7 Ways to Deal With Dry, Chapped Lips—According to Dermatologists

Don't Use Lip Products With Alcohol or Fragrance

Just like the rest of your skin, your lips may react to the chemicals. But the skin on your lips is more delicate than the skin on your face and body. "When lips are drying, or cracked, discontinue any products (including facial products—these can often inadvertently dry lips out!) that contain alcohol, chemical exfoliants, or retinoids," advises Nazarian. "Many ingredients that are somewhat tolerable, and are slightly drying to facial skin can have an enhanced drying or irritating effect on the lips. Retinoids, or other acne medications, are a prime example. They often cause drying and chapping of lips—especially in the corners—even though they're often not the intended target of those products and are often not even directly treated by those products. Retinoids can cause satellite drying of lips even if they're not being applied directly on them." 

It is also important you be aware of what is in the lipsticks and lip balms you are using. Lip products containing camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus can feel good initially on your lips but can dry and irritate your lips.

Use a Barrier-Protecting Product in Cold Weather

Nazarian says weather conditions like harsh winds and the sun’s drying rays create a recipe for disaster you might not recognize at first. "When the weather is colder, and there's less moisture in the environment, the air pulls hydration out of your skin, and off of your lips," she explains "Your lips are exceptionally sensitive to dry, cold, air and wind, and can become chapped, cracking very easily."

To protect your lips from the elements, be sure to use an occlusive barrier protectant, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor.

Stop Licking Your Lips

You may want to lick your lips when they feel dry, however, when the saliva on your lips dries, it makes your lips more dry and chapped. In fact, the enzymes in your saliva (which are meant to help digest food) can irritate your lips. "The lips are subject to irritation from saliva. People who lick or roll in their lips can cause saliva to irritate or degrade the tissue, a common problem for many people," she explains. 

Use Moisturizing Products With Ingredients Like Shea Butter

So often, the lips get skipped in our morning and evening skincare routines. Simply adding a moisturizing lip balm to your routine morning and night can make a big difference in the look and feel of your lips. Dr. Nazarian recommends looking for the following ingredients in your lip balm and avoid heavy fragrance and/or alcohol:

• Shea butter
• Ceramides
• Hemp seed oil
• Mineral oil
• Dimethicone
• Petroleum jelly

And if you use any drying skincare products as part of an acne regimen, Nazarian recommends applying your lip balm before you apply your skincare in order to provide a protective barrier and prevent the drying ingredients from coming into contact with your lips.

Try to Breathe Through Your Nose

"Mouth breathing is also a very common source of irritated lips. Typically, when people have stuffy noses they become mouth breathers; a small amount of saliva moves out onto the surrounding skin, and can cause irritation, especially at night while we sleep." Whenever possible, do your best to breathe in and out through your nose.

Use a Lip Product With SPF Every Day

Sunburn is never, ever a good thing (neither is tanning, while we're at it), and your lips are just as susceptible to sunburn as the rest of your skin. And yet, they're often overlooked. Find a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher that you love and take it with you everywhere. Be sure to apply at least every two hours or immediately after drying off from sweating or swimming.

Drink Through a Straw

The more your lips come into contact with drinks like ice cold water and hot coffee, the more your natural protective barrier (and protective lip balm) get washed away. To keep your barrier in tact, drink from a straw whenever possible.