When your lips begin to get dry and cracked, it appears like licking them is the only natural response. This has the potential to exacerbate dryness. Lip licking can also result in a chronic disease known as lip licker’s dermatitis, which is caused by repeated licking of the lips.
The skin of the lips is thin and fragile, as is the rest of the body. It requires additional attention to avoid drying out, which is especially important during the chilly winter months. Despite the fact that it may be tempting, you should refrain from licking your lips when they are chapped.
Continue reading to learn how to quit licking your lips, as well as some strategies for avoiding dryness in the first place.
What occurs when we lick the inside of our mouths?
Saliva includes digestive enzymes such as amylase and maltase, which cause the skin on the lips to become dry and cracked. Over time, this will make the lips more sensitive to the drying effects of the environment. Even worse, the skin might split apart and hemorrhage.
When we lick our lips, saliva is released onto the surface of the lips, providing moisture for a brief period of time. Because saliva evaporates so fast, lips are likely to become much drier than they were before.
It is possible that licking one’s lips on sometimes will not cause any difficulties. Constant licking of the lips throughout the day, on the other hand, can cause chapping, splitting, flaking, and peeling of the lips. Especially if you live in a cold, dry area or if you spend a lot of time outside in the sun without wearing sunscreen, this is true.
What are the causes of excessive lip licking?
When you’re feeling worried or apprehensive, you could find yourself licking your lips over and over again. Environmental circumstances that are too harsh can also dry up our skin and lips, causing us to feel the urge to moisturize them.
Environment
The following circumstances might cause your lips to become parched:
- sun exposure or sunburns
- wind
- outdoor cold, dry air, especially during winter months
- indoor dry heat
- smoke
Medical conditions
Certain underlying medical problems, such as the following, can also produce dry skin on the lips, causing you to feel the urge to lick your lips more frequently:
- nasal congestion caused by a cold or the flu, which makes you breathe through your mouth
- autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, or Crohn’s disease
- hypothyroidism
- nerve damage to the head or neck
- poorly fitting dentures
- smoking tobacco
Medications
Dry lips can also be caused by some medicines, including the ones listed below.
- medications containing high amounts of vitamin A or retinoids, such as certain acne medications
- diuretics
- anti-nausea medications
- diarrhea medications
- chemotherapy drugs
The most effective method of preventing repeated licking
Lip licking may become a vicious cycle if left unchecked. You lick your lips to moisten them, but they get chapped as a result. As a result, you feel the urge to lick them even more, which makes them even more chapped.
When you have chapped lips, it may be really uncomfortable.
It’s not simple to break a habit, but there are a few things you may do to break the pattern of repetitive licking:
- Make multiple applications of a non-irritating lip balm throughout the day, especially before night.
- Keep lip balm in your handbag, vehicle, or on the keychain of your car so that it is always accessible.
- Drink plenty of water to keep your skin and lips from becoming dry. You can have a reusable water bottle on hand for emergencies.
When it’s a nervous habit, it’s called a nervous habit.
If you have a nervous habit of licking your lips that occurs more frequently when you are worried, consider one of the following techniques to break it:
- identifying and avoiding your stress triggers
- trying meditation or mindfulness exercises
- taking deep breaths when you’re feeling anxious
- chewing gum
- seeing a therapist or mental health specialist
- considering anti-anxiety medications
The symptoms of and how to treat lip dermatitis
A form of eczema known as eczematous cheilitis, or eczematous cheilitis, is a skin ailment that can produce significant flare-ups on the skin’s surface. The exact origin of eczema is often unknown, although it is thought to be related to an allergy or an irritant, such as licking one’s lips often. Lip dermatitis is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Symptoms
The following are some of the most common symptoms of lip dermatitis:
- redness or a rash on or surrounding the lips
- dryness and flakiness of the skin around the lips
- itching
- scaling
- splitting of the lips
The most commonly afflicted region is the area where the inner portion of the mouth meets the skin on the outside of the mouth.
Treatment
It’s critical to quit licking your lips if you want to get rid of lip dermatitis. Moisturizing the region on a regular basis and using an emollient ointment or petroleum jelly often throughout the day might aid in the healing process. Petroleum jelly may be purchased at any pharmacy shop or ordered online.
In addition, the National Eczema Association suggests using coconut or sunflower seed oil to the affected area to alleviate eczema symptoms. Virgin sunflower seed oil can aid in the hydration of the skin as well as the preservation of the skin’s natural barrier function.
Tips for keeping your lips in excellent condition
Here are a few suggestions for how to maintain your lips moist and in good condition:
- using a lip balm with sun protection (at least SPF 15) and an emollient, like petrolatum, or a plant-based wax or oil such as beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, or shea butter
- avoiding lip balms with added flavoring, colors, or fragrances
- after you wake up, gently exfoliating the lips with a damp washcloth or a toothbrush, followed by applying a lip balm
- wearing a scarf or face mask to cover the lips if you’ll be outside during a cold winter day
- wearing a hat with a wide brim that shades your face when you’ll be out in the sun
- running a humidifier to increase humidity levels in your home
- drinking plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration
- treating congestion to make sure you’re breathing through your nose, not your mouth, at night while you sleep
- avoiding products that irritate your lips, such as a lip plumper or products with cooling agents, like menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus
- avoiding spicy, rough, very salty, or acidic foods that could irritate the lips, such as citrus fruits
- not picking at dry cracked lips
- when cleansing, rinsing your face and lips with cool, not hot, water
When should you visit the doctor?
Visit a dermatologist if your chapped lips don’t heal after two or three weeks of self-care suggestions and no improvement has been seen. The development of chapped or dry lips may be triggered by a response to an allergen or be a symptom of an illness. Lip infections can be caused by viruses, yeast, or bacteria, and they are contagious.
Although it is uncommon, a severe illness known as actinic cheilitis can cause one or both of your lips to become dry and scaly. Among the signs and symptoms are:
- dry, cracking lips
- red and swollen or white patch on the lower lip
- painless, scaly patches on the lip that feel like sandpaper (advanced actinic cheilitis)
If you see a spot on your lip that looks like a burn or is becoming white, you should consult a doctor. Actinic cheilitis is a form of skin cancer that can develop if left untreated. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer.
The bottom line is as follows:
When your lips are already chapped, licking them can just aggravate the situation more. Lips become more sensitive to extreme climatic circumstances, such as dry winter air or scorching summer sun, when saliva evaporates and pulls moisture away from them.
If you have a tendency to acquire dry, chapped lips, use lip balm on a regular basis, being sure to pick a balm that does not include any smell, flavor, or color. Additionally, increasing your water intake and using a humidifier during the chilly winter months is a smart suggestion.
It is essential to maintain your lips protected and moisturized so that you do not feel the need to constantly wet them in order to avoid frequent lip licking.