There are a number of steps you can take at home to prevent and treat chapped lips:
1- Try not to lick your lips too much. Saliva evaporates quickly and can leave your lips feeling even more chapped.
2- Protect your lips. Wear a lip balm (such as Burt’s Bees, ChapStick, or Palmer’s), and choose one with SPF sun protection if you’re outside for long periods during daylight in cold or dry weather. For maximum moisture and protection, choose a lip-soothing product that contains beeswax or petrolatum (petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline). 4- Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids and even using a humidifier can help, especially in the colder, drier months of the year.
5- Avoid irritants. Don’t use any personal care products, fragrances, or foods that cause irritation.
6- Close your mouth. Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth.
Chapped lips typically heal on their own with at-home treatments.
If your chapped lips won’t go away — or if your lips become severely cracked or swollen — see your doctor. These may be signs of an underlying medical problem.
By Lindsey Konkel | Medically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD
