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Overview
Licking lips makes it worse.
Some medicines dry lips.
When to get medical care
Call 911Not an emergency.
Get care todayNot usually urgent.
See a doctor soonSores lasting more than 2 weeks.
Causes
Causes include weather, lip licking, and medicines.
OwieClear has pages on 2 conditions that can cause dry, cracked, or chapped lips. Each shows how soon to get care.
Common causes
- Inflamed or chapped lips (cheilitis)Often treated at home
Dry, cracked, peeling, or swollen lips from weather, lip licking, biting, allergies to lip products, or sun damage.
Less likely causes
- Lip cancerSee a doctor if it doesn't get better
Cancer of the lip, usually the lower lip, caused mostly by sun exposure.
What you can do at home
- Use lip balm.
- Drink water.
Medicines
Lip balm with petroleum jelly.
At the doctor
Diagnosed by exam.
Questions you may be asked
- Duration
The exam
A lip exam.
Tests
- None
Prevention
Protect lips.
- Use lip balm with sunscreen
Check your symptoms
Most symptoms have more than one possible cause. The symptom checker looks at all of your symptoms together, plus your age, and shows how soon to get care.
Sources
Last updated 2026-11-13.