Why are my lips splitting?

Chapped lips are the result of dry, cracked skin on your lips due to cold or dry weather, sun exposure, frequently licking your lips or dehydration. You can treat chapped lips at home with the use of lip balm or ointment to ease any discomfort.

Why do I keep getting a split in my lip?

Exposure to cold air, dry air, wind, and the sun can dry out lips and cause cracking and splitting. Apply lip balm or petroleum jelly to your lips before heading outdoors. This provides a protective barrier to keep your lips moisturized. Look for medicated lip balm and lip balm with SPF to prevent burns.

How do you heal a split lip?

Apply a non-irritating lip balm (or lip moisturizer) several times a day and before bed. If your lips are very dry and cracked, try a thick ointment, such as white petroleum jelly. Ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils. Slather on a non-irritating lip balm with SPF 30 or higher before going outdoors.

What deficiency causes lip cracks?

B Vitamins Deficiency: specifically vitamin B-12 (Riboflavin) can cause cracked lips that have difficulty healing. Angular cheilitis is a severe and very uncomfortable lip condition in which cracks and sores are present in the skin at the corners of the mouth when there is a B vitamin deficiency.

What vitamins should I take for cracked lips?

B vitamins

Animal and test-tube studies indicate that they also affect tissue repair and wound healing ( 8 , 9 , 10 ). Chapped lips are a common symptom of deficiencies, especially in folate (vitamin B9), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and vitamins B6 and B12 ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ).

What Causes Chapped Lips?

Are dry lips a symptom of anything?

Health Conditions That Can Cause Chapped Lips

Chapped lips can also be associated with a variety of underlying medical conditions, including thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, and inflammatory bowel disease, says Zeichner.

Does Vaseline heal cuts on lips?

Vaseline is an affordable, easy-to-find option in most grocery stores and pharmacies, and it's said to relieve dry skin, help heal wounds , and even help moisturize chapped lips.

Is Vaseline good for lips?

Vaseline or petroleum jelly is a great way to seal the moisture in your lips. It strengthens the skin barrier and prevents moisture from escaping, keeping your lips soft and smooth. Redness, irritation, clogged pores, and infection may be some of the side effects of using vaseline.

Why won't my lips heal?

If you find that your lips simply won't heal, there may be an underlying condition to blame and you should see a doctor. Chapped lips can get infected, as bacteria can enter through cracks and abrasions. This is known as cheilitis and must be treated by a doctor.

Is angular cheilitis an STD?

Other names for angular cheilitis include angular stomatitis and perleche. Sometimes people confuse angular cheilitis with cold sores. But cold sores are a separate condition caused by a herpes virus. Cold sores are contagious; angular cheilitis is not.

How long does it take for a split lip to heal?

If you develop a busted or cut lip from an accident or injury, the healing process could range from a few days to a few weeks depending on the severity of the lip wound. If swelling doesn't improve within 48 hours or if your lip continues to bleed excessively, you may need to seek medical attention.

Can dehydration cause angular cheilitis?

Therefore, angular cheilitis is a warning symptom of celiac diseases. Dehydration is another leading causative factor of cheilitis. The absence of enough liquids in the body could reflect in the mouth as dry and cracked corners. We know that saliva is a warehouse of bacteria and viruses.

Can stress cause chapped lips?

High amounts of stress will attack our “Spleen Qi”, which can lead to bloating, fatigue, loose stools, and dry lips.

What does actinic cheilitis look like?

The first symptom of AC is usually dry, cracking lips. You might then develop either a red and swollen or white patch on your lip. This will almost always be on the lower lip. In more advanced AC, the patches might look scaly and feel like sandpaper.

Can dehydration cause chapped lips?

Any of the following conditions can contribute to chapped lips. Dehydration – When you're dehydrated, your lips are more prone to dryness. Drink about eight glasses of water per day to stay properly hydrated. Malnutrition – Improper diet and nutrient deficiencies can make skin and lips drier than usual.

Why are my lips so dry even with chapstick?

But repeatedly applying lip balms and products may not help your case. Lip balms provide only temporary comfort, and some types can make scaly lips even drier. That's because, in part, when the thin film of moisture from the lip balm evaporates, it dehydrates your lips even more.

Is coconut oil good for lips?

Benefits of coconut oil for lips

The primary benefit of coconut oil is its moisturizing effects. This makes it ideal for chapped lips. Your lips are particularly sensitive to moisture loss because the skin is thin, and they're exposed to the elements more so than other parts of your skin.

Is Vaseline better than chapstick?

Some people are more prone to chapped lips due to where they live or what they eat and drink. A dermatologist told Insider a simple product like Vaseline is better than chapsticks with more ingredients, which can irritate the lips, being both the problem and solution.

Can you use too much lip balm?

When your lips feel dry, you may reach for lip balm more often. This can leave you with dry, chapped lips despite your regular use of balm. Some ingredients in lip balm can themselves dry or slightly irritate the skin of your lips. This can also push you into a pattern of more and more use.

Does Chapstick make your lips more chapped?

“Lip balms containing ingredients like phenol, menthol and salicylic acid actually make your lips drier. So you apply more, and it becomes a vicious cycle.” Some of these product also cause a tingling feeling when you apply them. This either causes irritation or removes outer layers of the skin, like an exfoliant.

Can vitamin D deficiency cause dry lips?

Dry chapped lips are one symptom of vitamin deficiency. They are also an early warning sign for serious health issues.

Which lip balm is best for dry lips?

Does drinking water help chapped lips?

Drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin and lips hydrated. While dehydration isn't the only cause of dry lips, it can be a factor.

What foods cause dry lips?

Spicy foods are not good for pre- or post-chapped lips. Spicy foods compromise the skin barrier and can result in chapped lips or make currently chapped lips worse. Since spicy foods often have a burning sensation, it can cause severe pain to already chapped lips.