Why Are Your Lips So Dry? 9 Causes of Chapped Lips and What to Do About Them

Most people experience dry, chapped lips from time to time. Need proof? The lip balm industry brings in nearly $900 million each year in the US.

Lip inflammation (officially, cheilitis simplex) can leave you with dry, chapped, and painful lips. It can also cause red, violet, or brown discoloration on — or around — your lips, as you can see in these pictures. 

Close-up of chapped lips.

Close-up of chapped lips.

Chapped lips can happen for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a look at nine common causes of dry, chapped lips and what to do about them.

1. Cold weather

Cold weather is a common cause of dry and chapped lips. It stiffens and dries out keratin. Keratin is a protein found in hair, nails, and skin. It helps protect your skin from irritants and keeps moisture locked in. 

Your lips have a lot less keratin than the rest of the skin on your body. That’s why lips are more likely to dry and crack, even while other areas of exposed skin on your face and body don’t seem to be affected by the cold weather. 

2. Dry air and wind

Both dry air and wind damage keratin. This makes lips dry and cracked. It can also lead to lip peeling, which is the keratin separating from the top layer of the lip. 

So if you’re exposed to dry air, and wind, and cold air, your lips are much more likely to take a hit. That’s why it’s so common to develop chapped lips after outdoor activities like skiing or water sports. 

3. Lip licking

It’s natural to lick your lips, especially when they feel dry. But too much lip licking is a common cause of dry and chapped lips.

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When you lick your lips too often, it leads to a constant wet-dry cycle, which disrupts the skin barrier and causes inflammation. This inflammation then triggers more lip licking, continuing the cycle. 

Over time, the skin breakdown from lip licking can result in skin infection and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 

4. Allergic reaction

Some people find that despite constantly applying lip balm, their lips may still feel dry. This is because some lip balms have ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

A skin allergy to lip balm can cause dryness, peeling, irritation, and itching.

Here are some common ingredients to look for in your lip balm that may trigger or worsen lip inflammation: 

• Castor oil

• Colophony

• Shellac

• Sesame oil

• Dyes

• Fragrances

• Nickel

• Preservatives

Avoid these ingredients when choosing a lip balm. You also want to make sure that other things that frequently touch your lips — like lipstick, mouthwash, and toothpaste — don’t contain them either. 

It’s also worth thinking about other objects that come in contact with your lips too. For example, some metal objects often contain nickel, such as: 

• Pen clips

• Paperclips

• Pins

• Jewelry

• Hair accessories 

If you have a nickel allergy, these habits could be triggering your lip symptoms. 

5. Too much sun exposure

Sunlight exposure can boost your mood and your health. But unprotected sun exposure can cause sunburn, even on your lips. This can lead to inflamed, dry, and painful chapped lips. Over time, too much unprotected sun exposure can lead to precancerous spots. On the lips, these are called actinic cheilitis. 

Your lips are more vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) damage from the sun because they’re thinner and less pigmented than surrounding skin. Because pigment provides natural sun protection, less pigmentation makes skin particularly vulnerable. 

If not treated, sun damage spots can lead to skin cancer. 

6. Tobacco smoke

People who smoke can develop glandular cheilitis. This is a lip condition that causes dryness, swelling, and uneven bumps. Having glandular cheilitis increases your risk of lip infections and lip cancer. 

7. Medications

Different medications can lead to dry, chapped lips. One class of medications that commonly causes dry lips is retinoids. These medications derived from vitamin A include isotretinoin (a pill used to treat severe acne) and retinol skin creams. 

In pill form, retinoids can significantly dry out your skin and lips. Dry lips are less likely with retinol creams. But it can be a side effect if the cream comes into contact with the lips. 

Other medications that can dry out your lips (and mouth) include: 

• Antihistamines (like Benadryl and chlorpheniramine)

• Antidepressants (like Cymbalta and Lexapro)

• Benzodiazepines (like alprazolam and lorazepam)

8. Infections

Angular cheilitis is a type of lip infection that develops when bacteria, yeast, or fungus infects already dry, chapped lips. It leads to painful cracks in the corners of the lips and peeling. Some people who get cold sores also develop dry, chapped lips, although this is less common. 

9. Medical conditions

Most of the time, dry lips aren’t a sign of anything serious. But they can sometimes be a sign of a new or underlying medical condition. Here are some conditions that can cause dry or chapped lips:

• Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)

• Lichen planus

• Sjögren’s disease

• Eczema 

What is the best treatment for dry, chapped lips?

Most dry lips can be treated at home with a good moisturizing routine. But there are some situations where prescription medications may be needed. 

At-home chapped lip remedies 

Occlusive moisturizers, like lip balms or petrolatum (Vaseline or Aquaphor), are the best treatment for dry, chapped lips. They provide instant relief by creating a protective layer over the lips and trapping in moisture. 

But be sure to pick a lip balm that won’t worsen inflammation. Choose one that’s free from fragrances, dyes, and preservatives. Instead, look for a lip moisturizer that contains any of the following ingredients: 

• Hydrating emollients, like ceramides and dimethicone

• Sun-protective ingredients, like titanium oxide or zinc oxide

• Nourishing oils, like shea butter, hemp seed, or castor oil 

Medical treatments for dry lips

If your dry lips are caused by an infection, like angular cheilitis or herpes, you may need prescription medications to treat it. 

These treatments may be:

• Antifungals, like ketoconazole cream

• Antibacterials, like mupirocin ointment

• Antivirals, like acyclovir pills

How can you prevent dry lips?

Here are some things you can do to prevent dry lips:

• Wear lip balm with SPF. Apply lip balm or a petrolatum lip product regularly, especially if you’re going to be exposed to cold, dry, and windy weather. A product that’s at least SPF 15 will do double duty by protecting your lips from UV rays. 

• Avoid licking or picking your lips. This will dry out your lips and lead to irritation. If it’s hard for you to stop licking or picking at your lips, talk to a healthcare professional about treatment options. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for example, can help redirect your focus away from these kinds of habits. 

• Use a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the air. This moisture keeps the keratin on your lips soft and healthy. As a bonus, humidifiers protect the rest of your skin and keep your hair from drying out too. 

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Written by:

Jennifer Sample, MD

After a fellowship, Dr. Sample worked as the medical director at the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Center (The University Of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center), which served the state of Kansas for poison exposures. In 2007, she returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, as a consultant in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

Reviewed by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

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