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Possible reasons why your lips crack and how to prevent it from happening again!

Possible reasons why your lips crack and how to prevent it from happening again!

Lips do not contain oil glands like other parts of the skin. This means they are more susceptible to drying out and cracking.

A lack of moisture can make the problem worse, whether it's weather-driven or related to a lack of self-care.

The lack of moisture in the air during the winter months is known to cause chapped lips. Even frequent sun exposure during summer can worsen the condition as well.


Another common cause of chapped lips is the habit of licking them, often unconsciously. Saliva from the tongue can remove moisture from the lips, causing more dryness., writes Healthline.

Risk factors for chapped lips

Everyone can experience chapped lips, especially if their skin is dry.

Taking certain medications and medications can also increase your risk for cracked t-shirts. Some of them are:

- Vitamin A
– Retinoids (Retin-A, Differin)
– Lithium (usually used to treat bipolar disorder)
- Chemotherapy drugs, etc.

Dehydration/Malnutrition

People who are dehydrated or malnourished are also more likely to have chapped lips. If you think one of these is the reason for your chapped lips, i.e. dehydration or malnutrition, consult your doctor immediately, as both are serious conditions that require immediate medical attention.

Dehydration also causes other symptoms including:

- Dizziness
– Constipation
– Less hunger
– Dry mouth
- Headache

In severe cases, a person suffering from dehydration may experience low blood pressure, fever or rapid heartbeat.

Malnutrition is characterized by symptoms very similar to dehydration. Other additional symptoms include:

– Weak muscles
– Broken teeth
- Bloated belly, etc.

Malnutrition can be caused by vitamin deficiencies, so those on restricted diets (for example, vegetarians) need to make sure they are getting enough of all the vitamins they need.

People with alcohol dependence are also more susceptible to malnutrition due to vitamin deficiencies, because excessive alcohol use can interfere with the body's absorption of vitamins. The elderly are also at higher risk for malnutrition because decreased appetite is common.

Cheilitis – If severe dryness and cracking does not improve with self-care, you should see a dermatologist. Cheilitis is often to blame for severely chapped lips. It is a skin health condition that causes the skin at the corners of the mouth to crack and the lips to crack.

A dermatologist will determine whether you have this problem or just chapped lips, says Anabel.

Treatment/Prevention

Chapped lips can usually be treated at home. The first step is to make sure they have enough moisture. This can be achieved by following the steps below:

– Applying lip balm throughout the day.
- Drink as much water as possible.
– Cover your mouth with a scarf when the weather is very cold.
- Use sunscreen.
– Don't use scented lip balm because chances are you'll lick it off.
- Do not lick your lips.

/Telegraph/

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