilitis, allergic contact cheilitis and actinic cheilitis cause chronic dryness or scaling.
- Vitamin deficiencies (iron, B vitamins, zinc) and conditions such as Sjogren syndrome can contribute.
Care and when to see a doctor
Use petrolatum or a bland balm with ceramides, beeswax or shea butter, and SPF 30 lip balm outdoors. Avoid flavored or irritating balms and peeling skin. Drink water and use a humidifier. See a doctor if dryness persists beyond 2 to 3 weeks, cracks bleed, or there are persistent white or red patches or a sore that does not heal, since actinic cheilitis can lead to squamous cell carcinoma.
Why lips dry out
Lips lack oil glands and dry easily from cold, wind, dehydration, licking, certain medications (isotretinoin), sun, allergic reactions or vitamin deficiencies.
Care and when to see a doctor
Use petroleum jelly or fragrance free balm with SPF, drink water and avoid licking. See a doctor for cracks that persist or sores that do not heal in two weeks.
Common causes
Dry lips are caused by weather, wind, cold air, dehydration, licking the lips, mouth breathing, sun exposure and some medicines, such as isotretinoin. Lip skin lacks oil glands and has a very thin outer layer, so it loses moisture quickly. Allergic reactions to lip balm, toothpaste, flavorings or lipstick cause contact cheilitis.
Care and when to see a doctor
Apply petrolatum, lanolin or beeswax balm often, use SPF 30 lip balm outdoors, drink water, and avoid licking and picking. Vitamin deficiencies (B vitamins, iron), angular cheilitis (fungal or bacterial infection in mouth corners), eczema and actinic cheilitis (a precancer from sun damage) can also cause dryness. See a doctor if cracking lasts more than two weeks, there are sores that do not heal, bleeding, white patches, swelling or pain.
Based on data from the American Academy of Dermatology and the Mayo Clinic
