Dry skin and dry lips. Crack in the middle and what to do about it. What medications to use

Lips are considered one of the most beautiful parts female body. But lips can hardly be called beautiful when they start to dry out. In this article we will figure out what is the cause of dry lips.

Dry lips due to external factors affecting the body

Hot season

In summer the body loses a large number of moisture, which often affects appearance lips: they begin to dry. Additionally, he becomes dehydrated due to excessive consumption of tea or coffee. Fortunately, this is easy to fix - just start drinking more water (up to 1.5-2 liters) and using chapstick against sun exposure.

Allergy

Dry lips can also be caused by exposure to an allergen. Allergies often appear when eating unusual foods, spicy foods, large amounts of sweets or citrus fruits. Allergies can also occur to decorative cosmetics, often to lipstick. Therefore, if your lips dry out precisely because of an allergy, then first of all eliminate the allergen from your life. If the condition of your lips has not improved, take Suprastin tablets, Tavegil, and Fenistil syrup. These medications should be taken under the supervision of a doctor.

Freezing

When exposed to strong winds or frost for a long time, the lips begin to dry out, and cracks sometimes form on them. This problem is easily solved: you just need to start using hygienic lipstick.

The body's reaction to dust

Look around the room around you. Isn't it too dusty? In fact, dust can affect the skin, causing your lips to dry out. If there is really a lot of dust in your home, do a thorough cleaning.

Dry lips due to a malfunction in the body

Dry lips can also be caused by illnesses and diseases. Among them:

• gastrointestinal diseases;
• vitamin deficiency, hypovitaminosis;
• anemia;
• kidney disease;
• diabetes;
• thyroid disease;
• any inflammatory processes in the body.

Therefore, if dry lips appear, it is better to first consult a doctor: what if, God forbid, you have a serious illness.

Bad habits are the cause of dry lips

Alcohol, smoking, drugs

Frequent drinking of alcohol, smoking, taking psychotropic substances - all this causes dehydration of the body, and therefore leads to best case scenario, to dry lips. To solve this problem, limit or even eliminate tobacco, alcohol and drugs from your life (be sure to eliminate drugs!)

Habit of licking and biting lips

Yes, yes, this habit is harmful to your lips! This causes your lips to dry out more and cracks appear on them. To solve this problem, get rid of these habits and also use chapstick.

Pregnancy is the cause of dry lips

Also, the condition of your lips may change due to bearing a child, because... In the first three months of pregnancy, there is a strong hormonal change in the entire body. There is no need to worry about dry lips for such and such a reason: it will go away by the next trimester of pregnancy. To speed up the improvement of the condition of your lips, use moisturizers for them (preferably from natural products).

So, we found out what is the cause of dry lips. The main thing is to immediately begin treating them, because then you will not only improve your health, but also restore your lips to their former charm!

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 affects the condition skin sponges not in the best way;
• 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 procedures 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 you have bad habits, such as drinking alcohol 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. In the presence of diabetes mellitus The patient often peels off the skin from his lips.
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 the use of 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 many fresh vegetables and foods containing fatty acids (fatty fish, butter and olive oil) as possible.
• Carefully monitor the body's water balance 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 moisturizes and nourishes 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 to the sponges with a small amount honey
• 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.

In winter, many people have dry and cracked lips, but sometimes this phenomenon occurs even in the warm season. There can be many reasons - from improper care to more serious problems.

Banal causes of cracked lips

If your lips burst, it causes quite unpleasant sensations - pain, irritation, burning. You want to lick them, but this usually makes the problem worse. For most people, the skin around the lips becomes dry in spring and autumn, as well as in winter. It is not surprising, since the main cause of violations is temperature changes.

When a person goes outside from the heat, the sebaceous glands cannot “rebuild” and begin to secrete more secretion.

Reduced production of a substance that makes the skin elastic, moisturized and regulates moisture evaporation leads to excessive dryness. If urgent measures are not taken, lips:

Without rapid healing, there is a risk of infection getting into the wounds and developing an inflammatory process. Therefore, it is impossible to rip off the peeling skin from the lips. There are other reasons for dry lips in men and women that are related to lifestyle:

If you are exposed to cold or strong drafts for a long time, the mucous membrane of the lips (the area around the mouth) of a child and an adult can become chapped or frostbitten literally in one go.

Vitamin deficiency and allergies

If the sponges constantly burst, so-called “jams” form in the corners, the cause may be a deficiency of vitamins A, E, D, group B. Usually such phenomena are characteristic of the second half of winter and spring, and most often this is how a person manifests a lack of alpha-tocopherol and carotene.

The vitamins your skin needs are listed below:

Why do women's lips dry out? Often the cause is the use of lipstick, which causes a type of contact dermatitis ( allergic reaction). You can notice that your lips become very dry even if you regularly use lipsticks without a moisturizing function (“matte”), which should not be used in cold weather. Allergies can appear on the upper or lower lip after brushing your teeth; the culprit is unsuitable toothpaste with allergic ingredients. In summer, excessive sun exposure can cause excessive dryness of the lips.

Skin diseases

Why do lips itch, become crusty, and sometimes there are unpleasant-looking blisters on the tip of the lip? All of these signs are classic symptoms of herpes. It develops after infection with a virus and will then regularly worsen as immunity decreases. Clinical picture herpes is as follows:

Fungal infections of the skin of the lips are uncommon, but are possible in individuals with severely weakened immune systems. If there is a whitish coating on the inside of the lower lip, mucosal candidiasis is likely to occur. Sometimes this happens during pregnancy, after a long course of hormones or antibiotics.

The skin around the mouth may itch and dry out due to cheilitis - inflammation of the red border.

Most often the reason for this is skin disease is the use of allergenic or low-quality cosmetics, and the main signs are pain, redness, burning, severe dryness.

Other reasons

A common prerequisite for peeling and dry lips is ARVI, flu, colds, sinusitis. All these infectious diseases cause nasal congestion, so a person is forced to breathe through the mouth. This causes drying of the mucous membrane and the appearance of extremely unpleasant sensation. In addition, a person is constantly thirsty, and at night the lips become so dry that in the morning bloody cracks are visible on them. In children, persistently chapped lips may be a sign of adenoids.

Cracks and dryness that are difficult to treat can be a symptom of a number of serious diseases:

Also, the cause of cracks and dryness is sometimes poor dental hygiene and improper bite - you should consult a dentist.

What to do to treat lip skin?

If the problem is caused by systemic pathologies, it will not be possible to cope with dryness and cracks without taking them under control. After undergoing examination by a gastroenterologist or endocrinologist, the patient will receive an appointment and begin therapy. Dermatological diseases are treated under the supervision of a dermatologist.

An integrated approach must necessarily include following a diet with increased amounts of vitamins.

You need to give up food that irritates the sponge - salty, spicy, sour, with chemical additives. Citrus fruits, alcohol, chewing gum, and soda should also be removed. More fruits and vegetables, sour cream and cottage cheese, lean meat, cereals - this is the basis of the diet.

Regular lip massage helps to cope with the problem very quickly. It is done using a soft toothbrush, after applying a nourishing cream. Massage in a circular motion for 2 minutes, which will speed up cell recovery. There are also a number pharmaceutical ointments that will heal the skin quickly and without a trace:

For herpes, you should use Acyclovir, Panavir for a course of 5-7 days, these ointments will relieve dryness and burning.

Traditional treatment

You can also smear flaky lips with homemade products. You should take into account these recipes::

1. Mix 2 spoons natural honey and any internal fat (if it is not there, then take butter), apply carefully, use as an ointment up to 5 times a day.
2. Combine equal parts peach oil, olive oil, sea buckthorn oil, apply as nourishing mask- Apply for 30 minutes daily.
3. Take fresh cottage cheese and mix with the same amount of sour cream. Make a mask on your lips and leave it on for 20 minutes. Repeat 4 times/week.
4. Melt cocoa butter (a spoon) and wax (the same amount) in a water bath. Pour into a jar and use as a hygienic lipstick before going outside.

Traditional methods will help with many causes of dryness and flaking, but if there is no improvement within a week, attention should be paid to conservative measures.

Lips often dry out as a result of a deficiency of vitamins A, C or group B. The problem can be provoked by the habit of pinching or biting the lips, as well as bad habits, primarily smoking. Frosty, windy or hot weather can have a negative impact on your skin. A similar symptom quite often accompanies diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular gastritis, malfunction of the pancreas or cholelithiasis. You can restore the elasticity and tenderness of the skin of your lips by using masks with natural ingredients, peeling and massage, including at home.

• Show all

  Why lips dry: main reasons

  Dry lips can develop due to exposure to a number of negative factors. Among them are decreased immunity, unfavorable climatic conditions, diseases internal organs, low-quality cosmetics, etc.

  For elimination external signs dryness and peeling of lips, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the underlying cause. The pathology is accompanied by the formation of cracks, ulcers, and dried crusts. This condition causes not only physiological, but also psychological discomfort.

  Among the temporary factors that determine the influence of weather conditions:

  • wind causes increased evaporation of moisture from the surface layers of delicate skin;
  • dry and hot air provokes intense drying of the epidermis;
  • direct sunlight negatively affects the condition of tissues, causing dryness and flaking;
  • frost reduces the elasticity of the skin, causing inflammatory reactions accompanied by dryness, the formation of a hard crust and painful sensations.

  In addition to the above reasons, the appearance of dryness is influenced by:

  • habits - biting, pinching and licking lips, smoking;
  • drinking insufficient amounts of fluid;
  • deficiency of vitamins A, C and group B, as a result of which the regeneration of all layers of the epidermis is disrupted, and cracks appear in the corners of the lips;
  • the period of pregnancy is accompanied by the development of dry skin as a result of toxicosis; In the 3rd trimester, flaking and dryness are caused by inhaling air through the mouth.

  Diseases

  Constantly rough skin of the lips, combined with changes in other skin, is a symptom of diseases of the internal organs. The skin on the lips can systematically dry out, itch and burn. Often only the lower lip is affected, although irritation appears throughout the mouth. Serious illnesses manifested by such symptoms can bother men and women. Similar provoking factors concern the problem in childhood.

  The main reasons include:

  • Allergic reactions to toothpaste, cosmetical tools or food. Define pathological condition possible by the formation of redness or itching of the skin on the body or face after using a specific product.
  • Diabetes. In this case, severe dryness develops not only on the lips, but throughout the entire oral cavity. The patient is constantly tormented by thirst, itchy skin
  • , urination becomes more frequent. Herpetic infections.
  • Violations at workgastrointestinal tract, pancreas. Dry lips can be caused by the formation of stones in the gallbladder, gastritis.
  • Dental problems. Damage to teeth by caries, as a rule, causes an accelerated spread of pathogenic bacteria, including on the lips.

  The problem develops as a result of mechanical, thermal or chemical irritation. When eating hot or too cold food, the surface layers of the epidermis lose their elasticity and protective properties. Dryness is caused by a violation of the normal drinking regime if a person drinks less than 1.5-2 liters of water per day. Systemic disruptions in the body also cause peeling and dry tissue in adults.

  

  In children.

  In childhood, in addition to diseases of internal organs and vitamin deficiencies, such disorders are caused by insufficient indoor air humidity and poor nutrition. It is necessary to diversify your baby's food with fruits and vegetable juices and puree, fresh fruit. Dry lips develop when increased salivation, abuse of citrus fruits and chocolate.

  Bacterial and viral infections. The first sign of fever in most children is dry lips. Sensitive baby skin is too susceptible to sudden changes in ambient temperatures. The natural processes of regeneration of the dermis are disrupted by constant licking of the lips, especially in strong winds or in the cold.

  

  Methods of therapy

  Treatment for persistently dry lips should be based on eliminating the main cause. To prevent the skin on your lips from cracking and peeling, it is important to replenish the balance of vitamins.

  Massage

  Experts recommend treating dry lips with massage. This perfectly stimulates blood flow, improves blood circulation, and promotes healing of damaged tissues. You can easily do it yourself at home. To do this, lightly tap your lips with your fingertips.

  To improve the effect, use essential oils:

  • almonds;
  • sea ​​buckthorn;
  • grape seeds;
  • wheat.

  Before going to bed or going outside on particularly hot, windy or frosty days, experts advise applying drops of vitamin E or vitamin A.

  The above techniques not only help remove the problem, but also cure persistent dryness and flaking.

  Peeling

  To one of the most effective methods experts attribute home peeling lips Cleansing the skin of keratinized particles will restore elasticity, firmness and tenderness to the skin. Lips will become rich again pink color. At home, oatmeal, soda, coffee grounds. You can mix any cosmetic oil with sugar in proportions 1:3.

  After each procedure, you need to apply a nourishing balm or cream, gel with hyaluronic acid or glycerin ointment. You need to smear delicate skin immediately after peeling, while your lips are still wet. For particularly sensitive and problem skin For the purpose of prevention, it is recommended to use only light scrub compositions so as not to further injure the skin.

  Fruit remedies

  If your lips are constantly dry, home remedies with the addition of fruit mixtures can help. Recommended use:

  • banana;
  • apple;
  • kiwi.

  If desired, use either a combination of fruits or one ingredient:

  1. 1. The pulp is crushed
  2. 2. Apply in a thick layer and press with a napkin.
  3. 3. Procedure time – 15 minutes.
  4. 4. Then the product is washed off with warm water.
  5. 5. Therapy is indicated to be carried out every other day or two.

  An apple mask helps with severe peeling. The crushed pulp of an apple pre-cooked in hot milk is cooled and mixed with 5 g essential oil, which is also used for massage. Apply for 30 minutes, rinse with water and moisturize with cream. The course of therapy is 2 weeks. The procedures are carried out every other day.

  Mask with aloe juice and honey

  The composition of the medicinal mixture includes:

  • 10 g aloe juice or pulp;
  • 10 g of natural liquid honey.

  Application:

  1. 1. Carefully diluted mixture at room temperature is applied for 10-15 minutes.
  2. 2. Wash off with warm water.
  3. 3. Then apply a nourishing cream or balm with a light texture. You can use baby cream based on chamomile or calendula.
  4. 4. It is advisable to apply such masks several times a week until complete recovery.

  No less useful for treating dry skin are masks with honey and butter mixed in equal proportions. Apply the product only at room temperature for 20 minutes. After the procedure, the lips are washed with water and treated with balm. You can get rid of problem skin using this method in several procedures.

  Moisturizing with cream and cottage cheese

  To instantly nourish and moisturize dry and cracked lip skin, cosmetologists recommend using a combination of cream and cottage cheese. These components restore the elasticity and firmness of tissues. Promotes regeneration and restoration of damaged cells. To prepare the mask you will need:

  • 10 g 5% cottage cheese;
  • 10 g 15% cream. The ingredients are mixed and applied in a thick layer for 15 minutes. After that nutritional mixture wash off with water and apply Vaseline oil or chapstick.

  Prevention.

  To prevent dry lips, experts advise following some rules:

  • It is necessary to consume sufficient amounts of vitamin B. maximum amount found in dairy products, greens, vegetables.
  • Vitamin A deficiency cannot be ignored. You can replenish its balance in the body through orange fruits and vegetables.
  • Avoid licking your lips, especially in windy and frosty weather. It is important to give up the habit of pinching or biting your lips.
  • Daily water consumption should not be less than 1.5 - 2 liters.
  • In unfavorable weather conditions, people with especially sensitive skin It is recommended to constantly use moisturizing and protective balms, as well as hygienic lipsticks.

Dry lips cause many inconveniences: we don’t enjoy eating, it hurts to smile and kiss. This problem can occur at any time of the year, it appears in men, women, and children. Why does the skin on the lips dry, crack and peel, what measures should be taken to eliminate this unpleasant symptom, how to avoid its occurrence?

Why do lips dry out?

Dry lip skin is the body’s reaction to external influences or a symptom of some ailment in our body. The lack of moisture entering the body first appears on the lips.

Photo 1: Lips are the first to react to changes in the external environment, this is due to the lack of sebaceous glands in them, which would regulate the condition of thin skin on the lips. Source: flickr (Vashukov Oleg).

Cheilitis is an inflammation of the stratum corneum of the skin and the border of the lips; it also manifests itself as a separate disease, but can also occur as a symptom of another ailment.

And if it is possible to eliminate the provoking factors and get rid of the problem in the first case, then to eliminate it, in the second case, you must first of all deal with the reasons that caused it.

External reasons:

• meteorological reaction to cold, wind;
• actinic reaction to ultraviolet radiation, manifests itself more often in spring and summer;
• poor oral hygiene, touching lips with dirty hands, using unclean towels;
• insufficient moisture.

Internal reasons:

• hypovitaminosis, in which there is not enough vitamin B in the body (in particular B2, B6);
• a fungal infection caused by poor oral hygiene.
• allergies caused by foods, cosmetics, toothpaste, dentures
• depression, vegetative neurosis, accompanied by biting, licking lips;
• decreased hemoglobin;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• decreased immunity;
• fungal diseases.

Attention! Often the cause of peeling lips is also dehydration. Proper drinking regimen will help restore water balance and avoid many other problems and diseases.

Lips become dry and flaky

The delicate skin on the lips, reacting to external or internal problems, begins to peel off if action is not taken in time. This is a common occurrence when she is extremely dehydrated.

Without enough moisture, thin skin begins to flake off, forming small scales. This causes discomfort and can lead to even more unpleasant consequences. Usually, to eliminate flaking, it is worth changing your diet, getting rid of bad habits, changing the influence of weather conditions, taking measures to protect the delicate skin of your lips with the help of cosmetics.

Peeling can be avoided if it is caused by external factors. It is more difficult if it is a symptom of another disease. Then it’s not enough to just buy chapstick, drink more water and eat vitamin-rich foods. You need to see a doctor who, after diagnosis, will prescribe treatment.

Lips become dry and cracked

When peeling and dry lips lead to the formation of cracks, the problem only gets worse: the lips begin to hurt, and the cracks can get infected, which may trigger other diseases.

Very often, such cracks appear in the corners of the lips. They are called jams. It is believed that main feature the appearance of jams is a weakened immune system.

Seizures are formed both due to a fungal infection and as a result of previous diseases that weaken the body’s defenses. The cause of seizures can also be:

• gastrointestinal diseases;
• diabetes;
• allergic reaction.

Why do women's lips peel?

Who is more susceptible to dry lips: men and women? It is hardly possible to answer this question unambiguously. While the reaction of the body of women and men is similar, the causes of dryness in representatives of different sexes may differ:

• The most common cause of dry lips in women is incorrectly selected cosmetics: glosses, lipsticks, balms. Low-quality products provoke peeling and cracking.
• Hormonal imbalances in the body cause weakened immunity, and this is one of the main causes of dry lips in women.

Why do men's lips dry out?

In men who suffer from weather sensitivity, as well as those who work outdoors, peeling of the lips is observed even more often than in women.

This is also aggravated by the fact that men still use lip cosmetics less than women.

Left unprotected and exposed to wind, rain and snow, men's lips often become dry.

What measures need to be taken

Treatment of cheilitis directly depends on the cause of its occurrence. When chapped lips are the result of a reaction to the weather, food or incorrectly selected cosmetics, it is necessary to eliminate the main cause.

Moisturizing creams and masks and eating foods rich in vitamins A, E, C help make lips soft.

If peeling is a symptom of a disease, only a doctor can correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Homeopathic treatment

Homeopathy will help restore reduced immunity. You can take homeopathic remedies. Because homeopathy affects the entire body, improving its functioning and the interaction of all its systems.

Homeopathic remedies that help get rid of dry lips:

• (Aconite)– prescribed for dehydration and dry skin, including on the lips.