Cracked lips may not be a serious illness, but they are a painful nuisance that may ruin your whole day. Cracked lips are generally caused when the skin cells are depleted of water due to dry weather or sun damage. In rare cases, cracked lips, particularly at the corners of the mouth, may be caused by a more serious illness, like iron-deficiency anemia or a staph infection, says the website, Go Ask Alice! in the article, "The Corners of My Mouth are Cracking Up." If it's OK with your doctor, you can treat cracked lips with home remedies.
Step 1
Slather your lips with a lip balm that contains beeswax or petrolatum, says Mayo Clinic dermatologist, Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. in the article, "Chapped Lips: What is the Best Remedy?" on MayoClinic.com.
Step 2
Stop licking your lips. Even though licking your lips may make your cracked lips feel moistened for a second, the saliva will evaporate quickly and make your cracked lips even more painful.
Step 3
Drink more water, particularly if you get cracked lips during the wintertime, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine in the article "Chapped Lips." Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to heal chapped lips.
Step 4
Sleep with a humidifier every night. A humidifier releases water vapor into the air, which will help put water back into the skin cells on your lips.
Step 5
Switch to a baking soda-based toothpaste if your current toothpaste is causing an irritation. If you experience cracking around the sides of the mouth, it may be because your toothpaste is drying out your mouth and lips.
Tips and Warnings
- Clean your humidifier at least twice a week to prevent bacteria and mold from growing.
- Consult a doctor if your cracked lips are accompanied by any other symptoms.
Things You'll Need
- Lip balm
- Humidifier
- Baking soda-based toothpaste
Member Comments