If your lips are so chapped they are making your whole mouth sore, it may be the cause of your environment. Extreme weather conditions can cause chapped lips, like heat, cold, dry air and wind. If your doctor approves, you can soothe your chapped lips at home using over-the-counter and home remedies.
Significance
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians on their website FamilyDoctor.org, chapped lips may be accompanied by mouth soreness due to cracks or sores that form in the corners of the mouth. Chapped lips may make it uncomfortable to eat and talk. Although licking the lips may make your lips feel better, it will ultimately dry your lips out even more.
Considerations
In some cases, dry, cracked lips in the corners of the mouth may be caused by a riboflavin or other vitamin deficiency, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Take a multivitamin or riboflavin supplement as directed by your doctor to reduce symptoms of chapped lips due to a vitamin deficiency. According to "Reader's Digest Canada" in the article "Heal Those Chapped Lips," your lips may become chapped more easily due to a vitamin B deficiency. Take vitamin B supplements as recommended by your doctor, or eat more green, leafy vegetables to get more vitamin B in your diet.
Prevention
Protect your lips from harsh weather by coating them with lip balm that contains either beeswax or petrolatum, says dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D., at MayoClinic.com. Before going out in the sun, apply a lip balm that contains sunscreen. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to hydrate your skin and breathe through your nose to keep your lips from drying out. Refrain from licking your lips as much as possible. If you do lick your lips frequently, continuously apply lip balm as a protective coating to keep your lips from drying out.
Solution
Slather your lips with lip balm as soon as you feel your lips becoming chapped to seal in moisture. If you don't have lip balm handy, spread olive oil or vegetable shortening on your lips to keep them hydrated and moisturized, recommends "Reader's Digest Canada." Run a humidifier in your home to increase moisture and make your lips heal more quickly.
Expert Insight
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center in the article "Chapped Lips," drinking extra water during the winter may help keep your lips moisturized throughout the season. If your chapped lips are accompanied by painful sores that do not seem to heal, contact your doctor for further treatment.
Member Comments