Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentComplicationsDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

Complications

Diagnosis

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Frequently Asked Questions

Most of us experience dry or chapped lips at some point, but for some people, it can be a more serious problem. Also known ascheilitis, “chapped lips” refers to any acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) inflammation of the lips that can lead to symptoms like redness, dryness, and even peeling.

Chapped lips take many forms, and this article will explore some of the symptoms you may experience, as well as a range of causes and types of cheilitis and how the condition can be treated.

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Close up of a woman applying chapstick to her lips.

Symptoms of Chapped Lips

Dry, peeling lips are the most common symptoms of chapped lips, but cheilitis can also appear in the following ways:

Symptoms of chapped lips most often develop on the colored area of the lips, also known as the vermilion of the lip. In some cases, though, cheilitis can spread to other parts of the lips, or cause blurring at the edges where the colored portion of your lips and your other skin meet.

Types of Chapped Lips

Causes of Chapped Lips

When it comes to more serious forms of chapped lips, the cause is often long-term exposure to factors like drugs (drug-induced cheilitis), the sun (actinic cheilitis), or infections. Infectious organisms that can lead to chapping include:

What Medications Can Cause Chapped Lips?

Several types of medications can lead to chapped lips. Medications can cause irritation, dehydration, or other metabolic changes that result in chapped lips.

Retinoids and vitamin A supplements are common medications that can lead to lip chapping, but even some cosmetic products can cause chapped lips. Examples include salicylic acid, eucalyptus, camphor, and menthol.

Many other medications and even recreational drugs can cause your lips to become dry or cracked as a result of dehydration. These may include:

In most cases, drug-induced cheilitis is reversible once you stop using the product or medication that caused the chapping.

How to Treat Chapped Lips

How you treat chapped lipscan depend on what caused the problem in the first place. Bacterial or fungal infections that lead to chapping may require medications to cure them, but in most cases increasing your water intake and adding moisture to your lips can help.

Using nonirritating lip balms and moisturizers—especially those with a sun protection factor (SPF)—are particularly helpful when it comes to repairing chapped lips, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).Drinking plenty of water and avoiding habits like licking or biting your lips can help as well.

When looking for the right lip balm or treatment, the AAD recommends fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products that include ingredients like:

The 8 Best Tested SPF Lip Balms to Prevent Chapped, Sunburned Lips

Lip products that tingle or sting when you use them give the illusion of being more effective, cautions the ADA, but these types of balms can actually make your chapped lips worse. Try to avoid products that include flavors, fragrances, or ingredients like:

Complications and Risk Factors Associated With Chapped Lips

In severe cases of chapped lips, you could experience problems like extensive peeling, ulcerations, sores, or cracking. Cracking at the corners of the lips is commonly associated with infectious forms of cheilitis—especially fungal varieties.

If your chapped lips are linked to another chronic issue, there can be a range of other complications. For example, actinic cheilitis is linked tosuperficial squamous cell carcinoma, andangular cheilitisis often found in people with conditions likeSjögren’s diseaseandinflammatory bowel disease. Ignoring chapped lips as a symptom of these conditions can lead to a number of serious complications. In rare cases, severe lip chapping can lead to disfiguration of your lips.

Why Is There a Dark Spot on My Lip?

Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Chapped Lips?

In most cases, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose your chapped lips based on a visual inspection alone. Figuring out the cause of the chapping or detecting any complications might be more difficult.

Keeping a diary of when your lips are most chapped or irritated and reviewing medications and topical products you use regularly may help your healthcare provider zero in on a cause, but other tests may include:

More Skin Conditions

For most people, using an over-the-counter balm and staying hydrated can prevent and treat chapped lips. If you’re avoiding irritants and applying moisturizers without relief, talk to your healthcare provider about other potential causes and treatments for your chapped lips.

When to See a Dermatologist

Summary

Chapped lips are a common issue, especially when your lips are exposed to sunlight or harsh, dry air. Staying hydrated and protecting your lips with appropriate balms and moisturizers can go a long way in preventing and treating lip chapping.

A Word From Verywell

Chapped lips can be painful and easily irritated, but they rarely lead to severe complications. In most cases, staying hydrated and protecting your lips with balms and moisturizers is enough to avoid dryness and cracking.

If you have other symptoms along with cracked lips, your chapping won’t go away, or the irritation spreads from your lips, it can be a good idea to see a healthcare provider.

Learn MoreAngular Cheilitis Looks Like a Cold Sore, But Isn’t

Staying hydrated and protecting your lips from sun and wind with balms and moisturizers can help prevent many forms of chapped lips.Learn MoreHow to Stay Cool and Hydrated on Hot Summer Days

Staying hydrated and protecting your lips from sun and wind with balms and moisturizers can help prevent many forms of chapped lips.

Learn MoreHow to Stay Cool and Hydrated on Hot Summer Days

Depending on the cause of your chapped lips, treatments can range from increasing how much water you drink and using lip balm, to antibiotic or antifungal medications. See a healthcare provider if your chapped lips are not improving.Learn MoreBest Moisturizing SPF Lip Balms and Sunscreen

Depending on the cause of your chapped lips, treatments can range from increasing how much water you drink and using lip balm, to antibiotic or antifungal medications. See a healthcare provider if your chapped lips are not improving.

Learn MoreBest Moisturizing SPF Lip Balms and Sunscreen

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DermNet New Zealand.Angular cheilitis.Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis: How to classify cheilitis?.Acta Clin Croat. June 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16DermNet New Zealand.Cheilitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About leishmaniasis.UPMC Health Beat.How to heal cracked and chapped lips.Puga AM, Lopez-Oliva S, Trives C, Partearroyo T, Varela-Moreiras G.Effects of drugs and excipients on hydration status.Nutrients. March 2019;11(3):669. doi:10.3390/nu11030669American Academy of Dermatology Association.7 dermatologists' tips for healing dry, cracked lips.Federico JR, Basehore BM, Zito PM.Angular chelitis.StatPearls.Muse ME, Crane JS.Actinic cheilitis.StatPearls.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DermNet New Zealand.Angular cheilitis.Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis: How to classify cheilitis?.Acta Clin Croat. June 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16DermNet New Zealand.Cheilitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About leishmaniasis.UPMC Health Beat.How to heal cracked and chapped lips.Puga AM, Lopez-Oliva S, Trives C, Partearroyo T, Varela-Moreiras G.Effects of drugs and excipients on hydration status.Nutrients. March 2019;11(3):669. doi:10.3390/nu11030669American Academy of Dermatology Association.7 dermatologists' tips for healing dry, cracked lips.Federico JR, Basehore BM, Zito PM.Angular chelitis.StatPearls.Muse ME, Crane JS.Actinic cheilitis.StatPearls.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

DermNet New Zealand.Angular cheilitis.Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis: How to classify cheilitis?.Acta Clin Croat. June 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16DermNet New Zealand.Cheilitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About leishmaniasis.UPMC Health Beat.How to heal cracked and chapped lips.Puga AM, Lopez-Oliva S, Trives C, Partearroyo T, Varela-Moreiras G.Effects of drugs and excipients on hydration status.Nutrients. March 2019;11(3):669. doi:10.3390/nu11030669American Academy of Dermatology Association.7 dermatologists' tips for healing dry, cracked lips.Federico JR, Basehore BM, Zito PM.Angular chelitis.StatPearls.Muse ME, Crane JS.Actinic cheilitis.StatPearls.

DermNet New Zealand.Angular cheilitis.

Lugović-Mihić L, Pilipović K, Crnarić I, Šitum M, Duvančić T.Differential diagnosis of cheilitis: How to classify cheilitis?.Acta Clin Croat. June 2018;57(2):342-351. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.16

DermNet New Zealand.Cheilitis.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About leishmaniasis.

UPMC Health Beat.How to heal cracked and chapped lips.

Puga AM, Lopez-Oliva S, Trives C, Partearroyo T, Varela-Moreiras G.Effects of drugs and excipients on hydration status.Nutrients. March 2019;11(3):669. doi:10.3390/nu11030669

American Academy of Dermatology Association.7 dermatologists' tips for healing dry, cracked lips.

Federico JR, Basehore BM, Zito PM.Angular chelitis.StatPearls.

Muse ME, Crane JS.Actinic cheilitis.StatPearls.

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