What causes dry lips, and how can you treat them? Does lip balm actually help?

As we head into the colder weather, many of us might be afflicted with the irritating ailment of dry and chapped lips.

People have been trying to figure out how to fix dry lips for centuries. Using beeswax, olive oil and other natural ingredients have been reported as early as Cleopatra’s time, around 40 B.C.

In 1833, there were even reports of human earwax being recommended as a successful remedy for dry, cracked lips. Not long after, the first commercial lip balms hit the market.

So what causes dry lips, and which lip balms actually help? The key is to avoid lip balms that contain certain additives which might worsen the problem.

They need to be soft but resilient

Our lips are constantly exposed to the elements, such as sunlight, wind, dry air, and cold weather. They have to withstand our daily lifestyle, including contact with food, cosmetics, biting, picking, rubbing against clothes, kissing and more.

So, although they look soft and fleshy, our lips need to be resilient and tough.

Lips sit at the junction where our outside facial skin transitions into the tissue layers lining the mouth. As such, the lips are structured similar to mucous membranes, but with the addition of a protective outside layer of skin. Lips don’t have hair follicles, or sweat, saliva and oil glands.

This unique structure means they’re particularly prone to dryness as they have a much lower ability to hold water than the rest of the face’s skin.

What causes dry lips?

Many of us get dry lips at certain times of the year. This can occur naturally, or be brought on by many different factors, including:

• inflamed lips, known as cheilitis. This can be due to a skin condition, or an infection such as herpes or cold sores
• allergies
• medications which impact the salivary glands, the mouth’s surrounding muscles, or sensations throughout the lip area
• tongue injuries, teeth that rub against the lips, or other dental issues
• poor oral health. This can be brought on by general neglect, eating disorders, or bad oral hygiene habits
• burns, such as eating food that’s too hot, or sunburn. Burns can result in the lips swelling, scarring and blistering, and it may take a long time for the pain to alleviate
• some diseases or disorders, such as Sjögren’s syndrome
• dehydration, heat stroke, fever, or excessive heat
• nasal congestion, which leads to chronic mouth-breathing. This can sometimes be a result of illness, such as when you have a common cold
• cold weather or cold wind that runs along the lips and removes moisture
• persistent licking, which can create a wet-dry cycle that excessively dries out your lips.

The dryness can also lead to pain, itching or stinging.

If dry lips start causing serious issues, it may be helpful to discuss this with a medical professional.