Chapped lips are a very common skin problem wherein the skin on the lips turns drier. Dry skin comes into appearance when the moisture or water content of the skin is reduced by one or the other way. Chapped lips might talk but they require two things: moisturizing and something that seals the moisture within the organs without which, it might develop intense cracks and fissures. If one has a common habit of lip-licking, one is then prone to have chapped lips. The danger with this condition is that it can become infected.

In other words, a chapped lip is a medical condition wherein the dermal layers of the lips turns dehydrated and then break out. Because of changes in climate lips get badly affected. They turn chapped, dried or cracked. Most people get chapped lips at times. In the summer, intense sunlight can be responsible for this but routine use of lip-balms that contain sunscreen might prevent summertime cracked lips. If one applies this frequently and regularly, it often relieves chapped lips without further incidents.

Anatomically, lips do not contain the any oil gland and hence, they become dry and hence, one should do all the necessary to keep them moist. Other methods preventing chapped lips involve increasing the humidity at house and covering the lips with a mask or scarf during the cold season. Dry, cracked or sore lips indeed interfere in many routine activities like smiling, talking, eating and even kissing.

Symptoms of chapped lips

Chapped lips are caused because of prolonged exposure to cold, dry weather. Chapped Lips suspect that an allergy to an ingredient in your lipstick is causing your lips to chap lip licking, dehydration, smoking, windburn or sunburn, certain medications can dry out your lips, cosmetics like lipsticks, balms, and other products applied to the lips can have chemicals in them that can set up an allergic reaction.

Lips that are chapped usually have the following problems - roughness, dryness, redness, peeling, cracking, sensitivity and tenderness.

Causes of Chapped Lips

Chapped lips might be caused due to many reasons. This includes dry weather, overexposure to the sunlight, lip licking and/or sucking, riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiencies and uncomfortable dentures. Cracked lips might be irritating and ugly. Some common causes include natural though dry skin skin, lip tissue drying naturally along with buckle membrane. Also, in a person having the outer layer of the lip relatively thinner, cracked lips are frequently seen. This all, as a result, makes moisture to evaporate from lips faster than normal skin, causing lips becoming drier.

Some of the other causes are cold sores those are viral infections and can cause irritating and even painful blister onto the lip or surrounding areas’ skin.

Treatment for chapped or cracked lips

One can apply lip balm or petroleum jelly as useful remedy for treating the condition. Another option includes trying to coat the lips with skin moisturizers, vitamin E oil or Aloe vera gels. Such greasy product helps keeping the lips properly moisturized. Use lip balm that has sun blocking system if one has to move outside. One should avoid licking own lips, since the saliva evaporates and leaves them dry.

Many health experts believe that drinking plenty of water prevents dehydration. One should remember that cracks at the corners of the mouth show riboflavin deficiencies and hence, one can treat this condition with the help of supplements of vitamin B2. Ask the dentist to readjust poorly-fitted dentures if it is the cause of the chapped lips.

One should avoid going out in dry, chilly weather without wearing on lip balms or lipsticks. In other case, using sunscreen lotions/creams onto the lips while going outside in sunny weather is better. Iron can play significant role in scaling of the lips and hence, make sure one is okay on that front having enough multivitamin supplement.