Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Treating chapped lips
• Part 2 of 2: Preventing Cracked Lips
• Warnings

Chapped lips are a difficult problem to avoid and cannot be fixed overnight. For most people, prevention is the best medicine. For others, chapped lips are not preventable. For such people, cracked lips become a long-term symptom and side effect that they have to learn to live with. Of course, in most cases, you can treat (and prevent) chapped lips with water and lip balms. In case of frequent cracking of the lips or chronic manifestations, you should consult with your doctor.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Treating chapped lips

1. 1 Use lip balm. Choose a simple beeswax balm or a product containing sunscreen. The balm protects your lips from the weather, so be sure to apply it on dry, sunny or windy days. The balm also acts as a crack sealant to prevent infections. Apply it before going outside, after eating or drinking, and every time it is rubbed off your lips.
   • Do not use scented balms if you have a habit of licking your lips. Opt for a balm with an unpleasant taste and UV filters.
   • Do not use balms in jars, because by repeatedly dipping your fingers into it, you provoke the growth of bacteria that can get into the cracks on the lips.
   • Cover your mouth with a scarf or hood on a windy day. Try to irritate your lips as little as possible during the healing process.
2. 2 Don't hurt your lips. Scratching, peeling, and biting chapped lips may seem tempting to you, but it can have a negative effect on the healing of cracks. All of these actions can further irritate chapped lips, slow down the healing process, and trigger infections.Herpes can also occur, especially if you have a predisposition to it.
   • Don't peel the skin off the cracks on your lips! Take good care of your skin as it heals. Exfoliation can lead to infections.
3. 3 Moisturize your lips for faster healing. Dehydration is a common cause of cracks. Drink plenty of water and apply moisturizer to your skin. You can heal small cracks on your lips in just a few hours with regular drinking water. More severe symptoms will take longer: you will need to drink water before every meal, before and after exercise, and whenever you feel thirsty.
   • Dehydration of the skin is a common symptom during the winter season. If possible, avoid using dry air to heat your home or purchase a humidifier.
4. 4 See a doctor. Redness of the lips and the appearance of pain or inflammation may indicate the presence of cheilitis. Cheilitis on the lips is usually caused by irritation or infections. When the lips burst and crack, bacteria can cause cheilitis. Your doctor may prescribe the necessary antibiotics or an antifungal cream to use until the symptoms go away. Licking lips can be a very common cause of cheilitis, especially in children.
   • Cheilitis can also act as a symptom of contact dermatitis. If your skin is prone to breakouts, you need to talk to your doctor about the possibility of diagnosing cutaneous dermatitis.
   • Cheilitis can also be acute or chronic.
   • Certain drugs or supplements can increase your risk of cheilitis. The most common pathogens are retinoids. Also, cheilitis can be a consequence of taking lithium, high doses of vitamin A, D-penicillamine, isoniazid, phenothiazine, as well as the chemotherapeutic agents bisulfan and actinomycin.
   • Chapped lips can also be a sign of many diseases, including autoimmune diseases (such as lupus, Crohn's disease), thyroid disease, and psoriasis.
   • Chapped lips are very common in patients with Down syndrome.

Part 2 of 2: Preventing Cracked Lips

1. 1 Stop licking your lips. You can do this unconsciously to moisturize if you feel dry. Unfortunately, this will have the exact opposite effect, because when you lick your lips, you wash off natural oils from them, thereby exacerbating their dehydration and chapping. Use lip balm if you experience this habit. If you have this turned into a mania, see your doctor and consult a therapist. Constant licking and biting of the lips can be a symptom of many conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or focusing on one's own skin (OCD).
   • Applying lip balm as often as possible can remind yourself not to lick, bite, or chew on your lips. Choose a balm with an unpleasant taste and UV filters.
   • Children aged 7-15 years have a tendency to develop cheilitis precisely because of the constant licking of the lips.
2. 2 Breathe in through your nose. Breathing through the mouth can cause dry lips. If you are used to breathing through your mouth, practice breathing through your nose to become a habit. Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth for a few minutes a day. Try sleeping with a nasal dilator as well, which will help open your nasal passages.
3. 3 Avoid allergens. Keep allergens and dyes as far away from your mouth as possible. Even a slight allergy or intolerance to a food component can cause cracked lips. Check with your healthcare professional if you are not allergic to any other symptoms, such as digestive problems or rashes, along with cracked lips.Get a referral to an allergist if you're having trouble diagnosing symptoms.
   • Check the makeup of your lip balm. Avoid ingredients that you may be allergic to, such as red dye.
   • Some people may be allergic to para-aminobenzoic acid, which is found in many UV lip balms. If you experience throat swelling or shortness of breath, stop using the balm immediately and call 103 for emergency medical assistance.
4. 4 Moisturize and protect. What is the best protection against cracked lips? Act as if you already have cracks. Drink water before every meal and keep a glass close at hand in case you suddenly feel thirsty. Apply lip balm before going outside or when turning on the air heater. Cover your face on windy winter days, and use a balm with UV filters on sunny days.
   • You do not need to apply the balm daily if you wean yourself from the habit of licking your lips. Only use it on windy and sunny days if you don't want to use it all the time.

Warnings

• If you experience abnormal bleeding or infection on your lips, see your doctor immediately.