Mildly chapped lips are uncomfortable enough, but when your lips become so dry and damaged that they crack, the situation can become painful. If your cracked lips are a once-in-a-while problem, you can probably treat them yourself, but if you have ongoing problems with cracked and chapped lips or if the cracking extends to include the corners of your mouth, it's a good idea to make an appointment with your dermatologist to rule out the possibility of an underlying health condition, says Kansas City-based dermatologist Audrey Kunin in "Allure" magazine.
Step 1
Press a warm, wet washcloth against your lips for about 5 minutes after every shower to soothe soreness and hydrate your lips.
Step 2
Combine a little lip balm with 1/8 tsp. of sugar and rub the mixture over your cracked lips once a week to exfoliate them and remove flaking skin, recommends Charles Zugerman, associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, in the "South Florida Sun-Sentinel."
Step 3
Apply a viscous lip balm that contains ceramides, chemicals that help repair your skin barrier to heal cracked lips, whenever your lips feel dry, recommends Kunin. Choose a balm that doesn't contain fragrances or lanolin to prevent irritation.
Step 4
Stop licking your lips -- your saliva will evaporate, leaving your lips even drier and more susceptible to damage, says Mayo Clinic dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson on MayoClinic.com.
Step 5
Use a humidifier to restore moisture to your lips while you sleep, especially if you tend to breathe through your mouth while you're sleeping, recommends Gibson.
Step 6
Drink plenty of water throughout the day -- ideally eight to 10 glasses -- so that your body doesn't become dehydrated.
Tips and Warnings
- If your cracked lips are very painful, Zugerman recommends looking for a lip balm that contains an external analgesic to relieve pain.
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- 1/8 tsp. sugar
- Lip balm
