chapped lips

Hi @maj85 Chapped lips are miserable. Especially when you can’t seem to get any relief! A few years ago I had a serious medical condition which has left me with very dry lips. I keep lip balm in my pocket or purse all the time. The best one I’ve found so far, for me, is Burt’s Bees moisturizing lip balm (Mango is my favorite). I’ve tried others like Vaseline, Carmex or Chapstick, but they don’t last long on my lips.
Some things which can influence dry lips are medications, winter dry air, vitamin deficiencies, sun damage, eczema, etc. I think if this has been going on for some time and you’re concerned it isn’t usual, it might be time to have your doctor or dermatologist take a peek.
I found an article to read about dry lips that you might find interesting. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/dry-lips-causes

Do you recall when this first started? Any change in diet or medications that you can think of?

@maj85 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'll wager that you will get several different types of responses from people for your question!

When I was growing up in the 60s, we didn't have a regular practice of lip care, did we? I recall so many days spent outside in the sun, getting bad sunburns on my face and lips, never considering sunscreen. I would go to school on Monday, looking like a cooked lobster!

These days, I use a good lip balm with sunscreen. When I use a dry skin cream on my hands, I also put a dab on my lips, for temporary relief. With health conditions and all sorts of medications, it is difficult to stay on top of dry lips, but I try. Recently I did a course of topical flourouracil chemo cream for skin cancers, and got some reaction on one area of my lips. So, I am going to ask my dermatologisr in a few weeks about what they like to call "farmer's lip".

Having your lips area checked out at your next skin check appointment is a great idea.
Ginger

I suffered for many years with a flakey, never healing lower lip. I would tell the dermatologist every skin checkup and she would freeze/burn the top layer in order for it to heal....it never did. After four treatments, without success, she biopsied it. My whole lower lip is precancerous. I am currently using Fluorouracil, a chemo cream on it, with hopes of success. This is the result of a happy life of sunshine 😉 without protection!

@maj85 i have very dry, chapped, lips too and I use coconut oil on them. It has helped me.