Chapstick Won't Help Your Peeling Lips If This Underlying Condition Is To Blame
You might automatically associate chapped lips with cold and dry weather. In fairness, weather is a common culprit behind dry, peeling lip—but that's not the only possible reason for the flakes.
Not drinking enough water is a big one. Other habits like licking your lips too much or eating salty foods can also play a part. And sometimes peeling is just a side effect of the physiological makeup of your lips, according to dermatologists Doris Day, MD, and Adam Friedman, MD. That means some people are more prone to having cracked lips than others.
“Most cases of chapped lips can be treated in just a few weeks without a dermatologist’s intervention,” says dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, MD, the founding director of Eternal Dermatology and Aesthetics. But while it’s unlikely, the root cause can be an underlying health condition that requires medical attention, like sunburn, allergic reactions, or skin cancer.
All in all, it's a good idea to know how to tell if all you need for your chapped lips is a simple lifestyle tweak or a trip to the doctor. Ahead, dermatologists break down some of the most common offenders for the dryness and how to fix the situation ASAP.
Meet the experts: Ife J. Rodney, MD, is a dermatologist and professor of dermatology at Howard University and George Washington University.
Doris Day, MD, is a clinical associate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Adam Friedman, MD, is a professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences.
Debra Jaliman, MD, is a dermatologist based in New York City.
What are the symptoms of chapped lips?
While you’re probably familiar with the feeling of chapped lips, here are some signs your lips are chapped, according to dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD.
Redness
Dryness
Peeling
Cracks
Why do I have chapped lips?
Chances are you have nothing to worry about. Lips are naturally dry. “Your lips don’t have oil glands,” Dr. Day says. So, it can be very difficult for your lips to retain moisture (that’s why they don’t ever get pimples, btw!). The absence of oil glands also means your lips do not produce natural moisturizing factors, or elements that keep your skin's outer layer protected and hydrated.
In fact, your lips don’t have much of an outer layer at all. They have a thin stratum corneum, which is “kind of like our armor,” Dr. Friedman says. “It’s an intricately woven barrier comprised of fats, proteins, and dead skin cells.” This barrier protects the skin when it’s dry, and is also responsible for some of your body's built-in UV protection. “It has an SPF of roughly five,” Dr. Friedman adds. (Who knew?)
So before you convince yourself that you have a serious medical issue, keep in mind that your lips are naturally more sensitive than the rest of your skin, and any dryness or peeling can likely be remedied with a few swipes of your favorite lip balm.
That said, there are some other factors that could be causing your chapped lips, from diet to a more serious health condition. Let’s talk through each one.
12 Possible Reasons You Have Chapped Lips—And How To Treat Them
1. Your diet consists of a lot of salty or spicy foods.
Big fan of snacks like pretzels or chips? They could be the reason for your peeling lips. Salty foods, particularly those that have a lot of salt on the outside that can end up on the lips, can definitely affect the skin there, Dr. Day says. “Salt holds water, so it can absorb the water away from the lips and just dry them out,” she explains. Another food trigger? Spicy snacks. They can also cause skin irritation and water loss, Dr. Day adds.
Treat it: Lay off some of the salty foods for a while and let your lips heal by using a paraffin wax-based lip balm.
2. You’ve been licking your lips a bunch.
This is probably the worst thing you can do for dry lips, Dr. Friedman says. “Saliva is comprised of enzymes that are meant to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, which are what your lips are made of,” he says.
Treat it: Try not to lick your lips so much. Keep a lip moisturizer with you (in your pocket, gym bag, etc.) so that when you have the urge to lick, you swipe instead.
3. You fried your lips in the sun.
If you're out in the sun without an SPF lip balm on, chances are the skin on your lips will peel. Sun can leave your skin drier in areas that are already naturally on the drier side, Dr. Day says. Plus, the inflammation from a sunburn can leave your lips peeling as skin cells turn over and try to replenish.
Treat it: Use cold compresses followed by unscented aloe vera gel, Dr. Jaliman advises.
4. You’re dehydrated.
Because of the quick turnover of skin cells on the lips, you’re more prone to dryness if you aren’t properly hydrated, Dr. Rodney explains. Technically, this can happen any time of year, but it’s more common in the winter, when dry indoor air can zap your skin of natural moisture.
Treat it: Drink more water. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that women get about 11.5 cups of fluids a day, both from liquids and foods. Water is best, but other beverages count too.
5. You’re constantly exposed to dry air.
Whether you live in an area with low humidity year round or you’re just sensitive to drops in moisture that can happen with the changing seasons, dry air could be why you have chapped lips. “The lack of moisture in the air, particularly in the winter, can cause dry lips,” Dr. Rodney says.
Treat it: You can only do so much about the air around you, but Dr. Rodney says a humidifier—which is designed to infuse your surroundings with moisture—can help. She suggests running one around you, especially at night and during the winter months, to get relief.
6. Your medication is drying out your lips.
Certain medications can easily cause dry, peeling lips. Dr. Friedman says this is a common complaint for many of his clients using acne meds. “I tell my patients who are on Accutane that that’s the number one side effect—dry, cracked lips,” he says. “I tell them that they should be using a lip balm so often that their friends should be asking them, ‘What the heck is in that stuff that you’re using it so much?’”
It’s not just Accutane, though. These medications can also affect your lips, according to Dr. Rodney:
Chemotherapy drugs
Common skincare ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, retinol, or salicylic acid
Antihistamines
Antibiotics
Some OTC pain meds
Treat it: First, talk to your doc about whether the meds you're taking could cause dry lips. If that's the case and you can't stop taking your medication any time soon, make sure to follow Dr. Friedman's advice to apply a moisturizing lip balm to combat the side effects. If the peeling gets more severe, a trip to your MD might be worth it to make sure you're not allergic to something you're using.
7. You’re experiencing yeast overgrowth.
A yeast infection in the mouth area can lead to dry, flaky skin around the mouth and sometimes even fissuring (when you get small cracks in the corners of the mouth), Dr. Day says.
Treat it: Talk to a derm. Like yeast infections anywhere else, a prescribed anti-fungal medication is your best bet.
8. You have actinic cheilitis.
With this condition, “the skin has been damaged from chronic sun exposure so much so that it can’t repair itself,” Dr. Friedman explains. Actinic cheilitis is more common among older individuals, and it's characterized by dryness and scaly patches or plaques, typically on the lower lip.
"In this kind of dry, cracked area, it’s very easy for skin cancers to emerge, and so we do see a lot of squamous cell carcinomas in older individuals on the lower lip because of that," Dr. Friedman notes.
Treat it: Treatment involves what's called topical field therapy or photodynamic light therapy to either produce an immune response or kill off damaged skin cells. But first, your doctor will need to diagnose you via a skin biopsy.
9. You have a vitamin deficiency.
“Various vitamin B deficiencies can result in dry, cracked, angry, red lips,” Dr. Friedman says, and these are usually accompanied by a similar looking rash around the mouth. Most cases come down to a B12 deficiency, Dr. Rodney points out. This vitamin helps your body with cell growth, healing, and cell turnover, and a lack of B12 causes dryness and slows healing, she explains.
"A vitamin C deficiency can also cause chapped lips, but this is rarer since most diets contain the recommended daily intake of vitamin C," adds Dr. Rodney.
Treat it: Through a blood test, your doctor will be able to determine what your exact vitamin deficiency is and prescribe necessary supplements (or suggest dietary adjustments) if you require them.
10. You’re having an allergic reaction or irritant contact dermatitis.
An allergic reaction will cause not only peeling, but also diffuse redness and swelling around the lips, Dr. Day says. An allergic reaction is usually also itchy, rather than scaly. It could be caused by ingredients in your makeup, skincare, or even your toothpaste. “Cinnamic acid or cinnamon derivatives are a common allergen in toothpaste that people can get irritated lips from,” Dr. Friedman explains.
Irritant contact dermatitis, on the other hand, is caused by friction on the lips, brought on by metal mouth implants like retainers. “Metal implants or various composites of dental implants can be a chronic source of lip peeling,” Dr. Friedman notes.
Treat it: A topical steroid or oral medication will usually do the trick for either issue.
11. You have lichen planus.
Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin condition. It usually shows itself in the form of itchy, purple bumps on the body. “But it can also appear on the lips,” Dr. Friedman says. And when it does, it usually shows up as purple or brownish cracked areas on the lips.
Treat it: A prescribed anti-inflammatory or topical steroid will help.
12. You have paraneoplastic pemphigus.
This is a *very* rare condition, but covering all the bases here! Paraneoplastic pemphigus is an “autoimmune blistering disease associated with underlying cancer,” Dr. Friedman says. While it can appear in the form of a skin rash, the hallmark of this condition is erosive oral disease, so obviously talk to your doc if you think your lips are showing signs of something more serious and blistering. With this particular condition, your lips will typically crack open and bleed, causing sores, redness, and swelling around the mouth.
Treat it: If you are diagnosed, your doctor will likely prescribe steroids and topical antibiotic ointment for the actual skin lesions and blisters and guide you through any other treatment necessary to address the underlying cancer if you do have a malignancy.
How can I heal my chapped lips fast?
The key to fighting peeling lips related to a low-key issue (e.g., a mild sunburn) is restoring the barrier and retaining water. For a quick fix, Dr. Friedman recommends dampening your lips with water (not your saliva!) and then using something thick to coat them. He suggests products with paraffin wax. “I personally like the little tins that have paraffin wax, because it allows you to scoop out even more and really just go to town with this,” he says.
Another good option? Lip balm with sunscreen and (sorry) no flavoring. "You want to avoid any chance of interacting with potential irritants or allergens," Dr. Friedman says.
These are good ingredients to look for in your standard lip balm, according to Dr. Rodney:
Ceramides
Lanolin
Shea butter
Vitamin E
“Other products like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can help with healing and restoring while protecting from sun damage,” she adds.
You can also try some natural remedies to help speed up healing, like a sugar scrub made with one part brown sugar to ½ parts coconut oil to remove dead skin, Dr. Rodney suggests. “Other helpful remedies include aloe vera, honey, and cocoa butter," she says. “Once you’re done, you can add petroleum jelly or beeswax if you’re not allergic, which helps prevent any future moisture loss.”
How often should I be applying lip balm?
During the day, Dr. Friedman says apply as needed—whenever you feel the urge to lick or peel your lips (though you should always make sure to read product directions to ensure you're not overusing them). At night, he recommends applying a thick lip moisturizer before bed. This is especially important for mouth breathers or people who sleep with their mouth open. "The passage of the air will dry the lips out. And we also lose a lot of moisture when we sleep," Dr. Friedman says. These derms also recommend sleeping with a humidifier next to the bed to introduce more moisture into the air while asleep.
When should I see a doctor for my chapped lips?
Most chapped lips take two to three weeks to heal with consistent treatment, per Dr. Rodney, so you need to be diligent about taking care of your pout and just wait it out a little.
But, if you’ve tried to make a bunch of lifestyle tweaks and you’re not seeing an improvement (or if your lips are getting worse), Dr. Rodney says it’s time to see a dermatologist. They can do a deeper dive into what might be behind your chapped lips and determine an individual treatment plan for you.
How can I prevent chapped lips?
Dr. Jaliman has a few different tips that might help you avoid getting chapped lips in the first place. For one thing, use products that contain ingredients like ceramides, dimethicone, shea butter, and sun protective ingredients (think: zinc oxide), she advises. Also, look for products that are fragrance free and hypoallergenic. When it comes to toothpaste, choose one for sensitive teeth and gums and don’t go for options with cinnamon.
As for what to eat, avoid salty and spicy foods, and don’t suck on candies with cinnamon in them, Dr. Jaliman advises. And behavior-wise, try not to lick your lips. You might also get a humidifier for your bedroom.
The bottom line: You can typically expect your chapped lips to get better in two to three weeks. If they don't or get worse over time, you should check in with your derm to see if something more serious is going on.
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