Figuring out how to get rid of dry lips can feel like a lifelong journey. Sure, we have endless lip balms, glosses, and oils at our disposal, but if we’re constantly reapplying and our lips are still dry—or even getting worse—what’s the point? Fortunately, there may be relief in sight.
“There are so many different things that can cause dry lips,” says Aegean Chan, MD, a Santa Barbara–based dermatologist, dermatopathologist, and founder of skin care line More Than Nine. “First of all, the skin on our lips is thinner and doesn’t have oil glands, so it’s not quite as robust of a skin barrier. That makes the lips really susceptible to dryness.”
That being said, Chan says she doesn’t believe in a fancy routine (really, no lip scrubs!). All you need is a few simple steps to keep your lips feeling comfortable. Keep reading to find out more key causes of chapped lips and what you can do—including some of the best lip balms to keep them at bay.
What causes dry lips?
In addition to the fact that lips are naturally thinner, the elements play a big role. “If you are in a dry environment, such as the cold, or if you’re skiing and exposed to both cold weather and wind, that can really contribute to chapped lips,” says Chan.
Then there’s lip licking: “This is something that people often don’t even realize they’re doing,” says the derm. “Saliva actually has enzymes in it that can break down the skin barrier and make your skin become irritated. It becomes this cycle where the drier your lips feel, the more you end up licking them, which then breaks down the skin barrier even further. It’s actually called lip licker’s dermatitis.”
Medications could also have an effect. “Sometimes, if you’re taking oral medications that can make your skin drier, particularly isotretinoin [Accutane], that can really contribute to dry lips,” says Chan.
In rare cases, the derm says, some people may have underlying skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis or eczema, or even an allergy to the ingredients in certain lip products, which could exacerbate dryness and redness.
Why doesn’t lip balm always solve dry lips?
If you feel as if you’re constantly reapplying your lip balm and your chapped lips aren’t getting better—or perhaps even getting worse—it may be the product you’re using. “Not all lip balms are created equal,” says Chan. “Depending on the formulation, the lip balm itself may not do a great job at helping seal up your skin barrier so that it can undergo its repair process.”
