What Are Chapped Lips? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Most people have experienced chapped lips at some point in their lives. Medically known as cheilitis, chapped lips are characterized by dry, scaly skin that may swell or even develop cracks, in severe cases. Environmental factors such as wind, cold temperatures, and the sun can lead to chapped lips. Products such as lipstick, lip balm, and even toothpaste can also cause chapped lips.
Some of the most common types are:
Cheilitis simplex
Contact or eczematous cheilitis
Angular cheilitis
Actinic cheilitis
Drug-induced cheilitis
In general, the signs and symptoms of chapped lips include:
Dryness
Scaling
Cracks or fissures
Redness
Peeling
That said, your symptoms may vary depending upon the exact type of cheilitis you have. Here are the signs and symptoms of some common types.
Cheilitis Simplex Lip cracking, usually on the lower lip
Contact or Eczematous Cheilitis Dryness, scaling, and fissuring
Angular Cheilitis Dryness, cracking, and peeling at the corners of the mouth
Actinic Cheilitis Whitish discoloration at lip borders, hardening, scaly plaques, and small bumps
Drug-Induced Cheilitis Lesions (sores)
The skin on your lips is thinner than on the rest of your body, so it’s more susceptible to dryness and chapping. Generally speaking, common causes of chapped lips include dry or cold weather, overexposure to the sun, and licking your lips too frequently.
Here are some of the specific causes of each type of chapped lips.
Cheilitis Simplex Frequent lip licking is often to blame. Licking your lips too much allows digestive enzymes in your saliva to break down the skin’s protective barrier, making them more prone to dryness and cracking.
Contact or Eczematous Cheilitis The culprit of this type of chapped lips is irritating substances, like preservatives and other additives found in products such as lipstick, toothpaste, and certain foods.
Angular Cheilitis This type of chapped lips is most commonly caused by a fungal infection, triggered by frequent saliva collection at the corners of the mouth. This can be due to ill-fitting dentures or other oral hygiene issues. It can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies, such as B6 or iron.
Actinic Cheilitis Also known as “solar cheilitis,” this kind of chapped lips is caused by chronic sun exposure. It’s often found in people who work outdoors, such as farmers, construction workers, and lifeguards.
Drug-Induced Cheilitis Usually it’s caused by retinoids (used to treat acne or psoriasis) or other medications that cause dry mouth or lips.
Cheilitis simplex (run-of-the-mill chapped lips) can usually be healed with at-home remedies like drinking more water and using nonirritating lip balms. But if your chapped lips are severe or don’t heal within a few weeks, you may need to see a doctor who can make an official diagnosis and recommend targeted therapies.
To diagnose chapped lips, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, take a careful medical history, and do a clinical examination. They may also need to do allergy testing or take a swab of your lips to check for infection. In some cases, a biopsy may be necessary to examine the tissue closely and confirm the diagnosis, as with actinic cheilitis.
The length of time it takes to heal chapped lips depends on how severe your condition is, and how consistent you are in applying treatments and avoiding triggers. Less severe cases of cheilitis simplex can be healed in two to three weeks. If your lips don’t feel better after a few weeks, see a dermatologist who can determine the proper course of treatment.
Chapped lips typically heal on their own with at-home treatments. If your chapped lips won’t go away — or if your lips become severely cracked or swollen — see your doctor. These may be signs of an underlying medical problem.
Here are some of the targeted treatment options for each type of chapped lips.
Actinic Cheilitis Emollients, topical and oral corticosteroids, surgery (if necessary)
Drug-Induced Cheilitis Emollients and discontinuing use of the drug (if possible)
Prevention of Chapped Lips
There are a number of steps you can take at home to prevent chapped lips.
Try not to lick your lips too much. Saliva evaporates quickly and can leave your lips feeling even more chapped.
Protect your lips. For maximum moisture and protection, choose a lip-soothing product that contains beeswax or petrolatum (petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline). Choose a nonirritating (fragrance- and flavor-free) lip product with SPF sun protection if you’re outside for long periods during daylight in cold or dry weather.
Cover up. Cover your lips and face with a scarf on cold, windy days.
Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids, and even using a humidifier can help, especially in the colder, drier months of the year.
Avoid irritants. Don’t use any personal care products, fragrances, or foods that aggravate symptoms.
Close your mouth. Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth to reduce the amount of air that touches the lips directly.
Actinic cheilitis (the kind that’s induced by the sun) can lead to squamous cell carcinoma (lip cancer). In rare cases, like severe forms of glandular cheilitis and cheilitis granulomatosis, chapped lips can cause permanent swelling or disfiguration.
Unfortunately, there isn’t precise data on how many people suffer from chapped lips, though it’s known to be a common condition. But there is research on who is most likely to get each kind.
Eczematous Cheilitis This form is most prevalent in people with a history of allergies.
Angular Cheilitis Chapping around the corners of the mouth is often found in older people who wear dentures, and in children with histories of recurrent infections or immune dysfunction.
Actinic Cheilitis This is most common in people who live in sunny locales, those who work outdoors, and people with fair skin.
Glandular Cheilitis This rare inflammatory disorder is usually found in older men.
Some skin conditions and other chronic disorders can also affect the lips, leaving them feeling dry, cracked, or irritated. These conditions include:
Chapped lips, otherwise known as cheilitis, are common, usually temporary, and typically respond to treatment.
There are many types of cheilitis with a variety of causes, including environmental triggers, irritants, infections, sun exposure, and co-occurring health issues.
Most cases should resolve with treatment within two to three weeks; if you have severe or persistent chapping, see your dermatologist.
You can also take steps to prevent cheilitis by moisturizing, avoiding irritants, and using sun protection.
