I have had chronically chapped lips for months and have tried everything from herbal balms to Vaseline and nothing works, including not using anything. What should I do?

Don't despair; one or more of the following factors could play a part in your chronically chapped lip situation:

Lip Licking

You may be surprised to know that one of the worst things you can do to chapped lips is to lick 'em. You may not even be aware of this because it's something that many of us do on autopilot. If this is your situation, it could've gone a few steps farther. The natural oils on the lips are licked off. Your lips get dry and then you lick them again, starting up a cycle. Your own saliva has chemicals in it that are the start of your body's natural process of breaking down food to make it easier to digest. In reality, you are digesting your own lips.

Dehydration

Is the place you are living in too dry? Using a humidifier, or placing a pan or pot of water on a radiator, can help add moisture to the surrounding air. Are you getting enough water? Make sure to drink 8 - 10 cups (1 cup = 8 ounces) of water or any non-caffeinated beverage every day.

Smoking

It constantly evaporates any natural oils off the lips.

The Great Outdoors

There's windburn and sunburn. Cover and/or moisturize your lips to protect them from the drying effects of the wind. Don't forget that they need sunscreen, too.

Drugs

Certain medications can dry out your lips. Acne medications can sometimes be a culprit. Check with your pharmacist or dermatologist.

Cosmetics

Lipsticks, balms, and other products applied to the lips can have chemicals in them that can set up an allergic reaction. You may want to start with plain ol' petroleum jelly, and then try other lip products one at a time, for about one or two weeks at a time, to see if they dry out your lips. Stop applying any products that do.

Very uncommon, but still possible, is a fungal infection or underlying medical problem. If none of the suggestions above help, contact your health care provider or dermatologist for an evaluation and possibly medication.

Alice

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