Dry and chapped lips are common during winter.
Dealing with dry, cracked lips? That seems to be a given this time of year.
Lips don’t have a great ability to moisturize themselves, says Dr. Chris Adigun, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. So, when your skin gets dry — as it often does in the winter — your lips suffer disproportionately.
But it’s not just the weather that causes chapped lips. If you’re struggling with extremely dry lips, there are a multitude of possible reasons. We talked to Adigun to discuss the various causes and how to treat your lips accordingly, including when it’s time to see a dermatologist.
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
Why are my lips so dry?
Your lips become dry when their lipid moisture barrier becomes compromised. Essentially, our lipid skin barrier works to prevent the water in our skin (including our lips) from evaporating. When this skin barrier is disrupted, the moisture more easily escapes into the air. According to Adigun, there are enzymes in your saliva that disrupt this moisture barrier. That means anything that increases saliva on your lips, like mouth-breathing and frequently licking your lips, can cause dryness.
Cold, dry weather also results in dry lips. This is because water molecules move from areas of higher water concentration to lower water concentration So, dry air pulls moisture from your skin in an attempt to reach equilibrium. Another potential cause of dry lips is a medication that reduces our body’s oil production. Adigun points to the retinoid medication Accutane (Isotretinoin), which treats severe acne, as an example.
How do you get rid of dry lips?
To treat chronically dry lips, you want to apply an emollient on your lips, says Adigun. Emollients work by sealing in the moisture in your skin. There are various types of emollients, including lotions, creams and ointments. Adigun suggests Doctor Rogers Restore Healing Balm. “When patients are a little more conscious about synthetic emollients that typically come from petroleum, and they prefer to use something plant-based that is the best one I have found,” she explains. Apply the emollient as often as needed, she adds.
Are dry lips a symptom of anything?
If emollients aren’t healing your lips, then you may be experiencing an issue other than chronic dryness. Other potential causes include a potential allergy, an irritant exposure or a serious type of sun damage known as actinic damage. Adigun says that you may need to speak to a dermatologist for treatment if you think you are dealing with any of these issues.
Dry skin bothering you? This is what’s causing it.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dealing with dry lips? There are many possible reasons.
News Related-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich until end of January
-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges
-
Israel's economy recovered from previous wars with Hamas, but this one might go longer, hit harder
-
Stock market today: Asian shares mixed ahead of US consumer confidence and price data
-
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Sister Wives' star Christine Brown says her kids' happy marriages inspired her leave Kody Brown
-
NBA fans roast Clippers for losing to Nuggets without Jokic, Murray, Gordon
-
Panthers-Senators brawl ends in 10-minute penalty for all players on ice
-
CNBC Daily Open: Is record Black Friday sales spike a false dawn?
-
Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas
-
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host
-
Biden’s unworkable nursing rule will harm seniors
-
Jalen Hurts: We did what we needed to do when it mattered the most
-
LeBron James takes NBA all-time minutes lead in career-worst loss
-
Vikings' Kevin O'Connell to evaluate Josh Dobbs, path forward at QB