There are not any two ways about it — chapped lips are a complete pain. The battering of cold weather outside and luxury of warm air inside means your lips are prone to be left feeling just a little parched. You may find the changes in temperature causes dry, itchy, flaking, and even cracking and bleeding. While just a little little bit of dryness is sort of inevitable, you don’t have to depart them totally vulnerable to the weather and put up with sore, cracked lips. All you would like is just a little help from the experts.

We have called in dermatologists to clarify exactly what’s causing this dryness, what the common triggers are, and the absolute best lip balms to stash away in every corner of your own home, automotive, handbag or desk. With this information and these products in your arsenal, you’ll know exactly what to do as soon as those cracked lips start sneaking up on you.

• Joshua DraftsmanMD, board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research within the department of dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital based in Latest York City
• Dhaval BhanusaliMD, board-certified dermatologist and founding father of Skin Medicinals and Hairstim Labs
• We’re IlyasMD, board-certified dermatologist based in King of Prussia, PA, and founding father of AmberNoona clothing line that helps protect skin from UV rays.

• First, what exactly are chapped lips?
• What are the main causes of chapped lips?
• How are you going to avoid chapped lips?
• How are you going to treat chapped lips?

Chapped lips are just about what the name suggests: lips which can be dry and appear cracked. It’s often a catch-all term describe dry, flaky, cracked and sore lips.

The skin in your lips is amongst essentially the most sensitive areas on the body and essentially the most exposed to the environment, explains Joshua DraftsmanMD, Latest York City-based dermatologist. The lips don’t have the identical concentration of oil glands as other areas of the skin and are continually exposed to environmental aspects, reminiscent of lip licking, cosmetics, and cold weather. “All of those aspects can dry out the skin barrier, resulting in irritation, inflammation, and flaking,” he adds.