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Constantly Chapped Lips? It May Be More Than Just the Weather
Dry Lips: Chapped lips are a common problem in winter or summer, but it's not just due to the weather. Learn which vitamin B12 and B2 deficiencies can cause chapped lips, their other symptoms, and easy home remedies to keep lips soft.
Chapped lips are a universal issue, winter or summer, and they can be surprisingly annoying. Most people just treat them as a minor annoyance and apply lip balm or petroleum jelly. But repeated dryness, cracked edges, or constantly dull lips aren't necessarily the weather's fault. Several times, they can be a sign of a shortage of essential nutrients in the body.
There can be numerous factors that make the lips dry and cracked. Dehydration easily dries lips, while dry or cold air exacerbates the issue. Excessive licking of the lips can make them drier and susceptible to cracking. Smoking cigarettes or tobacco can damage the delicate skin of the lips. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly in vitamins and minerals, play a major role, as can certain medications. Imbalances in nutrients like vitamin A and zinc can also contribute. Chapped lips are often linked to deficiencies in vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B12 (cobalamin).
Vitamin B2 deficiency: Lips and skin become dry and rough, cracks or sores can appear at the corners of the mouth, and the tongue may become red and swollen.
