In the harsh winter months, many women suffer from dry lips. When the lips crack at the corners of the mouth, it is a condition known as chelitis, in which moisture accumulates in the area. According to New York City dermatologist Patricia Wexler in the January 2008 Allure magazine, to get rid of cracks at the corner of the lips:
“The best way to heal them is with a rich emollient, such as Aquaphor ($27.25 for two, Amazon.com) which contains petrolatum to seal in moisture [and prevent excess moisture from accumulating in the area]. Apply a pea-size amount to the cracks a few times a day, then rub an oil-free moisturizer [like Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer ($19.53 for two, Amazon.com) on the surrounding areas (this provides hydration without causing breakouts.”
How do you avoid getting dry lips in the future?
According to Wexler: “Avoid waxing, chemical peels, exfoliating scrubs, or glycolic-acid treatments…The area can also be irritated by retinoids or even toothpaste.” As such, use these items with care around the lip area to avoid cracking at the corners of the mouth, particularly during the harsh winter months.
What if my lips are severely cracked?
If your lips are severely cracked at steep angles going down from your lips, you may have angular chelitis. According to Dr. Michael Fisher, M.D. Ph.D., angular chelitis is generally seen in adults with ill-fitting dentures, and in children with overbite, overlapping teeth, braces, poor closure of the mouth and even drooling at night. According to Dr. Fisher, either petrolatum or corticosteroid ointments applied two or three times a day to the corners of the mouth, the avoidance of the habit of lip-licking, and the application of topical antibiotics and anticandidal agents when Candida bacteria is involved may alleviate the severe situations. As always, see your dermatologist with your concerns before you self-diagnose!
One last note…
Thank you for all of your questions over the holidays. December has been a very busy month for me (this is my first year being married during the holidays!), and I appreciate your patience as I research all of your questions. Thank you, and happy continued reading! 🙂 Please check back; hopefully the answer to your question will be here soon. 🙂