Why do lips burn and crack?
The skin on your lips has no sebaceous glands and no melanin – it is especially thin and dries out easily. Triggers: dehydration, dry air, wind, the habit of licking your lips, a lack of vitamins B and E.
How do you care for chapped lips?
Use a balm with shea butter, almond oil or beeswax regularly. Once a week, do a gentle sugar or enzyme scrub. Drink plenty of water.
What should you avoid?
Licking your lips – saliva dries them out. Fragrances and menthol, which irritate the delicate skin of the lips. Very coarse mechanical scrubs.
When should you seek help?
Persistently cracked corners of the mouth can point to a lack of B vitamins or iron. Stubborn lip inflammation (cheilitis) is a matter for your dermatologist.