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Categories
Health
Teeth and Mouth Health
Lip Health
How to Heal Peeling Lips Download Article Co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD
Last Updated: April 8, 2025 Approved
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Possibly Effective Treatments
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Avoiding Certain Habits
|
Mythbusting
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Tips
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Warnings
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 17 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 467,050 times.
Peeled lips can occur for a variety of reasons. While rarely a serious medical concern, they can be painful and cause a great deal of irritation. If peeled lips have been a problem for you, a variety of over-the-counter and at-home treatments can help provide relief.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Possibly Effective Treatments
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1 Apply beeswax. This single-ingredient product is a safe and effective way to lock in moisture and prevent further drying.[1]XResearch source Most lip balm products with additional ingredients cannot make the same guarantee.
2 Choose lip balm with caution. You'd think any lip balm would work, since it's designed for this exact problem. Unfortunately, products that contain menthol, camphor, or peppermint are particularly harsh on damaged lips. Avoid purchasing products with these items listed as ingredients.
Many dermatologists recommend petroleum jelly, but some disagree, stating that it may cause harm.
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3 Try lip moisturizers. Unlike lip balms, which seal in moisture to prevent drying, lip moisturizers try to rehydrate directly. Some dermatologists recommend moisturizers that contain vitamins A, B, and E, or dimethicone. It's best when used right after a shower, as water, shampoo, and soap can dry out already damaged lips.
4 Apply natural treatments. All-natural lip balms and moisturizers can be effective, but many claims are not supported by evidence. In general, waxes and fats are likely to help seal in moisture, including beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and vegetable oils. However, essential oils and fragrances are more likely to irritate your lips than soothe them, and can even cause a major reaction.[2]XResearch source
5 Make homemade lip balm. If you're not interested in buying products from a store, you can use items housed in your kitchen for relief. Keep in mind that most of these recipes are not vetted by professionals. It's best to stick to simple ingredients and avoid essential oils, or dilute them to 2% strength or less.
To make a simple lip balm, take a cup of shaved beeswax, 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, and a teaspoon of vitamin E oil and boil them together over the stove. Remove from heat and let the concoction dry and solidify overnight.
6 Exfoliate gently. A gentle exfoliant may help your lips, but too much can easily cause harm. Try applying a mixture of olive oil, honey, and sugar to your lips for 10 minutes and then washing it off. This should moisturize and soften your lips, but stop if you notice further damage.
7 Consider flaxseed oil. Some websites claim flaxseed oil helps heal chapped lips by restoring essential fatty acids. This may or may not work, but be aware that flax can have dangerous effects if you have certain medical conditions, or an allergic reaction.[3]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source If you decide to use it, you may apply a small dab of flaxseed oil directly to your lips.
Flaxseed oil can also be used as an ingredient in dressings, salsa, and dips. You can also add a drop to foods like cottage cheese, baked potatoes, and popcorn.
Be careful. Flaxseed oil does not last long, so make sure to use it within the first three months of purchase.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Avoiding Certain Habits
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1 Eliminate lip biting. Sometimes, the cause of peeling lips is the result of our own actions. Oftentimes, people bite their lips somewhat unconsciously when feeling anxious, bored, or stressed. If you notice your lips are peeling or cracked, try to figure out if you've been biting your lip. If you have, take measures to stop the habit.
Try to figure out what situations lead to lip biting. Do you bite your lips when you're feeling anxious or engaging in certain social situations, like meeting new people or interacting with co-workers? Do you simply bite your lips when you're bored, like when watching TV or waiting for a bus?[4]XResearch source
After identifying what situations lead to lip biting, engage in anxiety and boredom reducing behaviors that do not have a negative effect on your body. You could try deep breathing, relaxing your muscles, or what is called a competing response. This is a behavior you engage in that makes it impossible to bite your lip. You could, for example, chew gum to occupy your teeth with an alternative activity.[5]XResearch source
2 Limit your exposure to allergens. If your lip peeling occurs after exposure to a certain food, cosmetic product, or season it may be allergy-related.
Cosmetic products, lip balms, toothpastes, dyes, and fragrances often contain material which irritates the lips, eyes, and mouth. If you notice your lips peel after using a particular product, you might want to ditch that item and opt for an alternative.
Even if you don't believe your peeled lips are a result of cosmetic products, it's best to ditch the lipstick and lip balm until peeled lips heal. Such products can carry germs and peeled lips are more susceptible to infection.
Certain seasons, like early spring, can trigger allergic responses due to the increase of pollen in the air. If you're sensitive to seasonal change, try spending more time indoors or purchasing over-the-counter allergy medications.
Allergen exposure can also lead to mouth breathing, which puts strain on the lips by exposing them to more air and debris. This can cause peeling and chapping.
3 Do not lick or pick at your lips. When our lips are dry and chapped, it's tempting to lick them and peel them to relieve symptoms. These habits do harm longterm, however, and can prolong the healing time for peeled lips.
Do not pull at peeling skin. While it might be tempting, it does not actually provide relief. It usually causes pain and leads to bleeding, which increases the likelihood of infection and prolongs the healing process.
4 Stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet. Dryness is one of the most common causes of dry, peeled lips. Making hydration a habit can prevent lip peeling from occurring long-term.
Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Roughly 1.5 liters of water are needed for the average person, but depending on your lifestyle that number may change. If you exercise frequently or have a physically demanding job, for example, you may need more. In general, you should drink enough water that you rarely feel thirsty. If your urine is colorless or light yellow, you are probably in the right range.[6]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
Eating a balanced and healthy diet can help keep lips healthy. Food can provide about 20 percent of your total water intake. Watermelon and spinach are two examples of foods that are 90 percent or more water by weight.[7]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
If the air in your home feels dry or if you live in a region prone to pollution and dry air, invest in a humidifier. This will keep the air moist in your home and make peeled lips less likely.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Mythbusting
Download Article
1 Stay away from citrus fruit. Scrubs and balms that include lemon juice or other citric ingredients can irritate your skin and lips. They also cause sun sensitivity that may lead to rashes or blistering.[8]XResearch source They probably do more harm than good when it comes to healing peeling lips.
2 Avoid harsh exfoliant products. Your lips are more sensitive than your skin. Even products intended for lip use may cause damage to damaged lips. Better to stick with gentle exfoliants instead of something like a facial scrub.
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Tips
If you're going out in the sun all day, your lips are as susceptible to burning as any skin. Apply sunscreen to your lips before a day at the beach or a long, summer hike. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Lip protection is important in the fall, when the weather gets colder. Wear lip wax and balms during this time to shield your lips from the air and prevent peeling later on. You may want to cover your lips with a soft scarf when you are out in the cold, especially if it is windy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings
Contact your doctor if your lips are peeling, cracked, or painful and not improving with moisturizers and other home care. Thanks Helpful 43 Not Helpful 15
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Co-authored by: Laura Marusinec, MD Board Certified Physician This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care. This article has been viewed 467,050 times. 84 votes - 77% Co-authors: 30Updated: April 8, 2025 Views: 467,050 Categories: Dry Skin Care | Lip Health | Chapped LipsArticle SummaryX
To heal peeling lips, put some vegetable oil on them, which will help seal in moisture so they stop peeling. You can also use beeswax, shea butter, and cocoa butter. To exfoliate your lips when they're peeling, gently rub olive oil, honey, and sugar into your lips for 10 minutes and then rinse it off. While you're waiting for your lips to heal, avoid biting or picking at them or you could make the peeling worse. For more tips, like what kind of lip balms and moisturizers to use, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Tony Kath
Mar 12, 2017
"I was searching how to overcome chapped lips and, like always, you guys did it again. My lips get dried after I stop licking them for like 4-5 mins. I've been using Vaseline petroleum jelly and Nivea lip balm, too, but I guess I need to stop licking my lips first. Thanks a lot."..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Laura Marusinec, MD Board Certified Physician 84 votes - 77% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 30Updated: April 8, 2025 Views: 467,050
Tony Kath
Mar 12, 2017
"I was searching how to overcome chapped lips and, like always, you guys did it again. My lips get dried after I stop licking them for like 4-5 mins. I've been using Vaseline petroleum jelly and Nivea lip balm, too, but I guess I need to stop licking my lips first. Thanks a lot."..." more
Elizabeth Makin
Dec 7, 2018
"I suffered from peeling lips for weeks, then I tried your advice to use coconut oil blended with vitamin E. It worked within a few minutes; it began to ease the pain and bring down the swelling of my lips. I could not believe something so simple could work so fast!"..." more
Anonymous
Feb 7, 2017
"I was interested and enjoyed reading different methods on how to help my lips. I liked the first and second part. The most important was to be careful with lip balm; some companies use things that will dry out your lips."..." more
Anonymous
Sep 15, 2016
"Coconut oil on lips instead of chapstick helped. Mixed with small amount of coconut sugar and left it on! (Think the EOS lip stuff is causing my problems-seems to cause peeling lips when I use it. Bye Bye EOS.)"..." more
Moniece Slaughter
Nov 12, 2016
"This article helped me a lot, because now I know that it may be me causing my lip to peel by biting it. I know what to do to stop it from peeling!"..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Laura Marusinec, MD Board Certified Physician This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care. This article has been viewed 467,050 times. 84 votes - 77% Co-authors: 30 Updated: April 8, 2025 Views: 467,050 Categories: Dry Skin Care | Lip Health | Chapped Lips Article SummaryX
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1 Apply beeswax. This single-ingredient product is a safe and effective way to lock in moisture and prevent further drying.[1] Most lip balm products with additional ingredients cannot make the same guarantee. 
2 Choose lip balm with caution. You'd think any lip balm would work, since it's designed for this exact problem. Unfortunately, products that contain menthol, camphor, or peppermint are particularly harsh on damaged lips. Avoid purchasing products with these items listed as ingredients. 
3 Try lip moisturizers. Unlike lip balms, which seal in moisture to prevent drying, lip moisturizers try to rehydrate directly. Some dermatologists recommend moisturizers that contain vitamins A, B, and E, or dimethicone. It's best when used right after a shower, as water, shampoo, and soap can dry out already damaged lips. 
4 Apply natural treatments. All-natural lip balms and moisturizers can be effective, but many claims are not supported by evidence. In general, waxes and fats are likely to help seal in moisture, including beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and vegetable oils. However, essential oils and fragrances are more likely to irritate your lips than soothe them, and can even cause a major reaction.[2] 
5 Make homemade lip balm. If you're not interested in buying products from a store, you can use items housed in your kitchen for relief. Keep in mind that most of these recipes are not vetted by professionals. It's best to stick to simple ingredients and avoid essential oils, or dilute them to 2% strength or less. 
6 Exfoliate gently. A gentle exfoliant may help your lips, but too much can easily cause harm. Try applying a mixture of olive oil, honey, and sugar to your lips for 10 minutes and then washing it off. This should moisturize and soften your lips, but stop if you notice further damage. 
7 Consider flaxseed oil. Some websites claim flaxseed oil helps heal chapped lips by restoring essential fatty acids. This may or may not work, but be aware that flax can have dangerous effects if you have certain medical conditions, or an allergic reaction.[3] If you decide to use it, you may apply a small dab of flaxseed oil directly to your lips. 
1 Eliminate lip biting. Sometimes, the cause of peeling lips is the result of our own actions. Oftentimes, people bite their lips somewhat unconsciously when feeling anxious, bored, or stressed. If you notice your lips are peeling or cracked, try to figure out if you've been biting your lip. If you have, take measures to stop the habit. 
2 Limit your exposure to allergens. If your lip peeling occurs after exposure to a certain food, cosmetic product, or season it may be allergy-related. 
3 Do not lick or pick at your lips. When our lips are dry and chapped, it's tempting to lick them and peel them to relieve symptoms. These habits do harm longterm, however, and can prolong the healing time for peeled lips. 
4 Stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet. Dryness is one of the most common causes of dry, peeled lips. Making hydration a habit can prevent lip peeling from occurring long-term. 
1 Stay away from citrus fruit. Scrubs and balms that include lemon juice or other citric ingredients can irritate your skin and lips. They also cause sun sensitivity that may lead to rashes or blistering.[8] They probably do more harm than good when it comes to healing peeling lips. 
2 Avoid harsh exfoliant products. Your lips are more sensitive than your skin. Even products intended for lip use may cause damage to damaged lips. Better to stick with gentle exfoliants instead of something like a facial scrub. Advertisement