Chapped lips can be caused by various factors such as dry weather, dry air indoors, lack of oil glands in your lips, not moisturizing your lips, wearing irritating lipsticks or balms, harsh or drying products like menthol, camphor, or salicylic acid, too much sun, excessive licking, touching or picking your lips, not drinking enough water, and holding metal with your lips. Here are some tips to help soothe and heal chapped lips:

• Apply a non-irritating lip balm or lip moisturizer several times a day and before bed.
• Use a thick ointment, such as petroleum jelly, if your lips are very dry and cracked.
• Protect your lips outdoors by applying a lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher before going outdoors, even in the winter.
• Drink plenty of water and use a humidifier at home, especially in your bedroom while you sleep, to keep your skin hydrated.
• Stop licking, biting, or picking at your lips. When your lips feel dry, apply a non-irritating lip balm instead.
• Avoid holding metal items with your lips, as they can irritate your lips.
• Use lip balm with ingredients that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and high in emollients, such as petrolatum, which locks in moisture, and dimethicone, which seals off cracks and splits in drying lips.
• Apply natural remedies such as aloe vera gel or coconut oil directly to the lips to soothe and moisturize chapped lips.

Most of the time, the above self-care can heal dry, chapped lips in 2 to 3 weeks. If it doesn’t, see a board-certified dermatologist.