Super dry lips why

Chapped lips can also be associated with a variety of underlying medical conditions, including thyroid disease , vitamin deficiencies , and inflammatory bowel disease , says Zeichner. Low thyroid function may cause dryness of the mouth and lips, and B complex vitamin deficiencies or low zinc or iron levels have been reported to cause chapped lips, he adds. Angular cheilitis, or inflammation in the corners of the mouth, is another common condition that can cause dry or chapped lips.

Actinic cheilitis is the term given to chronic chapped lips that develop as a result of sun damage , explains Zeichner.

This is a precancerous condition that typically affects the lower lip which faces upward toward the sun, so is at risk for sudden damage. Lip balms contain a combination of waxes and oils that form a protective seal over the skin, he explains. Your best choice is a basic lip balm with either a petroleum jelly or paraffin base that can keep moisture in your lips, protect them from the elements, and give them time to heal. Use overnight lip masks, remain consistent with the use of lip balm and begin using products with SPF to begin to heal the delicate skin on your lips and prevent further damage.

When you first have dry lips, especially if you are experiencing dry or flaking skin, it can be tempting to try and use a lip exfoliator to help slough away this dead skin. However, this can be incredibly dangerous and can make the issue worse!

Using apricot scrubs, toothbrushes, or sugar scrubs can create micro-tears that lead to infection and further damage. Determining the root cause of your dry lips, from behaviours such as compulsive lip-licking to environmental impacts from sun or cold, can help you develop a treatment plan that works best for you.

General hydration and ensuring that you are drinking enough water to keep your whole body hydrated is an important first step to improving dry lips, as well as your overall health! As with all chronic skin issues, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible for the best chance at preventing further illness and injury. Chronic sun burn can also lead to pre-cancerous changes in our lips, that feel like persistently dry, rough, thickened skin.

Sometimes scabs or white, scaly patches develop on the lip. This condition is called actinic chelitis. The good news is that actinic chelitis is a PRE-cancerous condition.

People may notice that chapped lips clear up shortly after they stop smoking, as the skin begins to heal. People often do not notice how much they touch or play with their lips — they tend to lick, chew, and even pull on their lips without even thinking about it. While it may be hard to resist peeling dry, flaky skin from the lips, people run the risk of removing healthy skin in the process.

This can prolong healing times and even cause bleeding. The skin on the lips is different from that on the rest of the face. While the underlying structures are similar, the skin on the lips is much thinner and more delicate. Unlike the skin that covers the rest of the body, the skin on the lips does not have oil glands and so cannot produce moisture.

A range of external factors can cause the lips to become chapped. Controlling these factors can help treat and prevent chapped lips or stop them from getting worse:. Humidity levels tend to decline as the temperature cools in the fall and the winter months. Dry air draws moisture from the skin, which is why people often experience chapped lips during colder periods of the year.

While licking may temporarily moisten the lips, this habit can make matters worse. As the saliva evaporates, it pulls moisture from the surface of the lips. Some lip balms, lipsticks, and similar products contain ingredients that can make dry lips worse.

People may have allergies to some common ingredients in lip products, especially pigments or fragrances. Using a lip product that contains an allergen can cause the lips to become dry, red, and chapped. Sun damage can also result in a condition called actinic keratoses, which causes crusty bumps to form on the lips. These bumps are not life-threatening, but they can become cancerous, so people should get them removed as soon as possible. Certain medications, such as antihistamines, chemotherapies, and diuretics, can cause dehydration as a side effect.

Topical acne medications may contain ingredients, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, that can dry out the lips. If these ingredients come in contact with the lips, it can lead to chapping. Having chapped lips is a common and sometimes uncomfortable issue. While chapsticks can temporarily soothe dry lips, they tend to have chemicals and flavors that can further irritate the skin, and in severe cases, trigger eczema and allergic contact dermatitis, Marchbein says.

For lip balms with SPF , Stevenson prefers products with physical blockers, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Stevenson and Marchbein recommend Aquaphor for its healing ingredients, which include petrolatum, mineral oil, lanolin and glycerin. In addition to restoring moisture to cracked lips, this multi-purpose ointment can help alleviate dry hands and feet and treat minor cuts and burns. For those who are allergic to lanolin, this petrolatum-based ointment hydrates a dry pout and has zero flavors, fragrances and additives that may irritate sensitive skin.

Stevenson never leaves home without her Maya Chia waterless wonder balm, which she applies to her face and lips day and night. Moisture-boosting beeswax, chia seed oil and shea butter get deep into the cracked crevices of your lips to restore a healthy, youthful shine. Unlike other lip balms that use synthetic fragrances, this orange blossom balm relies on essential oils and botanical extracts for its zesty scent.

Free of lanolin, fragrances, preservatives and dyes, this is another great choice for those with sensitive skin. For a soothing lip treatment that also provides some color, go for this tinted lip balm, which comes in 13 shades and two different finishes — satin and shimmer.

Sugar, grapeseed oil and meadowfoam and black currant seed oils are the star ingredients that work together to prevent moisture loss while softening rough skin. Shield radiant lips from the sun with this water-resistant lip gloss that supplies vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and dimethicones.

Choose from four vibrant shades, including clear, which you can layer over your favorite lipstick or lip tint. This colorless lip balm makes it a neutral option for both men and women. Made with olive oil, beeswax, castor oil and vitamins C and E, this lip balm will calm irritation and leave your lips feeling silky smooth.