HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Causes Dry And Chapped Lips?

Posted on Tue, 7 Jun 2016

Question: My lips have become dry around the edges despite using the same lip balm and this has never happened before. My lips also seem to pucker a little as well. The only thing that seems to help is Vaseline. Do you know what may be causing this?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Dry, chapped Lips

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Frequent sun exposure and habitual licking can lead to such dryness and chapped lips.

It can develop into a more severe form of chapped lips called cheilitis where there is cracked skin at the corners of the lips.

Triamcinolone oral gel can be applied on the lips. It is a mild topical steroid and prevents cracking of lips. Most likely your symptoms will improve with its use for 4 to 5 days. Vaseline can be continued alongside this.

Dehydration, malnutrition, medication like isotretinoin , lithium and antibiotics can also precipitate dry and cracked lips. Keep yourself well hydrated. B complex vitamins with zinc can be advised for a one month course if nutritional deficiency is suspected.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107

Dr. M.S. Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (23 hours later)

they aren't chapped. The skin around my lips are dry and if I don't keep moist with vaseline, the skin will get really red and flaky. Here a couple pictures, but they aren't that red because I've kept vaseline on them. Do you know what it could be from.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome

Your concern is appreciated

Lips can become dry when exposed to sun wind or cold. Lip balm containing petroleum or beewax can help seal in the moiture and can help. Dry lips tighten ans start to split, its inportant not to bite off the flakes of dried skin as it slows down the healing. The repeated licking can also make it worse as the water evaporates and washes the natural oil off the skin. For that purpose you have to apply lip balm containing petroleum or beewax regularly and its best to use lip balm with sun protection factor of 15 if you are going to spend more time in sun.
When dry lips becomes inflamed and feel sore its called cheilitis it can occur due to mild irritation and some times due to introduction of germs into the cracks for that purpose your doctor can prescribe antibiotic or antifungal ointment. 1% hydrocortisone is also given to reduce inflammation.

Hope it helps
Thanks.

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar