Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNutrient Deficiencies That Cause Dry LipsOther CausesTreatmentsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Nutrient Deficiencies That Cause Dry Lips
Other Causes
Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
When you have dry lips, your lips may feel and appear dry,chapped, inflamed, or even cracked or bleeding. Dry lips can happen for any number of reasons, including the following:
A deficiency in specific nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and water, may lead to dry lips. For example, a lack of themicronutrientszinc, iron, or B vitamins may cause your lips to become dry. Various factors may cause a person to become deficient in a nutrient.
Vitamins and minerals are found in a wide variety of foods. Typically, a well-balanced diet will provide all the micronutrients your body needs. However, specific diets, health conditions, and life stages may sometimes make nourishing your body correctly more challenging.
Examples of ways a person can develop nutrient deficiencies include:
This article will dive deeper into nutrient deficiencies that cause dry lips, other causes of dry lips, treatments for dry lips, and when to see a healthcare provider.
Female taking capsules next to weekly pill organizer on wooden table.Maria Korneeva / Getty Images
Maria Korneeva / Getty Images
One of the signs of a deficiency in B vitamins, zinc, or iron is dry, chapped lips.Dehydrationcan also cause your lips to look and feel dry.
B Vitamins
The B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins essential to various processes in the human body. You may notice dry lips and similar symptoms if you’re deficient in some B vitamins.
Without enoughniacin(vitamin B3) orbiotin(vitamin B7), your lips may become swollen or scaly.
Additionally, although rare in the U.S.,riboflavin(vitamin B2) deficiency may lead to swollen, cracked lips.
11 Surprising Signs You Are Not Getting Enough Nutrients (and If You’re at Risk)
Zinc
Zincis a trace mineral, which means your body only needs it in small amounts. Despite this, zinc plays a crucial role in hundreds of enzymatic reactions and is an integral part of skin health, digestion, immunity, and development.
Because zinc is needed throughout the body, a deficiency in this mineral may affect the bones, digestive tract, reproductive tract,nervous system, immune system, and skin.
Chapped lips may be an overlooked symptom of zinc deficiency. However, in some cases, zinc deficiency is associated with lip inflammation, which can also cause dryness.A deficiency can be treated withzinc supplements.
Iron
Ironis necessary to makehemoglobinandmyoglobin, two proteins that transport oxygen throughout the body. Iron has many other vital roles, so a deficiency in this mineral may be detrimental.
Lip inflammation andangular cheilitis(cracked mouth corners) have been linked to iron deficiencies. Evidence shows that lip peeling may also indicate an iron deficiency.
Water
Although not a vitamin or mineral,wateris considered an essential nutrient.
Water hydrates your body, including your skin. Your lips may become dry, chapped, or cracked without enough of it.
Other Causes of Dry Lips
Dry lips can have causes that aren’t related to nutrient deficiencies.
Some people get dry, chapped lips from health conditions or environmental factors. Dry lips may also result from allergies or contact with an irritant. Other possible causes of dry lips include:
The following sections outline some of the common causes of dry lips.
Medications
Oral and topical medications may cause dry lips. Dry lips may occur due to improper use or simply as a side effect of the medication.
Certain medications may lead to cheilitis or dry, inflamed lips. Medications that have reported instances of cheilitis include:
Medical products, like creams,sunscreen, and lip care, may also cause dry lips for some people.
Too Much Vitamin A
Vitamin Ais a fat-soluble vitamin and natural antioxidant that you need daily. Unlike other vitamins and nutrients, too much vitamin A from foods, supplements, or medications may leave you with dry lips.
Consuming too much vitamin A, also known ashypervitaminosisA, may lead to a long list of symptoms, including dry, cracked corners of the mouth.
Other forms of vitamin A, likeretinol andretinoids, may also cause dry lips.
Oral or topical retinoids are a standard treatment for acne vulgaris. However, some evidence suggests that retinoid medications may irritate the lips, leaving them chapped.
Nighttime Breathing Devices
Some people require a nighttime breathing device, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, to sleep. This may be due tosleep apneaor other medical conditions that make breathing challenging at night.
Because of their design and how they work, CPAP machines and other nighttime breathing devices may cause dry lips (and mouth). Readjusting your sleep mask or using a humidifier while you sleep may decrease the risk of dry mouth and lips.
Dry Climate
Certain climates and weather conditions may increase your risk of dry, chapped lips.
Unsurprisingly, dry climates are known to cause dry lips if proper care isn’t taken. Cold, windy, or excessively hot climates may also lead to drier-than-usual lips.
Dry climates in particular can quickly dry out your skin and lips. When living in or visiting a dry climate, hydration is vital to keeping your skin and lips naturally moisturized.
Treatments for Dry Lips
If you have dry lips, you may be wondering how to treat them.
To treat dry, chapped lips:
You may also be able to prevent yourself from getting dry lips altogether. Hydration and the regular use of lip balm and sunscreen on your lips may decrease your risk of getting dry lips.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderEveryone will get dry lips from time to time and be able to treat them with some easy at-home remedies. However, some cases of dry lips may require the special attention of ahealthcare provider.Dry lips that don’t improve over time warrant a call to a healthcare provider. You should also call a healthcare provider if you have sores on your lips that won’t heal.Additionally, if you suspect your dry lips are due to something more serious, like a medical condition, it’s time to see a healthcare provider.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Everyone will get dry lips from time to time and be able to treat them with some easy at-home remedies. However, some cases of dry lips may require the special attention of ahealthcare provider.Dry lips that don’t improve over time warrant a call to a healthcare provider. You should also call a healthcare provider if you have sores on your lips that won’t heal.Additionally, if you suspect your dry lips are due to something more serious, like a medical condition, it’s time to see a healthcare provider.
Everyone will get dry lips from time to time and be able to treat them with some easy at-home remedies. However, some cases of dry lips may require the special attention of ahealthcare provider.
Dry lips that don’t improve over time warrant a call to a healthcare provider. You should also call a healthcare provider if you have sores on your lips that won’t heal.
Additionally, if you suspect your dry lips are due to something more serious, like a medical condition, it’s time to see a healthcare provider.
Summary
Dry lips have many causes, including nutrient deficiencies. You may develop dry, chapped lips if you don’t get enough B vitamins, zinc, iron, or water through your diet.
Other factors, such as medications, excess vitamin A, nighttime breathing devices, and dry climate may also lead to dry lips.
Various treatments are available, and there are steps you can take to prevent dry lips.
Reach out to a healthcare provider if you have dry lips that aren’t healing or if your lips have open sores.
A deficiency in B vitamins may cause dry lips. A lack of other nutrients, like zinc, iron, and water, may also lead to dry lips.
Although licking your dry lips may be tempting, it may do more harm than good.Licking dry lips is a compensatory action some think adds moisture back to your lips. However,digestive enzymesand substances in your saliva can break down your skin and make dry lips worse.
Although licking your dry lips may be tempting, it may do more harm than good.
Licking dry lips is a compensatory action some think adds moisture back to your lips. However,digestive enzymesand substances in your saliva can break down your skin and make dry lips worse.
Sometimes, dry lips may causecold sores.Dry lips that don’t heal or aren’t treated may lead to cold sores. For this reason, you should use non-irritating lip balm with sunscreen in it before going outside, especially if the weather is sunny.
Sometimes, dry lips may causecold sores.
Dry lips that don’t heal or aren’t treated may lead to cold sores. For this reason, you should use non-irritating lip balm with sunscreen in it before going outside, especially if the weather is sunny.
14 Sources
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