Understanding Why Your Lips Peel on the Inside and How to Treat It

Understanding Why Your Lips Peel on the Inside

If you've ever experienced your lips peeling on the inside, you know it can be an uncomfortable and sometimes painful issue. Many different factors can cause lips to peel, dry out, and crack. Read on to understand the common causes of lips peeling on the inside and what you can do to treat and prevent it.

Causes of Lips Peeling on the Inside

There are several potential causes of lips peeling on the inside:

• Dehydration - When you don't drink enough fluids, your lips can easily become dried out. Dehydration is a very common reason for peeling lips.
• Vitamin Deficiency - Deficiencies in certain vitamins, like vitamin B12, can sometimes manifest as peeling lips. Vitamins help keep your skin healthy.
• Lip Licking - Some people chronically lick their lips out of habit. The saliva can dry out the lips and cause peeling.
• Allergies - Allergies to foods, medications, and products like toothpaste or lip balm can cause irritation and peeling of the lips.
• Sun Exposure - Too much sun exposure without proper protection can burn the lips and make them more prone to peeling.
• Wind Exposure - Cold, dry winds can chap and dry out the lips.
• Smoking - Smokers often struggle with peeling lips due to the drying and damaging effects of smoking.
• Lip-licking Dermatitis - This medical condition causes inflammation and peeling of the lips from licking them.
• Exfoliative Cheilitis - A rare condition where the lips excessively peel, crust, and flake.
• Cancer Treatments - Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage skin cells and cause dryness and peeling.

Treating Peeling Lips

If your lips are peeling, it's important to treat them properly to avoid infection or further damage. Here are some effective home remedies and tips for treating peeling lips:

• Stay hydrated - Drink plenty of water and moisturize with lip balm or petroleum jelly.
• Use a Humidifier - Running a humidifier can add moisture to dry indoor air.
• Avoid Licking Your Lips - Try to break the habit of licking your lips, as the saliva can dry them out.
• Apply Natural Oils - Try dabbing on almond oil, coconut oil, honey or shea butter.
• Take Supplements - Vitamin E, vitamin B-complex and zinc supplements can improve skin health.
• Exfoliate Gently - Use a soft toothbrush or washcloth to lightly scrub off loose flakes.
• Avoid Irritants - Steer clear of products with harsh ingredients that could further irritate.
• Apply Healing Balms - Look for lip balms with soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients.
• See a Doctor - For severe peeling or cracking, see your doctor for professional treatment.

Medications for Peeling Lips

If over-the-counter methods aren't fixing your lip peeling, your doctor may prescribe certain medications. Some options include:

• Corticosteroids - These anti-inflammatory creams reduce swelling and irritation.
• Antifungal Creams - If fungal infections are the cause, antifungal creams treat the problem.
• Biotin Supplements - Biotin, a B vitamin, can improve skin, hair, and nail health.
• Petrolatum - Thick petroleum jelly coats lips to seal in moisture.
• Hydrocortisone Cream - Mild hydrocortisone eases inflammation and discomfort.
• Medical-grade Lanolin - Lanolin derived from sheep's wool has intensive moisturizing properties.

Always follow dosage instructions carefully with any prescribed medications for peeling lips.

Preventing Lips from Peeling

Once you treat the peeling, it's equally important to take preventative steps to avoid recurrence. Here are some tips to keep your lips smooth and moisturized:

• Stay Hydrated - Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.
• Use Lip Balm - Keep lips moisturized with SPF lip balms.
• Avoid Licking Lips - Break the habit of licking your lips.
• Treat Allergies - If allergies cause lip peeling, manage them with medications.
• Protect Lips in Winter - Shield your lips from cold, wind, and sun.
• Add Moisture to Air - Use a humidifier at home and work.
• Get Plenty of Healthy Fats - Eat more avocados, nut butters and olive oil.
• Exfoliate - Gently scrub lips weekly to remove dead skin.
• Avoid Irritants - Steer clear of products with drying alcohols, fragrances and chemicals.
• See Your Doctor - Have chronic peeling evaluated and treated.

When to Seek Medical Treatment for Peeling Lips

Occasional minor peeling of the lips can be normal. But in some cases, severely cracked, split, swollen or persistently peeling lips warrant medical evaluation. See your doctor if you experience:

• Bleeding from cracked lips
• Pus, yellow crusting or sores
• Redness and swelling of lips or skin around lips
• Persistent peeling for more than 2 weeks
• Very painful cracking or peeling
• Difficulty eating or drinking due to painful lips
• Peeling combined with rashes around the mouth
• Allergy symptoms like itching, watery eyes, runny nose
• Fevers, feeling ill or flu-like symptoms

Severe or worsening lip peeling could indicate a fungal or bacterial infection, contact dermatitis, or more serious underlying health condition. It's important to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

When Peeling Lips Indicate an Underlying Condition

In some cases, chronic peeling or cracking of the lips can result from an underlying health issue. Some possibilities include:

• Exfoliative cheilitis - excessive peeling of the lips due to chronic inflammation
• Contact dermatitis - allergic reaction to lip products, foods or other substances
• Candidiasis - fungal infection of the mouth and lips (oral thrush)
• Impetigo - highly contagious bacterial infection of the skin
• Eczema - inflammatory skin condition affecting lips and skin
• Psoriasis - autoimmune condition causing skin plaques and scaling
• Vitamin deficiency - especially vitamin B2, zinc, or iron deficiency
• Sjogren's syndrome - autoimmune disorder affecting moisture production
• Lupus - inflammatory autoimmune disease
• Diabetes - chronic high blood sugar can damage lips and skin

If you suffer from any chronic medical conditions, medications you take could potentially contribute to peeling lips as a side effect as well. Your doctor can help determine if an underlying disorder is linked to your recurring lip peeling.

When to See a Dermatologist for Peeling Lips

Most cases of peeling lips can be treated with simple home remedies, hydration, moisturizing lip balms and avoiding triggers. But if you've tried these measures without success, visiting a dermatologist may be your next step.

A dermatologist has specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating all skin conditions. They can identify causes of peeling lips and provide prescription strength treatments. Seeing a dermatologist is a good idea if you have:

• Peeling combined with rashes, swelling or redness
• Persistant flakes, crusting or cracked skin that won't heal
• Discomfort eating and drinking due to severe cracking
• Peeling lips throughout the year or winter after winter
• Tried many OTC remedies without improvement
• Peeling due to suspected allergic reaction
• A family history of skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis

A dermatologist can prescribe corticosteroid creams, customized oral medication, or procedures like laser treatments to reduce lip peeling and irritation. Getting an accurate diagnosis is key to finding the right treatments for your unique case.

Coping with Pain and Discomfort of Peeling Lips

Severely chapped, cracked and peeling lips can be uncomfortable and frustrating to deal with. Here are some tips for coping with the pain and discomfort:

• Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in cloth to numb pain temporarily.
• Drink with a straw to minimize contact with cracked lips.
• Eat softer foods like soup, eggs, yogurt until condition improves.
• Stay hydrated and moisturize with lip balms frequently.
• Ask your doctor about prescription numbing creams or ointments.
• Gently dab on soothing aloe vera gel or vitamin E oil.
• Consider taking vitamin supplements that support skin health.
• Avoid spicy, salty, acidic or greasy foods that could irritate lips.
• See your doctor if lips don't improve within 2 weeks.

While annoying, peeling lips are rarely a medical emergency. Stay patient, keep lips moisturized, and talk to your doctor if symptoms don't get better with self-care. With the right treatment, you can get relief and prevent future episodes of lips peeling on the inside.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.