Chapped and dry lips cause discomfort and an unsightly appearance. They can appear suddenly or become a persistent problem, especially in winter, in windy weather, or during times of stress or illness.
To restore softness and smoothness to your lips, it’s important to understand the cause and properly care for them. A simple solution is a lip balm. It quickly makes lips soft and smooth.
Why Do Lips Become Dry and Cracked?
If your lips are dry and cracked, the cause is often related to a lack of moisture.When your body doesn’t get enough water, the mucous membranes and skin of the lips are the first to react.
They become sensitive, lose elasticity, and crack more quickly. In winter and during the heating season, the need for fluid increases, and the external signs of dehydration are exacerbated.
Dry Lips: Other possible causes
- Improper care: Using harsh cleansers, matte, long-lasting lipsticks without a base, and a lack of regular moisturizing can weaken the skin’s natural protective layer. Lips become vulnerable to even mild exposure to wind or sun.
- Climate factors: Cold winds, dry air indoors or outdoors, and sudden temperature changes can all contribute to dehydration and the formation of microcracks. Lips become more dry in winter, and in summer, they suffer additional damage from UV rays.
- Vitamin deficiency: A lack of B vitamins, iron, and omega fatty acids can lead to flaking, soreness, and cracking of the skin around the corners of the mouth.
- Medical conditions and medications: Dermatitis, allergies, hormonal imbalances, and taking antihistamines or diuretics can all cause dry skin.
The habit of biting or licking your lips is one of the causes of discomfort and chapped lips. Saliva contains enzymes that trigger discomfort and dry skin. Even light, systematic biting damages the skin surface and leads to chapped lips.
See Also: What is Lip Plumping Balm and How Does it Work?
Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
Consequences of negative external influences, internal factors, and lack of care include redness, peeling, and cracking. If damage persists for more than a week or worsens, consider addressing the problem.
Other symptoms that indicate the need for urgent intervention include:
- Itching and soreness;
- long-term constant dryness
- Inflammatory
If your lips are dry year-round, you need to check your water balance, improve your diet, and rule out any deficiencies, gastrointestinal disorders, or endocrine disorders.
The appearance of painful sores, angular cheilitis, and chronic wounds is a reason to take urgent measures to restore the health of your delicate skin.
How to Get Rid of Dry Lips
If your lips are dry and chapped, you need to adjust your skincare routine. Your skincare products may not be working properly, or your treatments may not be covering the needs of your skin. Here’s how to care for them properly:
2. Daily moisturizing with lip balms
Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol, ceramides, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and squalane. These ingredients intensely moisturize and restore tissue structure and the natural protective barrier. Apply to your lips morning, evening, and before going outside.
2. Protect your lips from external factors
In winter, use rich, nourishing products with oils and waxes. For summer, use balms with SPF 15-30. Protect against chapping with special formulas containing occlusives (lanolin, wax).
3. Maintain a balanced diet and fluid intake
Eat foods rich in vitamins B2, B6, iron, and omega-3. Increase your water intake, especially during hot weather, to avoid dehydration and related problems.
4. Gentle cleansing and exfoliation
Use gentle sugar or enzyme scrubs 1-2 times a week. Avoid harsh scrubbing, which can worsen cracks.
5. Giving up bad habits
Giving up bad habits like licking and biting your lips allows you to quickly restore the attractiveness and health of your skin.
See Also: Eyebrow Care: 2026 Tips
Additional Preventive Measures
Moisturizing and nourishing your skin with skincare products will be more effective if you follow damage prevention measures:
Maintain your water balance—lips react to dehydration faster than other areas of the skin.
Avoid irritants. Avoid matte liquid lipsticks without a base. Prohibited ingredients include menthol and camphor in lip balm and SLS in toothpaste, as they can dry out your lips.
Use overnight masks. Apply nourishing nighttime treatments with oils, mucin, peptides, and squalane.
Once a week, give your lips a spa treatment—a gentle peeling plus a thick layer of treatment.
Use the treatment as an overnight mask. Apply a thick layer—your skin will recover significantly faster overnight. Apply a thin layer of oil or petroleum jelly over the treatment—the film will better retain moisture in the tissues. Apply the treatment 10 minutes before makeup. This will make your lips smooth, allowing lipstick to apply more evenly. For severely chapped lips, apply the treatment topically every 2-3 hours.
See Also: Eyebrow Gel tint: what is it and how to use it?
Final Verdict
Dry and chapped lips are not just a cosmetic problem. They are a signal. A signal that your skin needs moisture, protection, or better care.
Weather, dehydration, poor nutrition, harsh products, and even simple habits like licking your lips can weaken their natural barrier.
Over time, this leads to peeling, soreness, and cracks. The good news is that recovery is simple.
Consistent care makes a real difference. Daily moisturizing with a quality lip balm restores softness and elasticity.
Protection from wind, cold, and sun prevents further damage.
Balanced nutrition and proper water intake strengthen the skin from within.
Gentle exfoliation removes flakes.
Overnight masks speed up healing.
Avoiding irritants helps maintain long-term comfort.
If dryness persists or worsens, it is important to look deeper.
- Check your hydration levels.
- Review your diet.
- Consult a specialist if necessary.
Healthy lips are smooth, soft, and comfortable. They do not crack, sting, or peel.
With proper care and attention, you can restore their natural beauty.
Simple daily habits are enough to maintain long-term results.
Consistency, protection, and hydration are the foundation of healthy lips.
