10 reasons why lips dry out and how to treat chapped lips

Why do lips dry out?

Dry lip skin is the body’s reaction to external influences or a symptom of some ailment in our body. The lack of moisture entering the body first appears on the lips.

Photo 1: Lips are the first to react to changes in the external environment; this is due to the lack of sebaceous glands in them, which would regulate the condition of thin skin on the lips. Source: flickr (Vashukov Oleg).

Cheilitis is an inflammation of the stratum corneum of the skin and the border of the lips, which manifests itself as a separate disease, but can also occur as a symptom of another ailment.

And if it is possible to eliminate the provoking factors and get rid of the problem in the first case, then to eliminate it, in the second case, you must first of all deal with the reasons that caused it.

• meteorological reaction to cold, wind;
• actinic reaction to ultraviolet radiation, manifests itself more often in spring and summer;
• poor oral hygiene, touching lips with dirty hands, using unclean towels;
• insufficient moisture.

• hypovitaminosis, in which there is not enough vitamin B in the body (in particular B2, B6);
• a fungal infection caused by poor oral hygiene.
• allergies caused by foods, cosmetics, toothpaste, dentures
• depression, vegetative neurosis, accompanied by biting, licking lips;
• decreased hemoglobin;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• decreased immunity;
• fungal diseases.

Attention! Often the cause of peeling lips is also dehydration. Proper drinking regimen will help restore water balance and avoid many other problems and diseases.

Lips become dry and flaky

The delicate skin on the lips, reacting to external or internal problems, begins to peel off if measures are not taken in time. This is a common occurrence when she is extremely dehydrated.

Without enough moisture, thin skin begins to flake off, forming small scales. This causes discomfort and can lead to even more unpleasant consequences. Usually, to eliminate flaking, it is worth changing your diet, getting rid of bad habits, changing the influence of weather conditions, taking measures to protect the delicate skin of your lips with the help of cosmetics.

Peeling can be avoided if it is caused by external factors. It is more difficult if it is a symptom of another disease. Then it’s not enough to just buy chapstick, drink more water and eat vitamin-rich foods. You need to see a doctor who, after diagnosis, will prescribe treatment.

Lips become dry and cracked

When peeling and dry lips lead to the formation of cracks, the problem only gets worse: the lips begin to hurt, and the cracks can get infected, which may trigger other diseases.

Very often, such cracks appear in the corners of the lips. They are called jams. It is believed that the main sign of seizures is weakened immunity.

Seizures are formed both due to a fungal infection and as a result of previous diseases that weaken the body’s defenses. The cause of seizures can also be:

• gastrointestinal diseases;
• diabetes;
• allergic reaction.

Why do women's lips peel?

Who is more susceptible to dry lips: men and women? It is hardly possible to answer this question unambiguously. While the reaction of the body of women and men is similar, the causes of dryness in representatives of different sexes may differ:

• The most common cause of dry lips in women is incorrectly selected cosmetics: glosses, lipsticks, balms. Low-quality products provoke peeling and cracking.
• Hormonal imbalances in the body cause weakened immunity, and this is one of the main causes of dry lips in women.

Why do men's lips dry out?

In men who suffer from weather sensitivity, as well as those who work outdoors, peeling of the lips is observed even more often than in women.

This is also aggravated by the fact that men still use lip cosmetics less than women.

Left unprotected and exposed to wind, rain and snow, men's lips often become dry.

Photo 2: Bad habits - drinking alcohol and smoking, very often provoke dehydration of the body, which is manifested by excessive dryness of the skin of the lips. Source: flickr (Dave the bass).

A little about the structure of lips

Purely functional, these are musculocutaneous folds that cover the entrance to the oral cavity, help to capture food, and also participate in the articulation of speech. But from time immemorial, lips have also performed an aesthetic function, especially for women. Their beauty is sung by poets and captured by artists. They convey a person's emotions to a greater extent than all other parts of the face.

Therefore, when lips dry and crack, it is not only unpleasant, but also not aesthetically pleasing, it is the cause of psychological discomfort.

The lips are covered on the outside with skin, on the side of the oral cavity – with mucous membrane. And the place where the skin transitions into the mucous membrane has a special structure. This is the red border, which we actually call lips. It is covered with a thin non-keratinizing epithelium, through which blood vessels are visible, which causes the red color of this part of the face.

Thus, the lips are deprived of a full-fledged horny epithelium, which would protect them from adverse factors. Sebaceous glands, which provide natural moisture to the skin, are found only in the corners of the mouth. There is no melanin in the skin of the lips, which protects against ultraviolet radiation and photoaging.

Due to the lack of protective factors, this part of the body is so sensitive to various changes both in the environment and within the body.

This is why the condition of dry lips occurs so often. The reasons for this can be divided into groups:

1. Adverse environmental factors.
2. Lack of fluid in the body.
3. Imbalance of some vitamins and microelements.
4. Infections.
5. Allergy.
6. General diseases.

Homeopathic treatment

Homeopathy will help restore reduced immunity. By taking homeopathic remedies you can not only eliminate the symptom, but also cure the disease. Because homeopathy affects the entire body, improving its functioning and the interaction of all its systems.

Homeopathic remedies that help get rid of dry lips:

• Aconitum - prescribed for dehydration and dry skin, including on the lips.
• Arsenicum album - prescribed for frequent licking of dry skin. The drug treats the manifestations of hay fever.
• Acidum muraticum is a constitutional remedy indicated for people with hypersensitivity, who are characterized by a wrinkled, pimply face and dry, cracking lips.
• Belladonna – for severe dryness and peeling of lips.
• Bryonia – effective for cracked and severely chapped skin.
• Cinnabaris - prescribed for dryness at night, severe thirst, which dries out the lips and mouth.
• Natrium carbonicum – for dry mouth.

Side effects of drugs

Some medications can cause dry and flaky lips. The most well-known medications with this side effect are Accutane, propranolol, and prochlorperazine.

Many people ask: if your lips dry out, what vitamin should you take? So, increased dryness can be caused not only by a deficiency, but also by an excess of vitamins. This is how, for example, excessive consumption of vitamin A manifests itself. Various forms of this vitamin (retinoids) are used by cosmetologists, dermatologists, gynecologists, and reproductive specialists. The daily dose for various types of treatment should not exceed 25,000 IU.

Correction

Why can lips dry, burn, crack and peel?

Dry lips cause a lot of inconvenience and spoil your appearance. Unpleasant sensations can be temporarily eliminated with the help of balms and hygienic lipsticks, but this does not solve the problem. At the same time, lips dry out and peel not only in adults, but also in children. The disease manifests itself at different times of the year and in any weather. To get rid of excessive dry lips, you must first find out why it occurs.

Causes of dryness

There are many reasons why lips become dry, cracked and flaky:

1. Sudden temperature changes and unfavorable weather conditions. The skin is very thin and sensitive, there are no sebaceous glands on it. If an adult or child is exposed to the wind, sun or frost for a long time, then peeling and dryness are inevitable.

2. Allergies. Lips can become chapped from the wrong toothpaste. Its components are too active, injure delicate skin and cause dryness and flaking. Toothpaste often causes cracked lips in children.

3. Women's lips get cracked and dry because of lipstick. Many brands contain harmful dyes. They dry out the skin so much that it starts to itch. It turns out to be a vicious circle. A woman tries to hide a defect with lipstick, and she, in turn, causes this defect.

4. Reduced immunity and lack of vitamins A, C and E. A person often gets sick, his lips begin to crack and dry out. It is the decrease in the body's defenses that affects the condition of the skin of the lips in children. Therefore, parents need to take care of a vitamin diet for their child.

5. Drinking insufficient water. Dehydration is another reason why lips become dry.

6. A cold, in which nasal breathing becomes difficult. A person is constantly forced to breathe through his mouth. At the same time, the lips peel, dry and crack.

7. Dry indoor air.

9. Stress, which women are more likely to experience, also causes dry skin.

10. A decrease in hemoglobin in the blood provokes cracks and dryness.

11. Habit of licking lips. In hot, cold or windy weather, such actions can lead to dryness and cracks on the skin of the lips. Constantly biting them injures the epidermis and promotes infection. The same thing happens if a person often touches his lips. This is especially true for children.

12. Food allergies, consumption of overly spicy, salty and sour foods.

Dry lips, the appearance of cracks and peeling on them can be symptoms of diseases:

• gastrointestinal ailments - ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis;
• intestinal dysbiosis;
• herpes;
• diseases of the pancreas and thyroid gland;
• fungal infections.

The formation of cracks and jams with a whitish coating should alert you. If you suspect an infection, you should get tested. Doctors may prescribe a scraping.

Dry skin can be identified by the following signs - the presence of crusts, cracks, mild itching, redness, peeling, and pain. When jams appear, it hurts a person to talk, eat, and generally open his mouth.

External influences

The cause of dry lips can also be an allergy to substances that come into direct contact with them. Moreover, the direct connection “contact - allergy” cannot always be discerned. It is clear that when a woman’s lips swell and itch after applying a new lipstick, she herself will guess about the allergy.

But it happens that the lips dry, hurt, peel without a pronounced inflammatory reaction, and the cause may be chemicals contained in toothpaste and dentures. Many people have the habit of chewing pens, pencils, and putting various other objects in their mouths. Occupational contact cheilitis occurs: for example, in brass band musicians.

If your child's lips are dry and cracked, you should think about an allergy to latex pacifiers or toys that children constantly put in their mouths.

Another reason why lips become very dry (you will find out what to do next) is the negative influence of the environment. So, with strong wind or frost, the skin of the mouth can become rough. Often, with such exposure, cracks appear, which cause considerable discomfort.

Correction

If your lips get very dry in winter, what should you do? Get into the good habit of always wearing lip protectors. You can purchase such hygienic lipsticks at a cosmetic store or pharmacy chain. Every time before leaving the house, apply a thin layer of this product to the skin of your lips.

This method can be used not only in winter, but also in summer. In this case, give preference to hygienic lipsticks with sun protection.

What to do and how to treat it?

1. If your lips are constantly cracking and peeling, you need to take action. The following mask recipes will help:

• Sour cream mask. It moisturizes and nourishes the skin of the lips, protects it from harmful influences. To prepare it, you need to combine a dessert spoon of homemade sour cream, 5 ml of vegetable oil and a few drops of lemon juice. Mix everything and apply to the lips and surrounding skin. You should wait at least half an hour and wash off the mask with warm water. After the procedure, lips are lubricated with hygienic lipstick.
• Honey mask. It helps to quickly normalize the condition of the skin. The mask does not need to be prepared. All you need is natural honey, which is applied to the lips and left to act for 30 minutes. Treatment lasts until the problem disappears.
• Oil mask. To prepare it, mix 5 g of beeswax with the same amount of cocoa butter. Instead, you can take castor oil, apricot kernel oil or olive oil. 5 g of Vaseline and a tablespoon of chamomile decoction are poured into the mixture. First, beeswax is melted in a water bath. And only then the remaining ingredients are added sequentially. Mix everything and beat in a mixer or with a spoon until the mass has completely cooled. The mask is applied to chapped lips before bed and is not washed off until the morning. If the skin is too chapped and itchy, then the procedure is repeated not only in the evening, but throughout the day. Especially before going outside.

2. For severely dry lips, oils will help moisturize them. They will quickly restore damaged areas and promote rapid healing of cracks. The following types of oils are used:

• almond;
• grape seeds;
• sea ​​buckthorn;
• wheat.

To enhance the effect of treatment with oils, add a few drops of vitamin A or E. This will combat dryness caused by a lack of nutrients and treat seizures. It is useful to lubricate chapped lips with baby cream every day. It nourishes delicate skin, eliminates flaking, burning and itching. The cream is applied in the morning, shortly before going outside, and before bed.

3. For dry skin, use homemade balm. To prepare it you need to mix in equal parts:

• beeswax;
• cacao butter;
• Shea Butter;
• olive or almond oil;
• cocoa powder.

Beeswax and cocoa butter are pre-melted in a water bath. Then add the remaining ingredients to the mixture and pour into a lipstick tube. The composition is left to cool. It should thicken, becoming almost solid. The product is stored in the refrigerator for up to six months and is used to treat and prevent peeling, cracked lips, itching and burning sensations. Children can use the balm.

4. If the corners of the lips crack, then use rosehip and sea buckthorn oils. They perfectly soften, heal and nourish the skin. Lubricate lips several times a day. Oils can be used as a preventive measure during the cold season.

Hydration

Apply softening and nourishing products to your lips daily. This can be regular Vaseline, baby oil, Panthenol cream. If you are doing a massage, then moisturizing should be done immediately after it. Many ladies independently select a lip softener, mixing useful ingredients.

To moisturize lips, a variety of products are used, ranging from cosmetic balms to those prepared independently at home from natural products.

1. Hygienic lipsticks. There are different types, sold in any pharmacy and in many stores. Suitable for regular use at any time of the year.
2. Ice. They need to wipe the skin of the lips in the morning and before bed. Thanks to ice, the skin adapts to the cold and will not react to frost.
3. Baby cream. Rub into the skin of the face and lips, the layer should be thin.
4. Aloe. Helps well with small cracks. You need to cut a small leaf from the flower and spread the juice on the surface of your lips. Repeat this process until complete healing.
5. Fish fat. It is best to take it in capsule form. With regular use, fat helps prevent dry skin.
6. Kiwi. Apply a fresh cut of one piece to your lips and wait until the juice dries.
7. Goose fat. In case of severe dry lips, this product will help from the first use.
8. Vitamins A and E. They need to be purchased in ampoules. Both vitamins should be mixed and smeared on the skin in 2 layers. The mixture is stored in the refrigerator until next time.

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Causes of peeling

Human lips are covered with thin, sensitive skin without sebaceous glands, which increases their susceptibility to negative factors. And this is the simplest and most common reason why lips dry and peel, which does not require treatment. But there are other factors that directly affect the condition of the skin of the lips; they can be influenced.

The reasons why lips dry and peel may be elevated temperature, the presence of fungal infections, problems with the immune system, gastrointestinal tract and other diseases. In this case, cosmetics cannot be a solution, since the result will not be long-term. You need to contact a dermatologist who will find out the causes and prescribe the correct treatment.

Other factors can also cause peeling:

• vitamin deficiency (often caused by poor diet);
• Smoking not only causes the skin to dry out, but also causes wrinkles to form in the mouth area;
• chapped lips;
• frequent licking, especially on the street;
• low-quality cosmetics;
• allergies to homemade cosmetic products.

To make sure that your lips are not just chapped, but that there is a pathology, you need to find out the cause using a method of elimination. Only then can you proceed to treatment (if it is required), since peeling in a short time can lead to the formation of spots, wounds and cracks.

Preventive measures

If your lips often crack and peel, then in order for your lips to look attractive and be sufficiently moisturized, you should follow some tips:

• before going outside, you need to protect your lips with a special balm or oils (in any weather);
• weekly peeling, applications, compresses and restorative masks are recommended;
• periodically massage your lips with a soft toothbrush and perform other massage variations;
• gymnastics helps a lot even if the skin is very inflamed;
• There should be enough vitamins in the diet; you can take a course to support the immune system;
• correct water regime, at least 2 liters every day.

Such measures are desirable not only when the lips are peeling, they are beneficial for health in general. Healthy foods in the diet, sufficient fluid intake and exercise will make the skin elastic, youthful, and improve health.

How to support your lip skin

Situation: lips are very peeling, what to do often worries us when there is simply nothing left to endure. And the problem of a cosmetic defect acquires pain and inflammation. But it’s much easier to avoid such difficulties. To do this, you should pay only a little attention to the sponges.

• Feed them with vitamins - A and E are especially valuable. You can buy them at the pharmacy in capsules, open one daily and lubricate your lips. You can use fish oil if the taste doesn't bother you.
• Get a massage - once a week with any vegetable oil is enough. You can massage with your fingers for a couple of minutes, or you can use a soft toothbrush. This procedure will restore skin tone.
• Lubricate with honey - a simple home remedy works as well as salon treatment. Apply honey on and around your lips, wait until it is absorbed, and wash with warm water.
• Tone with ice - by wiping your lips with a piece of ice in the morning, you will always keep them in good shape and give them a rich natural color.
• Use it - apply it on its own or under lipstick. Be sure to use before going outside in winter and summer.

These simple care rules will keep your lips beautiful and healthy. And you will forget about the problem of peeling for a long time!

The best anti-flaking remedies

So, when the reason is clarified, all that remains is to decide what to do if your lips dry out and peel. The simplest and most affordable way to protect your skin from wind and sun is hygienic lipstick. The components in the composition form a protective film on the surface of the lips, which prevents moisture evaporation and protects the lip mucosa from negative factors and microbes. Such products often contain vitamins A, B, E and C, which expands their range of beneficial effects.

When lips crack and peel due to a lack of vitamins, the problem is easily solved with vitamin therapy. Special ointments are used to protect delicate skin from the sun. These same remedies are effective in treating ulcers, wounds, dermatitis or eczema. To eliminate allergic dryness, antihistamines are prescribed. It happens that people themselves create a problem by biting and licking their lips in nervous tension. In this case, you need to take sedatives.

Of course, you can fight habits without medication, but the effects of long-term stress are sometimes difficult to cope with without medication.

If problems with the lips are caused by the appearance of pathogens, then you should take antifungal drugs intended to treat mycoses.

How to get rid of peeling lips in one day is shown in the video:

Folk recipes

If you couldn’t avoid chapping and your lips began to peel, then you can use folk tips that can help you cope with discomfort at home. Make a compress of honey and butter at night; by the morning, irritated lips will look much better. If necessary, you can repeat several times.

How to protect your skin from peeling

Lips are a natural beauty that requires careful care. Every woman considers her mouth to be a huge asset, which she embellishes with lipstick to attract men.

How to prevent peeling and cracks in the lip area? The first rule is a healthy lifestyle, eliminate bad habits. The second is proper nutrition. Third - high-quality cosmetics, facial massage.

Nutrition

Follow a few simple rules of healthy eating:

• sweet pastries, baked goods, pickles, marinades are unhealthy foods, exclude them partially or completely from the diet;
• fresh, boiled vegetables and fruits will allow you to stay young for a long time and prevent the development of serious diseases;
• vitamins and minerals will prevent skin peeling. Many vitamins are found in fresh fish, liver, eggs, dairy products, whole grain black bread, nuts, rice;
• Water is an important component of the human body, drink 1-1.5 liters per day.

Massage

There is no need to spend fabulous money on massage treatments; take care of yourself. Perform the massage on the face and neck. Lightly patting your cheeks, upper and lower lips, and chin with your fingers will improve blood circulation. Good microcirculation ensures tissue regeneration and cell renewal. Use a regular toothbrush. Light circular movements will help exfoliate dead cells. Lips will be a natural red color. Do it once a week.

Cosmetics

To prevent your lips from cracking and peeling, you need to protect them from adverse environmental factors. The market is replete with a variety of cosmetics. Choose proven, high-quality, hypoallergenic, natural-based products. You can buy several balms: keep one in your purse, another at work, and a third at home. Men don’t have to be shy either; colorless hygienic lipsticks can be purchased at any pharmacy.

A proven remedy is hardening. Prepare your lips for cold and frost. Wipe them with a piece of ice in the morning and evening. Beautiful color, natural shine guaranteed. The skin will not become very chapped or go numb in the cold.

Peeling can be a mask of illness. A qualified specialist will conduct a proper examination, examination, and diagnosis to determine the cause of the disease. The doctor will select adequate treatment and restore health and beauty to your lips.

Why does the skin on my lips peel off?

The reason why lips peel

Very often, peeling of the lips occurs precisely in the winter.

Cracks appear on the lips, which brings a lot of discomfort to everyday life.

As a rule, we do not attach importance to such a signal from the body, believing that lips are peeling only due to chapping. But it's always like this.

There can be many reasons for peeling lips:

• Past infection
• Allergic reaction
• Sun exposure
• Vitamin deficiency
• Herpes

If you think that you can get rid of peeling lips with the help of special balms with particular ease, I hasten to disappoint you - balms, hygienic lipsticks, creams will certainly help relieve the feeling of discomfort, but if your lips are peeling, and the reason has nothing to do with chapping, then the situation with treatment is much more complicated. Since the basis of treatment in this case is to eliminate the cause of such a symptom as peeling of the lips.