Chapped Lips

Chapped and dry lips are a common problem, especially in the winter months when dry, windy conditions can lead to moisture loss from the lips. Other causes of chapped lips include;

• Dehydration

• Breathing with mouth open

• Excessive licking of the lips

• Over exposure to the sun

• Contact allergy due to lipstick or lip gloss

• Certain vitamin deficiencies

• Some medical conditions such as Kawasaki disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism, psoriasis can also cause chapped lips

• Certain medications

Chapped lips symptoms:

Dry, red, cracked and peeling lips which may be sore & bleed.

Chapped lips treatment:

• Lip balms such as ChapStick, petroleum jelly and pawpaw ointment help prevent & treat chapped lips. Some lip balms have added sunscreen, which is of benefit, especially during the summer months.

• If lip balms etc., don't relieve chapped lips, 1% cortisone ointment may help. It is extremely important this be used short term only.

• Stay well hydrated, drink plenty of water.

• Increase humidity in the home with the use of humidifiers, especially in the winter months.

If the above methods don't offer relief, then seek the advice of your doctor. They may need to prescribe something stronger to help heal your lips &/or investigate whether there is an underlying medical cause.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a medical professional & should not be considered a replacement for a dentists visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate medical advice for any problems.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.