What to do if your lips are cracking and dry. External and internal causes of dry lips

The problem of dry lips is known to many firsthand; dry and burning lips occur in men and women, regardless of age and season. The delicate skin on the lips can peel, dry out and become cracked, causing a lot of pain.

Why do lips dry out, skin peel off and cracks appear too often? How to solve the problem and is it necessary to urgently seek medical help?

Human lips are the most sensitive place, the skin on which has always been considered very delicate and thin. If peeling occurs on the lips, the skin dries out and becomes covered with painful cracks, this is an important signal from the body about possible problems in it. Why do my lips dry out? Is it serious?

If your lips are very dry, the problem may be the following:

• Dry lips occur as a result of frequent temperature changes. This phenomenon is most typical for residents of those areas where daytime and nighttime temperatures have a large amplitude (heat during the day, cold at night). Dry climate also does not have the best effect on the condition of the skin of sponges;
• lips become very dry as a result of prolonged exposure to bright sun, which can lead to sunburn;
• dry lips arise from dust;
• the cause of dryness is allergic reactions to decorative cosmetics(lipstick, face cream, gloss) or medications;
• Lips often peel when overindulging water treatments and washing your face too often without subsequently moisturizing the skin;
• the skin on the lips becomes dry as a result of dehydration. A small amount of liquid consumed daily greatly affects the condition of the entire human dermis;
• the skin of the lips may peel off if there is bad habits such as drinking or smoking;
• constant stress is the cause of dry lips;
• intoxication of the body is also a factor in which lips dry and peel.

Diseases as a cause of dry skin

But external factors and unfavorable weather conditions do not always cause sponges to constantly dry out. Sometimes this is a signal that a disease is developing in the body, accompanied by such symptoms. Some diseases cause the epithelium to become dry and flaky.

So, dry and cracked lips, a sign of what?

1. The hereditary disease ichthyosis, which is expressed in dysfunction of the skin, can lead to the skin of the lips cracking and peeling.
2. When the functions of the sebaceous glands are impaired (seborrhea), the skin becomes very dry, including the lips.
3. Chapped and dry lips are a common sign of kidney failure.
4. If you have diabetes, the skin from your lips often peels off.
5. A dry crust on the lips may indicate this chronic disease like psoriasis.

So, if your lips dry out and crack, there can be a variety of reasons; you should not immediately run to the doctor, unless some signs arise that require immediate contact with a specialist who will prescribe adequate treatment. This needs to be done:

• if your lips dry out and there is pronounced redness on them, accompanied by pain;
• appeared on the delicate skin of the sponges severe itching, leading to sleep disturbance;
• wounds and ulcers have appeared, bleeding from them periodically occurs;
• the period of dry skin has been too long, the dermis peels off profusely and may periodically become covered with cracks.

Only an experienced specialist will be able to help in the above cases; he will establish an accurate diagnosis and explain how to treat a specific disease.

Self-medication or use cosmetics to moisturize the skin can only lead to a worsening of the situation.

What measures should be taken to combat dryness if there are no signs of disease?

Having found out why women's lips dry out, you need to understand how to deal with it.

Often dry lips have causes that are not at all related to diseases. It is in such cases that you can try to solve the problem at home, without resorting to the help of doctors and expensive salon procedures. What to do if your lips are constantly dry?

• The primary task in this case is to identify factors that negatively affect delicate skin. Finding the cause means eliminating it.
• To begin with, you should completely abandon decorative cosmetics and new creams (for at least two days) so that you can understand whether this phenomenon is an allergic reaction of the body.
• Remove from use for a while toothpaste containing fluoride for about a week. Fluoride can cause dry skin.
• Stop licking your lips, which also leads to dryness.
• Balance your diet by eating as much as possible fresh vegetables and foods containing fatty acids (fatty fish, butter and olive oil).
• Monitor carefully water balance body by drinking at least two liters of still water per day.
• Try to give up bad habits or reduce them to a minimum.
• Start systematically caring for the delicate skin of your lips.

Systematic sponge care: what should not be forgotten?

How to get rid of dry lips at home? Caring for the delicate skin on your lips is not too complicated, the main thing here is systematicity and regular procedures that take very little time every day.

• Daily massage of dry sponges. This procedure, carried out regularly, will help give elasticity to the dry dermis, remove dead skin scales, improve blood circulation, and soften it. You can massage using a soft toothbrush or a rough piece of cloth (linen or terry towel). The procedure lasts only a few minutes, after which the sponges need to be lubricated thick cream or olive oil.
• Proper removal of cosmetics. Another important step in sponge care. It is recommended to remove lipstick or lip gloss only with cosmetic milk; cold water and soap contribute to dry skin.
• Soft peeling. To make your sponges soft, exfoliate them weekly to remove dry skin. An excellent remedy is steamed semolina mixed with natural yoghurt or full-fat sour cream. You can also use ground oatmeal with sour cream; it will also remove dry skin gently and without injury.
• Honey compress. Natural honey Not only does it well moisturize and nourish the dermis, it also perfectly heals small wounds and cracks. If there are no allergic reactions to beekeeping products, you can apply honey to the sponges daily, leaving it on the skin for 5-10 minutes, or apply a cotton pad with a small amount of honey to the sponges.
• With the onset of hot, sunny days, it is recommended to make it a rule to apply special creams to the face and especially lips that provide protection from ultraviolet rays. You shouldn't leave the house without this cream on your dry lips. In cold and windy weather, you need to treat your lips with special fatty balms, which are sold in every cosmetics store.

So, your lips are dry, what should you do? Why not take advantage of the experience of older generations and prepare nourishing and moisturizing sponge masks yourself?

According to many women who have tested these masks on themselves, the most effective are products based on kefir, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables. Many recipes for masks to soften dry skin can be found on the Internet.

The main thing here is to follow the system: nourishing masks should be applied at least once a week.

Dry skin on the lips primarily occurs, as a rule, due to exposure to certain environmental factors. Windy weather, sun rays, low temperatures air - all this can cause discomfort on the lips. The skin constantly dries, peels and even...

In some cases, dry lips can be caused by a person's personal habits, such as biting or frequent licking. In addition, you yourself can harm the skin on your lips by drinking too hot or cold drinks, as well as food.

Dry lips as a symptom of disease

Dry lips can be caused by certain changes in the human body. First of all, the skin, including the lips, suffers from a lack of fluid, which in medicine is referred to as “dehydration.” The norm is to drink at least two liters of water per day. IN otherwise Problems may arise not only with the lips, but also with the skin on other parts of the body. For example, on the hands and face.

If you notice that the skin on your lips often dries out, then you should pay attention to your diet. The fact is that such a sign may indicate a lack of vitamins of categories A, B, C, D and E in the body. Try to eat more vegetables and fruits, supplement your usual diet with special fortified supplements.

Allergies can even arise from the cutlery you use. For example, for nickel, which is part of the metal used to make forks and spoons.

Dry lips can be a symptom of certain oral diseases, such as periodontal abscess. It is almost impossible to get rid of such a disease on your own. In this case, you should visit the dental office as soon as possible to eliminate this manifestation.

Dry lip skin is caused not only by poor oral hygiene, but also by the use of low-quality toothpaste. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a component that can not only cause changes in the skin on the lips, but also cause a serious disease - perioral dermatitis.

Dry lips may be a consequence of your chosen profession. For example, musicians who play wind instruments most often suffer from this manifestation.

Dry lips and allergic reactions

The skin on the lips may peel and crack due to an allergic reaction. In this case, it is better to undergo a course of examination by a specialist and identify the irritant. Allergies can be caused by: individual products nutrition, and environmental elements - dust, animal hair, pollen. Most often, dry lip skin occurs after excessive use of antibiotics.

If women's lips become dry, cosmetic products may be the cause. This does not always mean allergies. Lipstick from different manufacturers contains different components. Each person may experience incompatibility with one or another element. Propyl gallate is a substance that most often causes discomfort and causes allergies.

In the cold season, it is better to give preference to those lipsticks that contain balms and moisturizers. At the first signs of dry lips, try changing the cosmetic product, and if the symptoms do not disappear, then the cause should be identified in your lifestyle or health.

Lips- this is a part of the face that can instantly refute or confirm the beauty and well-groomed nature of every woman. Since the skin of the lips is devoid of sebaceous glands, it is quite susceptible to the effects of wind and sun, and is capable of peeling and drying out. So why do lips get chapped and how can you protect them from this problem?

Icy gusts of wind, dry air and low indoor humidity can lead to dehydration of lips. When the cells of the lips are deprived of moisture, the membrane becomes fragile, causing small cracks to appear. It is they that cause unpleasant pain, because of this, the lips begin to react sharply to sour foods and the sun. Harmful to the skin of the lips not only in the wind and frost, but also persistent lipstick. The reason lies in the fact that lipstick pigments penetrate deep into the skin of the lips, ensuring color durability. Accordingly, in this case, even deeper layers of the skin become dry. Do not lick your lips or apply light, watery gloss. If you are selected ideal means to care for the skin of your lips, but they still continue to crack, in this case it is worth paying attention to a number of other reasons that can provoke the appearance of cracks. Often the consequence of dry lips is diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract. To rule out this kind of cause, consult a gastroenterologist and undergo the necessary examination. Dehydration is the next cause of cracked lips. If you do not consume enough fluid, you can easily provoke a problem such as dry lips. Have you already guessed this situation? Of course, by restoring the water balance in the body, which will help ensure the normal condition of the lips and the proper functioning of the whole body. Try to drink water pure form, you should not replace it with soda or coffee. If your lips are dry, treat them regularly with special balms, moisturizers or oils. Hygienic lipstick, which can be bought at any pharmacy, can become a preventative measure. It contains petroleum jelly, which wonderfully softens the skin of the lips and retains moisture in them. If moisturizers do not help, then try treating the lip area with synthomycin ointment. Take vitamins A, as well as vitamin B complex and C. Include foods rich in these vitamins in your diet: oatmeal, meat, butter, liver, dairy products, rye bread, black currants, parsley, egg yolk and salad.

Video on the topic

Lips are always in sight, so they are most often exposed to external factors (wind, heat, cold), as a result of which they become chapped, dry out and begin to crack.

This is due to the fact that the skin of the lips does not have sebaceous glands, as a result of which it is prone to drying out. It is necessary to choose the optimal products to make your lips sexy and well-groomed. Proper lip care involves constantly moisturizing and nourishing the skin, since cracks appear on them due to insufficient moisture supply.

Modern cosmetic lines offer a wide range of lip care products. The effect is achieved due to the content of vegetable oils and a vitamin complex. It is also recommended to use, which is applied to the surface of the lips half an hour before going outside. With absence special means lips, you can use the gel to care for the skin around the eyes, since the products have a similar composition.

Masks are recommended to nourish the skin. For example, from sour cream, which is applied in several layers. Kiwi pulp mask with added olive oil also helps to achieve good results with regular use. Various fruit or vegetable masks are also used, which have nutritional properties and help eliminate dry lips.

Help effectively honey masks, masks made from creamy or vegetable oil. Of course, an indispensable tool should be hygienic lipstick, which you can simply take with you and apply to your lips if necessary.

The resulting cracks lead to painful sensations and the development of an inflammatory process. In this case, it is recommended to lubricate the cracks on the lips with tea tree oil or a green tea bag soaked in hot water. And in no case should you lick your lips on the street, since in this case moisture evaporates and the protective layer is lost.

Almost everyone has encountered the problem of dry lips. Both women and men periodically complain of discomfort in the skin around the mouth. Sponges often crack from frost or dry out from the scorching sun, but the problem may lie not only in external factors. Often lips dry and peel due to internal disturbances in the functioning of the body. That is why it is so important to identify all the reasons that provoke Negative consequences for skin. This will help not only eliminate the unpleasant symptom, but also prevent the development of possible diseases.

What affects lips

The most common reasons why lips become sore and cracked are due to:

• weather conditions (wind, dust, sun, frost);
• the habit of biting your own lips;
• smoking;
• consuming excessively hot food and drinks;
• using makeup removers that dry out the skin;
• the presence of a negative reaction to decorative cosmetics or toothpaste;
• lack of moisturizing lip skin care.

However, there are other, more serious causes of skin damage on the lips. These are internal reasons:

• gastrointestinal diseases;
• dehydration of the body;
• kidney diseases;
• diabetes;

• lack of vitamins;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• skin diseases.

Often women face this problem during pregnancy. Many people complain that their lips become very rough, crack and even hurt. Why is this happening? During pregnancy, the skin becomes dry due to hormone imbalance and lack of vitamins. And if there is a lack of one or another vitamin or their complex in the body, this immediately negatively affects general health and skin condition.

Ignore this problem it is forbidden. Especially if dryness in the lip area is constantly present.

This applies to both men, women and children. Cracked lips and sore corners of the mouth can be more than just an unpleasant cosmetic defect. That is why you need to consult a specialist in a timely manner. Especially if dryness is present not only around the mouth, but also directly in the mouth.

Consequences of vitamin deficiency

If the skin, including around the lips, has become dry and inelastic, this may be an indicator of a lack of vitamins B, E, A and C. Such substances significantly affect health and external condition skin.

It is very important to know what effect each of these vitamins has on the skin:

• A. Responsible for maintaining moisture in the skin, which maintains its elasticity and firmness. A lack of retinol, as this vitamin is also called, provokes dry and sagging skin. It is found in animal fats, egg yolks, liver, carrots, onions and apricots.
• E. Provides elasticity of capillaries that nourish the skin and regulates its water balance. If there is not enough tocopherol, the skin loses its elasticity, and the lips become rough and cracked. This substance enters the body from vegetable oils, avocado and seeds.
• B. Responsible for normal metabolism in skin cells. If it is not enough, the corners of the lips become inflamed, the lips themselves crack, and skin rashes appear. You can replenish B vitamins by eating grains, legumes, eggs and dairy products.

• C. One of the main vitamins that affect the functioning of the entire body. It is also of great importance for the skin, as it promotes the formation of collagen, which has a restorative ability. Contained in citrus fruits, rose hips, sweet peppers, sea buckthorn and other vegetables and fruits.

Regular consumption of vitamin-containing foods prevents most skin problems, including those around the mouth. That's why nutritionists recommend eating a balanced diet.

Oral problems

If, in addition to dry lips, there is a lack of saliva in the mouth, and the tongue becomes rough, this may be a sign of oral diseases, internal organs or disruption of the salivary glands. That is why, if such symptoms occur, it is recommended to consult a doctor who will make the correct diagnosis and tell you what to do in a particular situation.

Lack of moisture in the mouth, cracked corners of the lips and a dry tongue appear in the following cases:

• with impaired nasal breathing, which can be caused by a runny nose or deformation of the nasal septum. The symptom manifests itself during sleep or after waking up - the tongue and mucous membranes in the mouth become very dry;

• during treatment medications. Medicines, especially antibiotics, cause side effects such as a feeling of thirst and lack of saliva in the mouth;
• at elevated temperature body and infectious diseases, the tongue and lips can also dry out;
• for gum diseases. The mucous membrane and tongue become inflamed, bad smell from the oral cavity;
• for diseases of internal organs. Not only dry mucous membranes in the mouth appear, but also other symptoms: the tongue changes color, a feeling of thirst appears, dizziness, nausea, etc.;
• with damage to the glands that are responsible for salivation. Disorders may be due to illness or injury.

Dry tongue and mucous membranes in the mouth during pregnancy may be a consequence of insufficient fluid intake.

Pregnancy is associated with frequent urination, which causes a lack of water in the body. That is why during pregnancy you need to carefully monitor the water balance in the body.

Damage to the mucous membrane of the lips

A disease in which the corners of the lips become inflamed, crack, and the lips themselves hurt and become very dry is called cheilitis. It is also characterized by inflammation of the red border around the lips. There are five types of cheilitis:

1. exfoliative. With this form, the lips dry out and burn. Flaky scales form on them. The upper and lower lips may be affected, but the skin around them is usually not damaged;
2. atopic. Appears as a consequence of neurodermatitis, in which the lips become very peeling, red, itchy or burning. May occur as allergic reaction to medications or external irritants and spread to the area around the mouth;
3. glandular. Associated with damage to the salivary glands and provokes drying of the skin on the lips with subsequent erosion. In this case, the lower lip suffers twice as often as the upper lip;
4. fungal. Appears with reduced immunity or after treatment with antibiotics. Characterized by the formation of dry cracks in the corners of the mouth;
5. allergic. Occurs due to cosmetics, toothpaste or other chemicals. In this case, the lips become very hot and swollen.

What needs to be done to treat cheilitis depends on its type. An accurate diagnosis is made by a specialist based on symptoms and analysis of damaged tissue. Local therapy involves the use of anti-inflammatory, emollient and antipruritic agents in the form of ointments or gels.

How to deal with dry lips

When lips are cracked, discomfort occurs in the oral cavity, discomfort around the mouth is constantly present, nothing can be done without first consulting a specialist. The doctor will find out why these symptoms appeared and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

If dry lips are only cosmetic defect, which appeared due to improper care or its absence, you can get rid of it by following simple recommendations:

• nutrition and hydration. Experts advise lubricating your lips daily with natural cosmetic oils. They contain useful material and vitamins aimed at making the skin elastic and soft;
• protection. Before going outside, especially in hot and cold weather, cosmetologists recommend using protective hygienic lipstick or balm;

• massage. It is not difficult to do lip massage procedures. To do this, you need to lubricate them with balm or vegetable oil and make massaging movements with your fingertips. Such procedures improve local blood circulation, which means they have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin;
• masks. It is also recommended to make natural moisturizing masks: oil, honey, herbal;
• cosmetics. It is very important to choose high-quality cosmetics that do not cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Professional skills: Chief physician of the medical center, practicing cosmetologist.

Brief biography and personal achievements: Teaching activities: teaching the subject “Social Medicine and Health Organization”, including for foreign (English-speaking) students, conducting consultations and pre-exam preparation.

There are plenty of reasons why lips dry and crack, and it is difficult to accurately determine the negative factor. This mainly occurs due to decreased immunity and insufficient drinking, or under the influence of the harmful effects of climatic conditions. At the same time, women prefer to hide the emerging defect with lip gloss or hygienic lipstick, instead of eliminating the root cause of the problem. But in this matter, it is important to understand the causes of chapped lips, and not to fight external symptoms. We will help you identify all the possible culprits for the deterioration of your lips and tell you how to get rid of this cosmetic problem.

Why lips dry out - reasons for men and women

Dry crusts on the lips, cracks in the corners of the mouth, blood and severe psychological discomfort - a problem probably familiar to every woman. The cause of unsatisfactory appearance of lips can be anything - new lipstick, smoking, yesterday's tan, windy weather and banal dehydration. This list can be continued indefinitely, because each case is individual. So let's look at the most common reasons why lips dry out.

Dry and cracked lips due to weather influences

If you have chapped lips, the first thing to consider is the weather, especially during the off-season. The deterioration of the lips can be caused by:

• Strong wind. Air masses increase the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the lips, causing them to become rough and dry. In addition, lips can become chapped in the wind, especially if you drank something outside or just like to lick your lips. In this case, in addition to dryness, redness of the skin around the lips and deep, often bleeding, cracks will appear.
• Dry air. It can have a detrimental effect on lips both in hot summer and winter. The drier the air, the more intensely your lips will lose moisture and, accordingly, dry out. Lips are also exposed to the same effect in an apartment with central heating, where air humidity often drops below 20%. Therefore, it is important to monitor the level of humidity in the house and use a special humidifier in time.
• Direct sunlight. This is another reason why the skin on your lips dries out intensely. Scorching sun leads to evaporation of moisture and negatively affects the condition of the lips, exposing them to harmful UV rays. Therefore, in summer you should not neglect lipsticks with a high SPF factor.
• Freezing. At low air temperatures, lips dry out, lose elasticity and become inflamed. Often there is the appearance of hard crusts on the skin of the lips, which bleed when torn off. This occurs as a result of the rapid release of moisture from the lips, which does not have time to completely dissipate and creates even worse conditions for the skin.

Advice! You can determine why your lips are constantly dry through regular observation. If after a walk in windy or hot weather you notice that your lips and cheeks have become rough, then this defect is caused by bad weather. The secret is that your cheeks are just as sensitive to the weather as your lips.

Dry and cracked lips due to bad habits

If the damage to the skin of your lips has nothing to do with the weather, and they constantly dry out, even if you don’t go outside, then you need to reconsider all bad habits.

Here are a few harmless, at first glance, habits that cause dry lips in women and men:

• Licking. The urge to lick your lip may occur due to a feeling of dryness on the lip surface, which often appears from thirst or after eating too salty food. After licking your lips, moisture will begin to be lost even more and dryness will increase. With repeated licking, the situation will constantly worsen.
• Biting. You can understand that the cause of damage to the labial surface is your habit, you can: appearance: when biting you constantly injure only one lip, so it dries or upper lip, or lower. In this case, double damage is caused to the lips. Firstly, when biting, the lips are moistened with saliva, and we have just looked at what happens next. And, secondly, microcracks appear on the lips as a result of damage by teeth. Abrasions open the door to fungi, coccal microbes, viruses, including herpes, which delay the healing process of wounds.
• Piercing. Lip decoration different rings- this, of course, is beautiful, but due to the risk of chronic dryness and dark cracks on the lips, it is not worth it. Through the hole regularly falls a small amount of saliva, which causes roughness of the labial skin. In addition, if the jewelry is large and has an uneven surface, there is always a risk of damage to the skin of the lip. Minor abrasions will not be noticeable, but the consequences will not be long in coming.
• Lack of nasal breathing. Regardless of the reasons why you breathe through your mouth, your lips will regularly crack and your skin will peel and peel. In this case, you will not only have dry lips, but also your tongue, and you will also constantly suffer from a lack of oxygen.
• Smoking. With constant contact with cigarette paper, the lips partially give up their moisture to it. As a result, lips are cracked, tight, and unkempt. Smoking outside in windy weather further aggravates lip damage.
• Insufficient water intake. The condition of the skin directly depends on the amount of water in the body. If you don’t drink enough liquids (first courses, compotes, soda don’t count), correct this.
• Addiction to hot spices. People who eat spicy foods every day have very dry lips. To correct the situation, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods, just don’t forget to rinse your lips with water after eating.
• Constantly pinching your lips with your hands. What could be dangerous here, you ask? Hands are an inexhaustible source of microbes, and if you have small wounds on your lips or your immune system has decreased slightly, you are guaranteed long-term non-healing cracks and dryness.

The effect of vitamin deficiency on dry lips

If your lips dry and peel, the cause may be hidden behind elementary hypovitaminosis. The culprit for “sick” lips may be a deficiency of the following vitamins:

• Vitamin A - this compound is responsible for regeneration skin. If the vitamin is deficient, even small cracks in the lips will not heal, causing loss of moisture, which will cause chapped lips.
• Vitamin C is a vitamin that regulates immunity. With its deficiency, an immunodeficiency condition develops, which often causes the lips to become very dry.
• B vitamins. A lack of such vitamins is accompanied by rough lips, dull hair, and brittle nail plates.

Dry and cracked lips - internal diseases

In medical practice, when making many diagnoses, the condition of a person’s skin is taken into account. It is considered a kind of health indicator. The skin on the face is no exception, and if your lips dry out, the cause of the disease may be hidden inside the body.

Lips that constantly crack and dry out for no apparent reason may indicate the following health problems:

• Allergic diseases. Dryness can be caused by direct contact of the lips with an allergen, for example, with a cosmetic product, lipstick, toothpaste, or a low-quality toothbrush. A food allergen can also cause dryness, which has a bad effect on the entire body, but then dryness will be not only on the lips, but also on the cheeks, knees, and elbows.
• Diabetes. If your mouth and lips are constantly dry, you are thirsty, your skin is itchy, and the number of urinations per day has increased, you need to rule out this endocrine disorder.
• Herpetic infection. Herpes comes in several varieties, and most of them can cause inflammation on the lips. This virus, entering the blood, remains in the body forever. Only holds him back the immune system, and if a failure occurs, the virus begins to “attack”. The appearance of a dry crust, small bubbles, cracks, and wet wounds indicates a possible activation of viral infection. The diagnosis can be confirmed using a blood test to determine antibodies to herpes.
• Dental diseases. Lips often dry out due to carious teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth can affect the lips and the skin around them. With the rapid proliferation of harmful bacteria against the background of poor immunity, the lips become very dry, often followed by rupture and the release of ichor. Bacteria can be eliminated by treating oral caries.
• Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Pancreatic dysfunction, gastritis and cholelithiasis can also cause increased dryness lips

Why lips dry out - causes of pathology in children

In children, especially preschool age, excessive dryness lips occurs due to insufficient hand hygiene. Lips are affected by all sorts of bacteria that enter the labial surface as a result of:

1. Licking various items. Babies constantly put everything in their mouths, thus exploring the world.
2. Finger sucking is a common reason why a child's lips become dry. Being in the mouth, the finger causes copious discharge saliva, which leads to dry lips. This habit often persists even among school-aged children.
3. Lip contact with unwashed hands. Children's playgrounds, animals, and dust serve as sources of pathogenic flora. While playing, children unknowingly touch their lips with dirty hands, causing inflammation.
4. Fungal infection. If you notice that a child refuses to eat and has sores in his mouth and dry lips, this disease is called stomatitis. It is caused by fungi and can affect the entire mouth, including the lips.
5. Diathesis. Children are very prone to allergic manifestations. Any new product, powder, or toy can cause another relapse, which is manifested by dryness and peeling of the cheeks and lips.

Why do lips dry and crack during pregnancy?

During gestation, women may experience dry lips in the first weeks of pregnancy due to toxicosis. The lips react sharply to the vomit and the bile and hydrochloric acid present in it. But such a defect on the lips can also occur at the end of pregnancy. Big belly with a baby, it prevents a woman from breathing and walking freely, so she often inhales air through her mouth. And this is one of the reasons for dry lips. But there are other factors causing dryness and roughness of lips.

Why do lips still dry out - the reason for women in the position:

1. Acute vitamin deficiency as a result of toxicosis and decreased appetite.
2. Dehydration, especially if a woman is advised to limit the amount of fluid against the background of developing gestosis.
3. Gestational diabetes mellitus.
4. Iron-deficiency anemia.
5. Reduced immune status.

Dry lips - what to do at home

Dry lips are accompanied by the formation of crusts, superficial cracks, wounds in the corners of the mouth and signs of inflammation - redness, swelling, itching, soreness. These symptoms can be relieved with some home remedies.

Important! If, in addition to dryness, you have severe bleeding cracks and a white coating on your lips, this may indicate bacterial infection. In such a situation, it is better to consult a doctor and have a scraping followed by a bacteriological examination.

If the corners of the lips dry out, the lip surface peels and cracks, the following masks, balms and oils will help:

• Sour cream mask with aloe. Moisturize dry lips and protect them from harmful factors The following mask will help the external environment: 1 tsp. fat sour cream, 2 drops of any vegetable oil and 0.5 tsp. aloe juice The prepared mixture is applied to the lips and the skin area around them for 30-40 minutes. The procedure can be performed an unlimited number of times.
• Masks with vegetable oils. Daily moisturizing of the skin with different oils will help restore damaged lip skin. Suitable oils include sea buckthorn, grape seed, jojoba, and almond oil. You can also use a liquid solution of tocopherol (Vit. E). You need to treat the entire surface of your lips with oils, without missing a single area.
• Honey mask. If the condition of the lips is extremely severe, when the skin is completely cracked, blood often oozes and there is pain when moving the lips, you need to moisturize your lips as much as possible. Melt 20 g of lard (be sure to heat it for 15 minutes on fire), then add 10 g of honey to it. Lubricate your lips until the wounds heal.
• Wax lip balm. Mix two parts wax and one part cocoa butter, sea ​​buckthorn oil, aloe juice, almond oil. Combine and heat the ingredients in a water bath, then let them harden. Use balm instead of chapstick.
• Aloe. This perennial will help heal lip cracks. Cut an aloe leaf lengthwise and lubricate your lips several times a day.

Dry lips - treatment with medications

It is better to get rid of dry lips, which is accompanied by the proliferation of bacteria, with the help of pharmaceutical preparations:

• Calendula-based ointment ensures rapid cell regeneration, kills harmful microbes, moisturizes, and relieves itching. You need to lubricate your lips several times a day.
• Cocoa butter - perfectly removes crusts and cracks, moisturizes and relieves the feeling of dryness and soreness on the lips. Can be used all day as needed.
• Levomikol is an effective antiseptic in the form of an ointment. Completely destroys bacteria and is indicated for deep cracks with signs of infection. You need to treat your lips twice a day, preventing the drug from getting inside. And it doesn’t matter whether the lower lip or the upper lip is dry, the main thing is to completely disinfect all lips from infections.
• Panthenol is a regenerating agent. It is used for various skin burns, but in case of dry lips it has also shown high effectiveness. You can use Rescuer ointment with the same success.
• Synthomycin ointment is a great help for “sticking” in the corners of the mouth.
• Miramistin is a liquid antiseptic. You need to irrigate injured sponges twice a day.
• Aevit is a vitamin preparation in gelatin capsules. You need to crush the capsule and lubricate your lips. The product contains vitamin A and E.
• Acyclovir is an antiviral gel that is used to treat dry lips caused by herpes.

If all these methods did not help you forget about dry, painful lips once and for all, it is better to go to the doctor to accurately determine the cause of this pathology and get rid of it.

Video “Why are your lips dry”

Dry lips in adults and children can be one of the signs of cheilitis - inflammation of the border and skin of the lips.

What can cause dry lips?

Contact with irritants

When in contact with various kinds of irritants, inflammation develops on the lips like an allergic reaction. Increased sensitivity of the lips can be triggered by either a single contact with an allergen or a long contact period (lasting several years or even decades).

Irritants can be:

1. High or low temperatures, sunlight, strong wind (meteorological cheilitis). One example of such a reaction is a situation when dry lips appear in early spring (and most often in this case it is men who dry out their lips, since women usually use cosmetics with protective properties). The main reason for this condition is an allergic reaction to ultra-violet rays, which is characterized by redness and dehydration of the skin of the lips with the appearance of small white scales on their surface.
2. Skin contact with dental instruments and substances used in dental fillings.
3. Ingredients of lipsticks. The surface of the lips and the corners of the mouth dry out due to contact with eosin, preservatives, mineral oils and other substances contained in lipsticks (especially those that have expired).
4. Toothpaste with a high fluoride content significantly dries your lips.
5. Eating hot, salty and spicy foods, as well as citrus fruit juices (pineapples, oranges, grapefruits, lemons), leads to a chemical effect on the lips, and as a result, dries them out.
6. Smoking. It can cause smoker's cheilitis, most often one-sided, in the place where a cigarette is usually held (corners of the lips). Such spotty dryness may not bother a smoker for a long time, progressing imperceptibly until the onset of a precancerous disease (the first stage of skin leukoplakia).

Constant lip licking

Frequent lip licking contributes to the occurrence of a disease such as exfoliative cheilitis. The disease is accompanied by redness, dryness and the formation of pale yellow or gray scales on the surface of the lips, which, when removed, reveal a bright red border.

According to doctors, people who constantly lick their lips have manifestations of hidden depression or are in a state of chronic stress. Therefore, when treating this type of dryness, priority is given to reducing stress.

Causative agents of infections on the surface of the lips

Candidiasis (herpes or bacterial) cheilitis - fungal infection, which occurs most often in people with reduced immunity. Patients with cheilitis are usually bothered by dryness and burning of the lips. On initial stages thinning of the skin occurs, then small scales appear (the lips peel off), which can flake off and form bleeding erosion.

Sometimes severely dry skin leads to the formation of painful cracks on the lips, which cause a lot of trouble because they interfere with normal eating and articulation.

In some cases, dryness appears during the recovery stage after vesicular dermatitis, when blisters and ulcers that appear on the lips heal and then peel off, exposing a dry surface. Also, in addition to unpleasant subjective sensations, this symptom may indicate more serious problems in the body.

Lack of vitamins in the body

Lack of vitamins A, C, E, as well as zinc and iron, is most often observed:

• during pregnancy, when the body's needs for these substances increase;
• when due to toxicosis of the first trimester their sufficient absorption does not occur;
• with an unbalanced diet (for example, with protein-free diets for weight loss).

The habit of holding various objects in the mouth

Long-term retention of various objects in the mouth (construction parts, toys, ballpoint pen) can be common cause dry lips in a child.

General dehydration

When the body is dehydrated, the lips become dry, the elasticity of the skin decreases, the volume of urine produced decreases, and the mouth becomes dry. This condition is more common in children with increased physical activity without ensuring sufficient drinking regime, as well as with fever in people of all ages.

General metabolic disorder

Lips often become dry when diabetes mellitus, increased production of thyroid hormones, systemic lupus erythematosus.

How to treat dry lips?

1. To eliminate dry lips, you must first eliminate the irritating factor - establish an optimal drinking regimen (daily intake of up to two liters of water per day), be exposed to the sun or strong wind as little as possible, stop using low-quality cosmetics, change toothpaste, stop smoking, etc. bad habits.
2. Local treatment includes applying nourishing balms, moisturizing lipsticks or lip creams containing cocoa butter, lanolin, petroleum jelly, paraffin and photo filters (UVA, UVB) to the lips. To achieve a positive effect, lipstick or cream should be applied at least 15-20 minutes before leaving the house. This nourishing balm can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared independently at home. One example of the recipe is presented in the video below.

1. Also, when your lips dry out, you can use recipes traditional medicine- masks based on fruit or sour cream. Fruit masks are prepared from apple, apricot, banana (optional), grated and mixed with vegetable oil. For cooking sour cream mask you need to mix 1 teaspoon of sour cream and lemon juice, then add a few drops of any vegetable oil. The resulting mask is applied to the lips for half an hour, then rinsed thoroughly with warm water.
2. Facial gymnastics also bring good results - folding the mouth into a tube, imitating the grin of an animal (exposing teeth) and exercises imitating a fish gasping for air. Before gymnastics, you can massage your lips by lightly tapping them with your fingertips.

1. Purpose nicotinic acid, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, A and E helps reduce the manifestation of hypovitaminosis, improves microcirculation in the vessels of the facial skin and accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissues.
2. If an infection attaches to the dehydrated surfaces of the lips, doctors may prescribe local combination drugs containing corticosteroids and antibacterial or antifungal components.
3. For severe symptoms of peeling and dry lips due to allergies, they resort to prescribing antihistamines;
4. If the reasons that the corners of the mouth become dry lie in compulsive licking of the lips, if it is impossible to ensure independent control over this condition, tranquilizers and antidepressants are successfully used.

Like many other diseases, dry lips are easier to prevent than to treat. Constant care for this delicate area of ​​the skin using moisturizing and protective cosmetics, consumption required quantity fluids and giving up bad habits will help you avoid many discomfort and hassle.