Cracked Lips

Cracked lips

A cracked lip is a symptom in which your lips are dry, peeling or chapped. Cracks that appear at the corner of your mouth may reflect a condition of angular chelitis which is a fungal infection associated with having inadequate quantities of Vitamin B, zinc, iron or excessive Vitamin A.  Breaks appear on the surface of our lips and it may become painful and bleed.  It is not a serious condition and does not pose any risk in our health.

Why Do Cracked Lips Occur?

Cracked lips occur resulting from factors such as licking your lips, dry or cold weather, wind exposure, sunburn, breathing through your mouth and conditions like mild dehydration, nutritional deficiencies and the common cold. Licking your lips is not helpful because the same acids that help saliva break down food in the mouth can irritate and dehydrate the skin. Once the skin cells loose moisture, they also loose their elasticity which results in cracked, chapped skin surface.

Cracked lips can also be caused by canker sores and allergic reaction to lip products such as lip balm or lipstick. Your lips may also be sensitive to skin care products particularly for acne-prone and oily skin, mouthwashes and toothpaste even acidic and spicy foods like pickles and cinnamon. Drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverages and smoking also contribute to cracked skin on your lips.

Other Cracked Lips Symptoms May Be…

Other symptoms that may occur with cracked lips that are related to other body systems may include having rashes, feeling very thirsty, headache, stuffy nose or nasal condition and a generally ill feeling, while in some cases this may occur with other symptoms that may indicate a serious condition which includes fainting or change in level of consciousness, reduced urine production and confusion or loss of consciousness even for a brief moment.  In this kind of situation, you should seek medical care immediately.

I hope you have a better understanding about cracked lips.