Are your lips dry, cracked, chapped and flaking? No matter how much and whichever lip balm you use, they do not improve? Could you be suffering from a vitamin deficiency? Are there any home remedies for chapped lips?

Chapped lips, medically termed cheilitis, are a frequent dermatological complaint characterized by dryness, cracking, peeling, and sometimes pain or bleeding. While usually benign, persistent or unresponsive cases may be a sign of underlying nutritional, allergic, or dermatological conditions.

In this article, I will help you to get rid of dry and chapped lips in 5 simple dermatologist-recommended steps.

Why Do Chapped Lips Occur?

The skin of the lips lacks oil glands and has a thinner stratum corneum, making it inherently more susceptible to dehydration and environmental insults.

• Increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) contributes to dryness.
• Environmental exposure to wind, sun, and dry air accelerates water loss.
• Saliva breaks down the lip barrier due to enzymes and repetitive wet-dry cycles.
• Allergic reactions or irritant contact from lip products or food additives may also be culprits.
• Vitamin deficiencies, especially of B-complex, iron, or zinc, are often overlooked but critical causes of persistent cheilitis.

Common Triggers of Chapped Lips

1. Environmental Factors

• Cold, windy, or dry weather
• UV exposure (though SPF-containing balms may irritate severely chapped lips—more on that below)

2. Lifestyle Habits

• Licking, biting, or peeling lips
• Dehydration
• Mouth breathing or snoring
• Smoking

3. Irritating Products

Dry lips are more prone to irritation due to a compromised barrier. You must eliminate all possible triggers such as:

• Lipsticks
• Mouthwash
• Spicy or acidic foods
• Toothpastes with SLS (prefer children’s toothpaste until healing)
• Lip balms with preservatives, flavors, fragrances, urea, fruit extracts, menthol, camphor, etc.

Contrary to common belief, lip balms with SPF can further irritate already chapped lips due to the presence of chemical sunscreen agents.

4. Medical Causes

• Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., B2, B12, folate, iron, zinc)
• Atopic dermatitis, rosacea, or eczema
• Angular cheilitis (fungal/bacterial)
• Drug-induced (see below)

5-Step Regimen for Chapped Lips

Step 1: Apply the Right Kind of Lip Balm

Does your lip balm seem to worsen the dryness? This can happen due to irritating ingredients, particularly if you’re prone to eczema, rosacea, or atopic dermatitis. In such cases, opt for simple, fragrance-free formulations, or even better, ghee (clarified butter), which is discussed in Step 3.

Look for:

• Petrolatum or mineral oil (occlusives)
• Ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid (hydrating agents)
• Shea or cocoa butter (emollients)

Finding the right balm can be difficult. Check Dermatocare’s curated reviews on lip balms to help narrow down effective, irritation-free options.

Step 2: Avoid All Possible Irritants

Dry lips are hypersensitive. Avoid or temporarily eliminate:

• All lip cosmetics (reintroduce one brand/week once healed)
• Spicy or acidic foods
• Strong toothpaste and mouthwashes
• Salty snacks or citrus fruits if burning occurs

Use children’s toothpaste temporarily and eliminate lipsticks until complete recovery.

Step 3: Try This Home Remedy

Despite trying various commercial and even luxury lip balms, my users found lasting relief from a simple Ayurvedic remedy—ghee (clarified butter).

Apply warm ghee every 30 to 120 minutes initially. Rub between your fingers to warm it slightly before applying. Over time, reduce the frequency to after meals and before bedtime.

Ghee acts as a natural emollient, anti-inflammatory, and skin barrier restorer. It’s safe, effective, and easily available:

Step 4: Avoid Licking or Picking

Moistening dry lips by licking them offers momentary relief but ultimately worsens the dryness due to digestive enzymes in saliva.

Avoid peeling flakes—these protect the new skin underneath and will slough off naturally as healing progresses.

Step 5: Substitute Causative Medications

Certain medications can lead to persistent dry lips. Common culprits include:

• Isotretinoin
• Vitamin A (high doses)
• D-penicillamine
• Lithium
• Busulfan
• Isoniazid
• Phenothiazines

Do not stop any medication without physician approval. Instead, consult your doctor to discuss alternatives or add lip care support.

When to See a Dermatologist

While most cases resolve with the steps above, consult a dermatologist if:

• Symptoms persist beyond 2–3 weeks despite care
• Cracks appear at corners of the mouth (may indicate angular cheilitis)
• Accompanying soreness of tongue or mouth lining suggests a vitamin deficiency
• There is oozing, bleeding, crusting, or persistent growths—this may point to infection or actinic cheilitis