What Your Lips Can Tell You About Your Health - Glam

Dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, and allergies can cause dry, chapped lips. Did you know that these are the real reason your lips are always chapped? If your lips always seem chapped and dry no matter how much lip balm, lip gloss, and lip creams you use, you may find yourself wondering if there's an underlying cause behind the pesky problem.

Chapped and dry lips are common because, as the Cleveland Clinic notes, the skin on your lips is thinner than anywhere else on your body, and it doesn't contain any oil glands. Anything from dehydration, allergens, exposure to the elements, vitamin deficiencies, and certain medical conditions can cause chapped lips. Chapped and dry lips aren't simply annoying but they can also be painful. If you suffer from a severe case, certain foods and products can sting when they make contact with your lips.

If you're suffering from chapped lips, you can use a non-irritating lip balm (or other lip product), drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen to your lips before heading outdoors, and refrain from licking or biting your lips to help alleviate the chapping. What's more, Dr. Susan Massick, a board-certified dermatologist, explained to Bustle that "chapped lips can be made worse when people bite or peel the skin off the lips or frequently lick the lips in an attempt to moisten them. She added that "in fact, saliva does not moisten the lips — it actually makes them more dry." Using a humidifier at home is also helpful to add some much-needed moisture to the air.

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