Dry, cracked lips? Get yourself checked for cheilitis simplex

Causes of cheilitis: Your lips can crack any time of the year, often flaring during illness, vitamin and mineral deficiencies (B vitamins, iron, zinc), or prolonged exposure to irritants (Image: Pexels)

For many, cracked lips are a seasonal nuisance. However, dry, cracked lips are not merely a passing trouble but a medically-recognised condition known as cheilitis.

From simple lip chapping to infections at the corners of the mouth and allergic reactions to everyday products, the causes can be as ordinary as licking your lips or as hidden as a toothpaste ingredient.

Lips are more delicate than the rest of your skin. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), your lips lack oil glands and have a thinner protective layer. With too much sun and dehydration,  that protective layer gives way, leaving them dry, sore, sometimes even painful.

Also read | Lipcare tips: 7 harmful ingredients to avoid in lip balm to prevent dry, chapped lips

When you feel the sting of crack lips pulling at the corners of your smile, a dab of petroleum jelly or ghee may soothe for a while, but for many, this discomfort is more than a seasonal worry.

Dermatologist have long studied the medical term for persistently, dry cracked and inflamed lips, and they suggest various causes, apart from cold weather, for this concern.

Here are the five Ws and one H of chapped lips:

What is it?

Chapped lips, known medically as cheilitis simplex, appear as cracks, fissures, and peeling, often on the lower lip. Other forms include angular cheilitis, which settles at the corners of the mouth, and contact cheilitis, triggered by irritant or in every day items, such as lipsticks, toothpaste, or even musical instruments.

Also read | Lip-licking dermatitis: Avoid dry, flaky skin on the lips with these home remedies

Who are at risk?
While anyone can suffer, certain groups are more vulnerable. Children with atopic dermatitis often lick their lips, stripping away the natural protective oils. Those with diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, or the ones undergoing specific drug therapies are also more prone. The elderly, particularly in colder months, frequently experience angular cheilitis.

When is it common?

Though cracked lips are common in winter, they are not confined to only this season. Episodes can occur any time of the year, often flaring during illness, vitamin and mineral deficiencies (B vitamins, iron, zinc), or prolonged exposure to irritants.

Where does it affect?

Lesions usually settles on the lower lip or at the corners of the mouth. Sometimes the skin around the lips reddens and flakes. With contact cheilitis, the area can spread wider, depending on how much of the skin touches the allergen.

Why does it occur?

The reasons vary. Frequent lip licking removes the thin oily film that holds in moisture, allowing saliva’s digestive enzymes to dry out the skin. Ill-fitting dentures, drooling, and poor nutritional intake can spark angular cheilitis. Meanwhile, hidden culprits, nickel in jewellery, preservatives in creams, or even compounds in sunscreens, can provoke allergic contact cheilitis.

How to cure it?

Treatment is rooted in tackling the cause. Simple dryness responds well to lip balms, petroleum jelly, or mild emollients. More complex cases may require identifying allergens through patch testing, correcting nutritional deficiencies, or applying low-potency topical corticosteroids, antifungals, or antibiotics when infection sets in. Prevention, too, plays a role: resisting the urge to lick lips, staying hydrated, and shielding lips from harsh winds can help keep that winter sting at bay.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.