Chapped Lips Causes

Chapped lips is a condition that most of us are aware of. Though it is usually associated with the winter season, there are people who have to deal with it even in the summer and sometimes throughout the year. One of the main reasons for the occurrence of chapped lips is the lack of moisture in the lips and also on the skin that surrounds it.

However, the problem is not serious and can be treated with some simple remedies. Nevertheless, there are some people who suffer from chronic chapped lips, in spite of good climatic conditions. This has to be taken seriously as it can be a symptom of an underlying health problem.

It is not a very difficult task to identify chapped lips. It is when a person's lips become dry and cracked. One is also likely to observe a red colored ring on the lips as well as around the mouth. Other than this, most people may also experience severe pain. If not given proper care, the cracked lips may bleed too.

Climatic Conditions: One of the most common causes of chapped lips is the cold, dry, windy climate of the winters. During the winter season, the dry environment takes away the moisture away from the skin and lips, leaving them dry and chapped.

However, though most people are at a risk of having cracked lips during the winters, it is not the only season when such a thing can happen.

On the other hand, there are people who have this problem even during the summers. It has been found that over exposure to the sun can cause damage to the lips, just like it does to the other areas of the skin. Hence, it can be said that extreme climatic conditions like winter as well as summer can be responsible for the occurrence of chapped lips.

Dehydration: Dehydration is also said to be one of the reasons for the occurrence of chapped lips. If you have not been drinking water for a long time, your body will start showing the signs of dehydration. It has been found that the first indication of dehydration is shown by the lips which become dry and chapped.

Allergic Reactions: Most of the cosmetics as well as beauty products are made of a whole lot of chemicals which can cause allergic reactions to the skin. In the same way, some people have an allergic reaction to certain type of lipsticks which causes the lips to become chapped. Other than this, it has also been observed that certain lip care products that are meant to prevent or cure chapped lips actually worsen the problem.

Vitamin Deficiency: Another reason behind chapped lips is the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in one's diet. Vitamins A, B, C and B2 are said to be very important to maintain healthy skin as well as lips. So, if these essential vitamins are not present in your diet, it can lead to cracked and dry lips. Other than this, consuming too much spicy foods can also be the reason for having cracked lips.

Additional Causes: Apart from the given causes, there are some more reasons that can explain the occurrence of chronic chapped lips. One of the main causes is smoking. People who have the habit of smoking are likely to have dry and cracked lips throughout the year. Also, it can be an allergic reaction to some kind of medication or drugs.

There are many people who have the habit of licking their lips when it becomes too dry just to moisten it. However, this worsens the condition as saliva absorbs the protective layer of the lips, making it even more drier.

So, if you are suffering from this problem, ensure that you stay away from this habit. Though the treatment for chapped lips will depend on its cause, if you know that your lips will become chapped due to climatic changes, keeping it moisturized by regular application of lip balm can help in protecting your lips from getting chapped.