Causes of Dry Chapped Lips

The official name for chapped lips is chelitis. However you refer to it, chapped, dry lips are a nuisance. Chapped lips can be the result of some other physical condition as well as being caused by allergies and foods.

Bad Weather

When the weather is cold, your lips get dry from dehydration and this leads to painful cracking and peeling, according to Dermadoctor.com. Put a wax-based balm on your lips before venturing outside. This will protect your lips as will a moisture-rich lipstick.

Other Considerations

Aside from cold weather, other factors can cause chapped lips including periodontal (gum) disease or abscesses in the mouth. Reportedly, a deep cleansing of the mouth by a dentist may help eliminate the problem of chapped lips. If you have an auto-immune condition, such as lupus, this can cause dry, chapped lips because your lips become extremely sensitive to the sun.

Toothpaste

If your toothpaste contains sodium lauryl sulfate, it may be the culprit. It can cause chapped lips as well as irritation to your skin.

Phototoxicity

Certain foods can cause phototoxicity, which is when the eyes or skin (or lips) become ultra sensitive to sunlight and other forms of light, according to Cancer.gov. Eating figs can make your lips phototoxic. Citrus fruits can do the same as can certainly essential oils and drugs. When phototoxicity occurs, blisters can result.

Allergies

If you are allergic to nickel, this can cause chapped lips. Don't put metal items in your mouth or near your lips. You may be allergic to the red dye in your toothpaste or in mouthwash or candy. Some people are allergic to cinnamon flavor, called cinnamates, which can dry out your lips.

Products and Medications

Some lip products contain a substance called phenyl salicylate and this may be irritating your lips. If you take B12 supplements there is a possibility that you have developed an allergy to cobalt, which causes crusty, swelling lips, which get worse if your lips are exposed to the elements. Likewise, too much Vitamin A can cause peeling lips. Vitamin A is found in the medications Accutane and Soriatane. If you are getting more than 25,000 IU of Vitamin A each day, that's too much, according to Dermadoctor.com.

Perleche

If you are a diabetic, you may be susceptible to a condition called perleche, which is caused by a yeast (candida) infection and can mess up your lips and cause cracking and scaling at the edges of your mouth. Anyone can get this but diabetics are especially vulnerable.