Experiencing dry lips at night can be irritating and downright painful, but the good news is, there are ways to stop that cracking in its tracks!
Read on for what causes dry lips and how to heal and stop dry lips at night. Goodbye, chapping—hello, pillow soft pout!
What causes dry lips?
There are multiple causes of dry lips. Your lips don’t contain oil glands, which makes them thinner and more sensitive than the skin on other parts of your body.
Unfortunately, that can lead to dryness, cracking, and chapping, especially during the winter months when it’s colder and drier outside or when there’s increased sun exposure. (Better use that SPF!)
Here’s a rundown of the most common causes of dry lips at night:
Dehydration
“Being dehydrated internally is one of the many reasons why you can get dry lips,” says Rachel Lee Lozina, founder of Blue Water Spa. She recommends drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day to help with hydration.
Licking lips
We’ve all been there. Our lips feel dry, so we lick them. Unfortunately, that’s actually counter-productive since licking lips can dry them out even more once the saliva evaporates.
“This is because the enzymes in your saliva that help break down the food you eat will also compromise the skin on your lips, making them super prone to dryness and irritation,” says Emily Diane Burg, founder of Emme Diane Skincare.
Medications
A side effect of some medications is dry lips. Burg says that accutane, chemotherapy drugs, and strong retinoids can all be culprits of drier lips throughout the day and night.
Harsh weather
Harsh temperatures can wreak havoc on skin all over the body, especially the lips. “Cold temperatures and low humidity can strip moisture from the skin, leading to dry lips,” Burg cautions.
What are the symptoms of dry lips?
When it comes to lips that are dry and chapped, you may experience a lot of different symptoms. “Dry lips can be pretty unpleasant, to say the least,” Burg says. “Early stages of dry lips may just seem like they’ve lost their usual plumpness or are a little lackluster in appearance.”
There are other symptoms of dry lips, which include:
- Cracking
- Peeling
- Bleeding
- Rough appearance
- Flakiness
- Irritation (like stinging, tenderness, and tightness)
Additionally, Lozina says dry lips may feel extremely sensitive. “They might feel very sensitive to extreme temperatures and to the ointment that you put on them to help them heal,” she explains.
How to heal dry lips at night
Thankfully, having dry lips doesn’t need to be an all-the-time thing! There are a few key ways to help heal dryness and chapping overnight.
Apply serums and ointments
Lozina recommends applying a hyaluronic acid serum on your lips and then following it with an ointment. “It’s a great way to help them heal and stay hydrated,” she says. Lozina loves Aquaphor, which she calls “one of beauty’s greatest inventions.”
Exfoliate your lips
Burg recommends exfoliating your lips once a week. “Try to gently exfoliate the lips with a sugar scrub to remove dead skin cells,” she says.
Drink enough water
We’ve all heard that we should drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Well, that hydration goes for your pucker too!
“Try to drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day to make sure you’re not dehydrated from within,” Lozina recommends.
Use a humidifier
Burg recommends incorporating a humidifier into your evening sleep routine. “Using a humidifier in your home or office can be great for restoring moisture to the air, which can help prevent dry lips,” she says.
Try one like the Canopy Bedside Humidifier, which includes both a humidifier and a diffuser in one handy device.
Use a lip mask
Many lip products are formulated to be worn overnight and help replenish and hydrate the lips while you sleep.
There are tons of great ones on the market, but our current favorite is the ColourPop Coconut Overnight Lip Mask, which is formulated with coconut oil, shea butter, and vitamin E to keep lips feeling kissable all evening long.
Stop the licking
We said it once and we’ll say it again—licking your lips is actually counterproductive. “It may feel like it’s offering temporary relief, but it will ultimately backfire on you,” Burg says.
Keep lips protected throughout the day
Just like you want to wear a thicker balm or mask during the night, you want to moisturize your lips during daylight hours too.
“Keep lips protected at all times,” Burg says. “I recommend keeping lip balms everywhere—one beside your bed, one in the car, another in your purse. That way you can constantly reapply throughout the day.”
Her go-to lip balm is Vaseline Advanced Healing Lip Therapy, which she likes because it’s 100% petroleum jelly and it’s safe even for acne-prone skin.
FAQs
How do I stop my lips from being dry at night?
The best way to stop lips from being dry at night is to stay hydrated. You can accomplish this by drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day and by using a humidifier while you sleep. You can also apply a lip balm throughout the day and a lip mask at night to seal in moisture as you get your Z’s.
Why won’t my chapped lips heal?
If you’ve tried all of the above solutions and your lips still won’t heal, then it may be time to consult a dermatologist. Chapped lips that won’t heal may be a result of an allergic reaction, yeast infection, or another medical condition that your dermatologist can help diagnose.
Next, learn what causes itchy skin at night and how to deal with it.
