SKIN FACTS

Your Dry Skin Could Be the Reason Your Lips Are Chapped

Dermatologists make a strong case for reading your own lips.
closeup of woman's lips and skin
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We've all been there, applyinglip balmall day long to no relief from dry, chapped lips. You might think it's just a pesky side effect of cold or dry weather, or maybe even the result of anineffective lip balm— both of whichcan引起嘴唇干裂。但显然chapped lips might be a sign of an even bigger issue altogether: dry skin.

Why are chapped lips a potential sign of dry skin?

AsRita Linkner, a New York City-based dermatologist puts it, the lips are thinner than the rest of your skin, so you can use them as a litmus test of sorts for your skin's hydration level.

“嘴唇缺少一层皮肤层玉米eum, which is why they are extra sensitive and a perfect barometer for how dry the rest of the skin on the face is," she explains. The stratum corneum, by the way, is the outermost layer of the skin barrier, which means it's the skin's first line of defense against environmental stressors.

Because of this, Linkner says having chapped lips could signify that you need tomoisturize the whole facemore frequently every day rather than just slap on some lip balm. "I tell my patients to 'read your lips,' meaning if your lips are chapped then [you need to] do a better, more frequent job of moisturizing the skin," she explains.

DermatologistBradley Bloomadds that simply drinking more water to hydrate skin is not likely to fix the problem of chapped lips.

"When the lips are dry they often have a burning or stinging feeling from microscopic breaks in the barrier, which people call 'chapped lips,' he explains. "In most cases, there is some external aggravating factor, such as licking one's lips chronically or an irritant or allergy from a topical used in the area," he says. By topicals, he means anything applied to or around the mouth, like lipsticks or even toothpaste.

How can I tell if my dry lips are caused by dry skin?

How can you tell the difference, though, between chapped lips caused by dry skin and chapped lips caused by an external irritant? Both Linkner and Bloom agree that the answer is simple: It's best for a dermatologist to diagnose the cause of chapped lips because it's so hard to discern.

What moisturizer should I be using, then?

Either way, it's vital to keep skin hydrated regardless of its effect on your lips. Linkner's advice is to always be on the lookout for products containing ceramides, which "represent the glue that holds skin cells together." In other words,ceramidesare the fat molecules in the skin barrier that keep it hydrated and plump. Incorporating them into your skin routine will strengthen your skin barrier, and using products that lock in moisture can help prevent dry skin — and lips — even further, Linkner says.

"Lanolin, cholesterols, andsqualeneare also key ingredients to look for in hydrating moisturizers that work to lock in water content," she says.

What if that doesn't work?

If you know your skin is as hydrated as possible and you still have perpetually chapped lips, try Bloom's advice: "It's worth using a fragrance-free petrolatum-based lip balm likeVaselineorAquaphor. Try to minimize licking one's lips. Avoid products that have many additives, as they can sometimes make things worse."

If you have a severe case of dry lips or dry skin that persists, however, you should consult your local dermatologist for other solutions.

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