Cold weather, dry air, frequent lip licking, sun exposure, contact with an irritant or allergen, dehydration... these are just a few reasons why lips can tingle, burn, peel, and crack, even leading to bleeding, at different times of the year. However, chapped lips are generally a short-term problem, for which there are solutions that you can try yourself and that can help. Continue reading to discover what is recommended for treating chapped lips.
Chapped Lips: What Solution Should We Adopt?
Summary
Published on April 24, 2025, by Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences — 7 min of reading
Themes:
Solution No.1: Apply a lip balm.
Chapped lips, also known under the medical term cheilitis, are a very common issue. This is a sign that the skin barrier is weakened. However, the regular application, including before going to sleep, of a moisturising lip balm is one of the simplest ways to combat chapping at home. It will provide immediate relief, create a protective barrier on the surface of the lips against external irritants, retain moisture for longer, and also heal the weakened skin. Depending on the severity, the healing of chapped lips should take a few weeks.
To allow lip balms to work more effectively, consider initially to exfoliate them gently to remove the layer of dead cells. However, ensure to exfoliate only once a week, as doing it too often can exacerbate the problem.
When you are looking for a treatment to use on your chapped lips, it is crucial to select one that contains a combination of anti-inflammatory actives (such as calendula macerate, etc.) to immediately soothe tight lips and provide more lasting comfort, emollient agents (ceramides, silicones, vegetable butters, waxes, polymers or even vegetable oils) to help retain moisture and rebuild the epidermal barrier of chapped lips, as well as healing ingredients (panthenol, Centella asiatica, zinc, etc.) to enable the regeneration and healing of the lip area. Conversely, avoid those that contain ingredients with an irritating and drying potential, such as alcohol, flavours (menthol, camphor, geraniol, eucalyptus, etc.) and fragrances, which can be counterproductive for chapped lips.
If your lips are extremely dry and chapped, it would be more beneficial to opt for a thicker treatment such as a mask or ointment to help soothe chapped lips.
Solution No. 2: Utilise "natural" remedies.
In the absence of using a lip balm, other solutions, such as the application of aloe vera gel or coconut oil, can also help to alleviate and improve the appearance of chapped lips.
Aloe vera : Primarily known as a natural remedy for sunburn, the aqueous, gel-like substance found in aloe vera leaves possesses soothing, hydrating, healing, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for chapped lips. Although there are currently no concrete studies demonstrating the effectiveness of aloe vera on chapped lips, some research advocates its use for this skin issue. Indeed, according to one study, the polysaccharides contained in aloe vera gel help to accelerate cell proliferation, allowing wounds to heal more quickly.
Avocado Butter: According to a review, avocado butter is a good emollient and thickener for lip balms, in addition to being well absorbed by the skin. It also contains several unsaturated fatty acids, notably oleic acid and linoleic acid, known for their beneficial effects on the skin. Indeed, a recent study found that it increased the synthesis of collagen fibres and accelerated epithelialisation.
Virgin Coconut Oil: While coconut oil is traditionally used as a natural remedy for skin dryness, these same effects could translate into benefits for chapped lips. Indeed, it offers numerous advantages for hydration, healing, and lip protection. The primary virtue of coconut oil is its emollient effect. It helps to trap moisture in the skin of the lips by restructuring its barrier function. Among the other biological activities of coconut oil, it also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, potentially preventing chapped lips from becoming infected.
How to use them on the lips? Apply a small amount of coconut oil, avocado butter, or aloe vera gel to your chapped lips with your clean finger. You can repeat this process throughout the day, as needed.
Solution No. 3: Limit lip-licking as much as possible.
When they start to become dehydrated and chapped, it may seem natural to lick your lips as a compensatory measure. However, this action only exacerbates the problem and perpetuates the cycle, especially if it is frequently done throughout the day. Indeed, the layer of saliva on the lips contains digestive enzymes, which can damage the epidermal barrier of the delicate and very thin skin of the lips, making them drier and rougher.
Furthermore, when you moisten your lips with your tongue, saliva indeed hydrates the surface of the lips and alleviates symptoms, but this effect is temporary. In fact, saliva evaporates quickly, further drying out the lips, exacerbating chapping and increasing their vulnerability to environmental conditions. As it evaporates, saliva absorbs more moisture from the skin.
Solution No. 4: Avoid touching your lips.
In the instance of chapped lips, individuals tend to scratch, rub or gnaw at the peeling skin. However, this can lead to additional cracks and sores that will exacerbate the issue and delay the healing process. Therefore, it is strongly advised torefrain from attempting to remove the peeling skin.
Chapped lips that do not heal or improve with regular hydration could be a sign of an infection or a more serious issue. In this case, consult a dermatologist so they can offer you more suitable and effective treatment options.
Sources
SINGH S. & al. Review on natural lip balm. International Journal of Research in Cosmetic Science (2014).
PARAMESH R. & al. In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (2018).
LI J. & al. Aloe vera: A medicinal plant used in skin wound healing. Tissue engineering (2021).
