Can a deficiency cause dryness of the lips?

Dry Lips: A Result of Deficiency?

Dry lips are a common issue, especially during winter when temperatures drop. Some sources also suggest that nutritional deficiencies could contribute to this condition. But what does the scientific literature say? Let's explore this question together.

Published on January 8, 2025, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 5 min of reading

Vitamin deficiencies: A possible explanation for dry lips?

The link between vitamin deficiencies and dry lips is not yet fully understood, but several studies suggest that a deficiency in certain vitamins, particularly those of the B group, could harm oral health and manifest as dry lips. Researchers thus suggest that a deficiency in vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, could result in skin problems, such as recurrent mouth ulcers and stomatitis, that is, inflammation of the oral mucosa. Similarly, a deficiency in vitamin B2, or riboflavin, could cause angular cheilitis, which are painful cracks at the corners of the lips. Weakened, the lips are then more prone to chapping.

Some scientists have also hypothesised that a deficiency in vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, could lead to skin dryness, including on the lips. Concurrently, insufficient levels of vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, are likely to affect the immune system, which can increase the body's susceptibility to infections, including fungal and bacterial infections in the oral cavity. A perleche may then appear. A deficiency in vitamin B6 is also linked to an impairment of the skin's cellular regeneration, thus affecting the lip skin's ability to repair itself after an assault.

Finally, a deficiency in vitamin B12, a molecule essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system, could also promote lip dryness. Indeed, when the body lacks this vitamin, blood circulation and tissue oxygenation are slowed down. The skin, particularly that of the lips, then becomes more vulnerable to dryness as the impaired blood circulation affects tissue nutrition.

Taking these various factors into account, it would seem that a balanced intake of vitamins could be a key element in preventing dry and chapped lips. However, it is important to emphasise that the scientific evidence remains limited, as no clinical trials have been conducted to date. Furthermore, the underlying biological mechanisms of this relationship have not yet been clearly defined, and the majority of observations are based on hypotheses. Therefore, comprehensive clinical studies are necessary to confirm the various points suggested above and to better understand the specific role of each vitamin in lip health.

Can lip dryness be explained by a deficiency in minerals?

Beyond vitamins, minerals are suspected to play a role in oral health. A deficiency in some of them could even be linked to dryness of the lips. A study notably reports the cases of five individuals suffering from cheilitis, in whom the application of topical moisturising and repairing treatments did not work. Blood tests were therefore carried out and revealed abnormally low serum zinc levels in these individuals. In response, an oral zinc treatment was initiated, improving lip dryness in one to three months depending on the patients.

An iron deficiency, the most common form of which is iron-deficiency anaemia, can also lead to several symptoms that affect oral health, including angular cheilitis. As a reminder, iron plays a major role in the body as it is one of the main components of haemoglobin, the protein present in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen through the blood to tissues and organs. When the body lacks iron, haemoglobin production decreases, which can lead to a reduction in tissue oxygenation, including that of the skin and mucous membranes, such as the lips. This hypoxia weakens the tissues and creates an environment conducive to infections and inflammations.