How to treat dry lips around the mouth

What should you do first?

1. 1Wash your hands before applying balm, and do not share the tube with other people.
2. 2Apply a nonirritating balm several times during the day and before bed. For very dry, cracked lips, use a thick ointment such as white petroleum jelly.
3. 3Stop using any lip product that burns, stings or tingles. Avoid fragranced or flavored balms while your lips are chapped, especially mint, citrus and cinnamon.
4. 4Before going outdoors, apply a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Reapply every two hours outdoors.
5. 5Protect your mouth with a scarf in cold, windy weather. If indoor air is dry, use a humidifier, especially in your bedroom.

Keep a balm beside your bed and another in your bag so the routine does not depend on finding the one tube that has disappeared into furniture.5

What causes dry skin around the mouth?

Cold weather, dry air, wind and repeated licking are common triggers. Eczema can cause dryness, redness, scaling and cracks. Lipstick, toothpaste, mouthwash and foods can also cause contact irritation or allergy, sometimes extending beyond the lips. Repeated flare ups after the same product deserve attention rather than another layer of that product.56

Oral isotretinoin can cause dry, scaly, cracked lips. If the inside of your mouth is also dry, dehydration, medicines or breathing through your mouth at night could be involved. Take regular sips of water and ask a pharmacist about dry mouth relief. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice.67

How do you moisturize skin around the lips?

For dryness caused by licking, an emollient balm helps protect the lips and affected surrounding skin. Petroleum jelly also keeps mouth corners moisturized and protected. A balm's job is to hold moisture in, not to give your lips a new personality. Thick ointments retain water longer than waxes or oils, making them useful for cracked lips.1235

Can licking your lips irritate the skin around your mouth?

Yes. Repeated wetting and drying with saliva damages the skin's protective barrier and causes inflammation. Lip licker's dermatitis can leave a red, dry, scaly area extending beyond the lip edge, often with burning. Apply balm when you catch yourself licking. Breaking the habit matters because the irritation can return even after treatment.12

How do you stop skin around the mouth from peeling?

Protect the area with ointment and leave loose flakes alone. Picking or biting can create cracks and sores and slow healing. For ordinary chapped lips, expect noticeable improvement within two to three weeks of consistent care. Persistent surrounding inflammation needs assessment; treatment for lip licker's dermatitis sometimes includes a clinician selected anti inflammatory cream or ointment.125

What if the mouth corners are cracked?

Painful cracks, crusting or swelling at one or both corners can be angular cheilitis, an inflammatory condition of the mouth corners. Saliva collects there, and bacteria or yeast can enter broken skin. A clinician can identify the cause and choose treatment, including antifungal or antibiotic medicine when needed. Poorly fitting dentures can also contribute.3

While the cause is treated, ointment and a cool compress can ease discomfort. Avoid harsh toothpaste, mouthwash and spicy foods that irritate the corners. See a doctor for lips that are hot, painful and swollen, or for dryness that has not improved after two to three weeks. Persistent scaling can reflect allergy or another condition rather than simple chapping.134