What is meant by Split lip? A split lip is a condition in which your lips become dried and cracked. Do you think split lips occur only during winter? No, sun damage, cold, dry weather, use of lip products, and often biting or licking your lips are also some of the reasons for split lips. Seeking special care for your lips is more important to keep them smooth all the time. Split lips can be sometimes painful and bleed, but not a serious problem to get worried about. Understanding the cause of split lip always helps to get the best treatment and promote healing quickly. Here are some common causes of a split lip:
1) Sun damage Sunscreen is used to protect the body from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Likewise, your lips also must be protected. Exposing your lips to the sun without any protection can result in inflammation.
When exposed for a long time, lips become dry and stiff, leading to crack or split.
2) Dehydration Medical problems like diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating and illness may result in dehydration. When there is no sufficient amount of fluid in your body, dehydration occurs.
If your body gets dehydrated, your lips easily get dried and produce split lips. Also, dehydration slows down your body's functioning and can be life-threatening if severe.
3) Lip injury A lip injury can also cause a split lip. This involves falling and hitting the mouth, accidentally or voluntarily biting the lip, and a hit to the mouth. Lip injury may cause swelling and bleeding along with a split lip.
4) Environmental factors Environmental factors such as dry air, cold weather, and wind exposure can dry your lips extremely and crack them any time of the year. They also lead to inflammation in the lips followed by skin irritation. Lips don't have any protection like other skin. That is why they easily peel, flake, and dry. They don't have the ability to create their own moisture also.
5) Allergy Usage of lip products like lipstick, lip balms, and moisturizers may cause allergic reactions and produce a split lip. Even toothpaste may cause allergic reactions for some people. If you get lip problems after the usage of a new lip product, then discontinue using that product to see if there is any improvement. If you don't identify the problem and correct it, then the condition may continue.
6) Deficiency of vitamins and minerals Water soluble vitamins like vitamin B contain niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, and folic acid that plays a vital role in providing energy, metabolism, and immunity.
Vitamin B also helps in developing a healthy skin. Deficiency of this vitamin can cause various skin problems like split lips, acne, rashes, and dryness. Deficiency of iron and zinc can also result in split lips, particularly at the mouth corners.
Treating a split lip Before going out apply petroleum jelly or lip balms to your lips to keep the lips moisturized. To avoid burns buy it as per doctor's prescription. Avoid constantly licking your lips as it creates dryness and causes further splitting and cracking. Stay hydrated with fluids that are free from caffeine. Also limit alcohol as it causes diarrhea and vomiting which worsens the condition. Avoid using a lip product if it causes allergic reactions. If you are suffering from bleeding, apply a cold compress over it. In most cases, split lips are cured by the above methods or other home remedies. Contact your dentist if the condition is not improved to find the underlying cause.