Chapped Lips: Causes, Treatments, And Prevention | Everyday Health

Health ConditionsSkin ConditionsChapped LipsShare this articleShare on FacebookShare on XShare on PinterestCopy LinkWhat You Need to Know About Chapped LipsChapped lips are common and usually harmless, but it’s important to protect and hydrate them. Here’s how to treat and prevent dry, peeling lips.

ThinkstockByMadeline R. Vann, MPH, LPCUpdated on June 25, 2025Medically Reviewed byMohiba Tareen, MD

When winter comes around, many of us experience chapped lips — dry, irritated, peeling lips that are caused by inflammation and disruption of the outer skin layer, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

These dry, chapped lips are flaky and sometimes red or bloody, often making them uncomfortable or even painful. Chapped lips, also known as cheilitis, are very common, and they’re most often caused by cold, dry, windy weather. While chapped lips are usually harmless, it’s important to protect and hydrate them with the right treatment.

Common Causes of Chapped Lips: Wetness and Weather

Dry, chapped lips are typically caused by environmental exposures that lead to irritation, including saliva and licking your lips, spicy foods, and cold, dry weather, notes the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The common cold and sun damage can also cause your lips to become overly dry and chapped, as can medication like cholesterol-lowering agents, says Dr. Zeichner.

Another sneaky cause of dry lips: You’re not drinking enough water, as the AAD notes, which dries out your skin — including your lips — and leads to the telltale chapping and flaking.

Allergic or irritant contact is another common cause of chapped lips, where exposure to an external product causes a true allergic reaction or a direct irritation to the skin, says Zeichner. But most of the time, chapped lips are caused by dryness, and wind is a prime culprit, explains dermatologist Clay J. Cockerell, MD, founder and medical director of Cockerell Dermatopathology in Dallas.

Health Conditions That Can Cause Chapped Lips

Dry, 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. Crohn’s disease can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract from the lips down to the anus, and if you have severely cracked lips that are not healing along with belly pain, this may be a rare cause.

Angular cheilitis, or inflammation in the corners of the mouth, is another common condition that can cause dry or chapped lips. It’s typically caused by cold weather, yeast overgrowth, or irritation from saliva, and it’s usually treated with anti-yeast medication, anti-inflammatories, or skin protectants overnight, says Rebecca Baxt, MD, a dermatologist in Paramus, New Jersey.

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). If you have dry, chapped lips that aren’t getting better and you’re concerned, see a dermatologist, advises the Cleveland Clinic: Your clinician can identify additional tests that can help determine if your dry lips are linked to one of these less common causes.

How to Treat Chapped Lips: Start With Lip Balm

Dry, chapped lips can sometimes heal on their own, but if that isn’t happening after a day or two, try using a lip balm, suggests Zeichner. 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. Zeichner recommends Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm with SPF 20. Vaseline is another dermatologist favorite. Dr. Cockerell advises choosing a formula with built-in sunscreen (look for an SPF number in the product name) and applying it frequently throughout the day.

Stay away from products that contain fragrance, camphor, menthol, and salicylic acid, because these ingredients can cause irritation of the skin, leading to disruption of the skin barrier and loss of hydration, which can make chapped lips worse, warns Zeichner. You also want to avoid exfoliating lips that are already dry and irritated because that can lead to more harm than good, he explains.

If lip balms are not helping, visit your dermatologist. You can also try 1-percent hydrocortisone to treat chapped lips if they are not improving on their own after a few days of using lip balm, says Zeichner.

If you’re looking for a natural home remedy for chapped lips, Zeichner suggests trying coconut oil because it spreads easily without dripping. “The same types of products you use for dry skin can often be used for the lips,” he explains.

What to Do When Your Child Has Chapped Lips

Kids are at risk for getting a superficial skin infection called impetigo, especially if they get open or cracked skin, and it can easily be spread to others, says Zeichner. He recommends touching base with your pediatrician if your child has chapped lips that don’t go away in a day or two.

How to Prevent Chapped Lips: 3 Simple Strategies

Here are three simple ways to prevent chapped lips and keep your lips smooth and hydrated, according to Zeichner:

• Avoid licking your lips. People sometimes lick their lips to reduce the feeling of dry lips, but saliva actually worsens the situation.
• Pay attention to your lips. If they start to feel dry or itchy, apply a lip balm early.
• Skip spicy foods. If you have sensitive skin, try to avoid spicy foods, which can irritate the lips.

Additional reporting by Jennifer D’Angelo Friedman.

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Mohiba Tareen, MD

Medical Reviewer

Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Mohiba Tareen, MD, is a nationally acclaimed board-certified dermatologist. She practices medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology at her Minnesota medical practice, Tareen Dermatology. Dr. Tareen takes joy in providing comprehensive dermatologic care to the entire family — from acne, to skin cancer, hair loss, and anti-aging, she provides her expertise to patients at all stages of their lives. Cosmetically, Tareen believes in subtle and natural aesthetic enhancements.

Personally, she is proud of her husband, a fellow caring physician, and her active brood of five children.

See full bio

Madeline R. Vann, MPH, LPC

Author

Madeline Vann, MPH, LPC, is a freelance health and medical writer located in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has been writing for over 15 years and can present complicated health topics at any reading level. Her writing has appeared in HealthDay, the Huffington Post, Costco Connection, the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Huntsville Times, and numerous academic publications.

She received her bachelor's degree from Trinity University, and has a master of public health degree from Tulane University. Her areas of interest include diet, fitness, chronic and infectious diseases, oral health, biotechnology, cancer, positive psychology, caregiving, end-of-life issues, and the intersection between environmental health and individual health.

Outside of writing, Vann is a licensed professional counselor and specializes in treating military and first responders coping with grief, loss, trauma, and addiction/recovery. She is a trauma specialist at the Farley Center, where she provides workshops on trauma, grief, and distress tolerance coping skills. She regularly practices yoga, loves to cook, and can’t decide between a Mediterranean style diet and an Asian-fusion approach.

See full bioSee Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert NetworkEDITORIAL SOURCESEveryday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.SourcesAdditional Sources

• 7 Dermatologists’ Tips for Healing Dry, Chapped Lips. American Academy of Dermatology.
• Chapped Lips. Cleveland Clinic. September 9, 2021.

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