Sore lips
What not to do
It's very tempting to pick and bite off flakes of dried skin, but this will only make your lips bleed and heal more slowly. Irritating the skin around your mouth may alsotrigger a Herpes simplex virus if you're prone to getting them.
It's also tempting to keep licking dry or cracked lips.But this will only dry your lips more, as the saliva evaporates and the repeated licking or wetting "washes" the natural grease off the skin.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out how to look after your lips when they're exposed to the sun, wind and cold. Applying a lip balm that contains petroleum or beeswax will help treat and prevent dry lips.
What not to do
It's very tempting to pick and bite off flakes of dried skin, but this will only make your lips bleed and heal more slowly. Irritating the skin around your mouth may alsotrigger a Herpes simplex virus
How to treat dry or sore lips
The best thing to do if you have dry or sore lips is to regularly apply a lip balm containing petroleum or beeswax. You may need totry a few different products before you find one that works for you.
When dry lips become inflamed
Sometimes dry lips can become inflamed andfeel sore. The medical term for inflamed lips is cheilitis. Lips usually become inflamed as a result of mild irritation. They can also become inflamed if the
When to see your GP
See your GP if your lips are red and sore and you think they're infected. They may prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal cream to treat the infection. This may also contain 1% hydrocortisone (steroi
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products