Should I scrub my lips?

While lips are chapped, do not pick, bite or pull at flakes, because that slows healing. Lip skin is already thin. Apply an occlusive balm often and let the flakes come away on their own.

Can I use lip balm on cracks at the corners of my mouth?

Cracks at the corners are sometimes angular cheilitis, an inflammation that may involve yeast or other infection, and balm alone may not clear it. If it lasts or keeps coming back, ask a pharmacist or doctor.

Dry, chapped lips: why licking hurts, which balm helps, when to see a doctor

Q: Does a cooling mint balm help chapped lips heal faster?

The cooling comes from ingredients such as menthol, camphor or eucalyptus, which the American Academy of Dermatology suggests avoiding while lips are chapped because they can irritate. If a balm stings or burns, stop using it.

Lips dry out because their skin is thin and has no oil glands to coat it, so water escapes more easily than from other skin. Then many people lick them, which leaves them drier still. The basic fix: stop licking, use an occlusive lip balm without irritants, and protect your lips from the sun. Most chapped lips improve within 2-3 weeks. If they do not, see a doctor.

Why lips dry out faster than other skin

The skin on your face and body has oil glands that produce a coating of oil. Lips do not, so water in their outer layer escapes easily. Things that make lips dry out faster:

cold, dry air and wind
sun
dehydration
injury to the lips
an allergy to something in a lipstick or lip balm
a lack of vitamins or minerals, such as iron or B vitamins
some medicines, such as the acne medicine isotretinoin

If your lips stay dry when the air is not dry, or you take a medicine known to dry them, talk to a doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop a medicine on your own.

Why licking makes it worse

Licking feels moist for a few seconds, but as the saliva evaporates your lips end up drier than before. Drier lips make you want to lick more, and the cycle continues. Picking, biting or pulling at flakes slows healing too.

Every time you want to lick your lips, put on lip balm instead. It is the single habit change that makes the biggest difference.

Licking feeds the dryness loop; balm breaks it

Which lip balm actually helps

A balm that helps chapped lips is one that seals the surface so water cannot escape (occlusive), not one that just smells nice or feels cool.

Look for	Avoid while lips are chapped
petrolatum (petroleum jelly)	camphor
mineral oil	eucalyptus
dimethicone	menthol
ceramides	lanolin
shea butter	salicylic acid
castor seed oil, beeswax	phenol, propyl gallate
zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for sun protection	oxybenzone, octinoxate
fragrance-free	fragrance and flavourings such as cinnamon, citrus, mint, peppermint

The right-hand column is not harmful for everyone, but cracked lips irritate easily, which is why the American Academy of Dermatology suggests avoiding these while they are chapped. If a balm stings or burns, stop using it. To spot fragrance and flavourings in a list, see how to read a cosmetic ingredient list.

Lip balm can cause allergies too. If your lips turn red, itchy or swollen, try a different formula. If you know your skin is sensitive, test first as in patch testing new products.

Sun protection for lips

Sun makes chapping worse and may trigger cold sores. Advice on SPF differs by source: the UK’s NHS suggests SPF 15 or higher, and the American Academy of Dermatology suggests SPF 30 or higher. Both agree on reapplying every 2 hours while you are outdoors.

Example: a day in the sun

Say you are at the beach and outdoors from 9:00 to 15:00, six hours in total.

Put on an SPF lip balm before you leave at 9:00.
Reapply every 2 hours: 11:00 and 13:00.
The 13:00 application covers you until 15:00.
That is 3 applications in total while outdoors.
If you eat or drink and wipe your mouth, the balm comes off on the napkin, so reapply after meals too.

Most people apply once in the morning and never again, which means their lips are protected only for the first part of the day.

Simple daily care

Apply an occlusive balm several times a day.
Wash your hands before applying, and do not share lip balm, because it can spread germs.
Drink enough water.
If you sleep with your mouth open or the room air is dry, a humidifier in the bedroom can help.
In cold, windy weather, cover your mouth with a scarf.
Try more than one formula: some people react to the fragrance or colour in a balm.

Lips are skin too, and the same ideas apply as for dry hands: see hand and skin care basics.

When to see a doctor

Most chapped lips improve within 2-3 weeks with this kind of care. See a doctor if:

What you notice	May be related to
No improvement after 2-3 weeks of self-care	an allergy, yeast infection or another skin condition
Lips that are hot, painful and swollen	an infection
Small fluid-filled blisters, often with tingling, burning or itching first	a cold sore
Cracks at the corners of the mouth that keep coming back	angular cheilitis
Dry, scaly, rough lips that do not heal, especially with a lot of sun exposure	actinic cheilitis, a precancerous condition that a doctor needs to check
A sore that does not heal	something a doctor needs to check

If you are not sure which it is, a pharmacist is a good first stop: they can tell you whether to keep going on your own or see a doctor. This article is general information, not a diagnosis.

Common mistakes

Licking dry lips. The saliva evaporates and leaves them drier.
Choosing a balm for its scent or cooling feel. Those ingredients are the ones to avoid when lips are cracked.
Picking or biting flakes. Healing slows down.
Using sunscreen on your face but not your lips, or applying to lips only in the morning.
Sharing a lip balm with a friend. It can spread germs.
Putting up with chapped lips for months. After 2-3 weeks, have a doctor look.

Sources

General guidance. Products differ between brands: always follow the label. If you react to a product, see a doctor.