Treatment for severely chapped lips

What can you use for severely chapped lips?

Plain white petroleum jelly is a practical first choice for very dry, cracked lips because a thick ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils. Choose lip products labelled fragrance free and hypoallergenic. Other helpful ingredients include ceramides, dimethicone, mineral oil, castor seed oil and shea butter. You do not need all of them in one product.1

Petrolatum, also called petroleum jelly, and beeswax are both options for soothing chapped lips. Vaseline is one example of petrolatum. For severe cracking, choose the thicker petroleum jelly ointment rather than treating every balm texture as interchangeable.12

Lip balm works by forming a seal that keeps existing moisture from escaping. A balm's useful job is to hold moisture in place, not to make your lips smell like the dessert menu. Ointment based products containing petrolatum, glycerin or mineral oil also help heal cracks.3

How to treat your lips through the day

1. 1Wash your hands before applying lip balm or ointment.
2. 2Apply your chosen balm or ointment when you wake up. Reapply whenever your lips feel dry, including after eating or drinking.
3. 3Before going outdoors, apply a nonirritating lip balm with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply about every 2 hours while outside.
4. 4In cold weather, cover your lips with a scarf as well as using lip protection.
5. 5Apply ointment again before bed to help keep your lips hydrated overnight.

Keeping a balm by your bed and another in your bag makes lip care easier to remember, without turning it into a calendar event. Apply protection before spending time in cold, dry or windy conditions rather than waiting for your lips to become uncomfortable.23

Which products should you stop using?

Burning, stinging or tingling after application means a product is irritating your lips, not that it is working. Stop using it. While your lips are chapped, avoid lip products containing the following ingredients:1

• Camphor, eucalyptus or menthol.
• Fragrance, or cinnamon, citrus, mint or peppermint flavouring.
• Lanolin, phenol or propyl gallate.
• Salicylic acid.
• Octinoxate or oxybenzone. For sun protection, choose SPF 30 or higher with zinc oxide or titanium oxide instead.

Could your lip balm be causing the problem?

Lip care products can cause cheilitis, meaning inflammation of the lips. A cosmetic allergy can develop even after years of using the same product without problems. Itching, redness and swelling can be signs of a contact reaction, and an allergic rash can appear hours after exposure rather than immediately.6

If a product seems to trigger symptoms, avoid it. Once an allergen is identified, avoid other products containing that ingredient too. A dermatologist can use patch testing to investigate cosmetic allergy. An "unscented" label does not always mean fragrance free: a product can contain fragrance used to mask another smell. Look for "fragrance free" or "without perfume" instead.6

Leave peeling skin alone

Do not bite or pull off flakes to smooth your lips. Removing peeling skin can create cracks and sores and make the problem worse. Apply a soothing ointment instead. Licking is also counterproductive: saliva makes lips dry out faster, and its digestive enzymes can irritate them. Avoid holding metal objects against your lips, and do not share lip balms because sharing can spread germs.345

What else helps healing?

Dry air speeds up moisture loss from your lips. Run a humidifier at home to add moisture to the air, particularly during cold months when indoor and outdoor humidity are low. Drink enough water through the day to avoid dehydration, which can leave lips less hydrated and more likely to become dry and flaky. These measures support lip care; keep using the balm or ointment as well.3

If the inside of your mouth is dry too, take regular sips of water and ask a pharmacist about treatments that keep the mouth moist. Dry mouth can be linked to dehydration, medicines or breathing through your mouth at night. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice. See a doctor if dryness makes talking or eating difficult, persists despite home or pharmacy treatment, or comes with dry eyes or frequent urination.7

How long do severely chapped lips take to heal?

Regular balm use should ease discomfort while the skin heals. Severe cracking, including cracked and bleeding skin, can take 2 to 3 weeks to recover fully. Starting care promptly helps prevent the problem from becoming worse. Once your lips recover, continue lip protection when the air is dry and before going outdoors.235

Bleeding can happen when cracks split into cuts or sores. An ointment intended for lips can be used for this at home, but frequent bleeding that does not improve with treatment needs medical assessment. Citrus fruit and spicy or salty foods can sting severely chapped lips, so avoid foods that cause discomfort while you heal.5

When should you get medical care?

See a doctor if your lips are hot, painful and swollen, because this can indicate infection. Treatment can include an antibiotic or antifungal cream if an infection is diagnosed. A small fluid filled blister, especially after tingling, burning or itching, could be a cold sore rather than ordinary chapping. A pharmacist can help you decide which treatment is appropriate and whether you need a doctor.4

Get a sore that will not heal checked, and seek assessment if your lips worsen despite treatment. Persistent lip inflammation can have causes other than weather, including an allergy, a medication reaction such as one linked to retinoids, or a vitamin deficiency. The right treatment depends on the cause rather than simply applying more balm.25