What Your Lips Say About Your Health, According To Our Dermatologist

For most of us, irritated and dry, flaky lips simply mean we need to lather on some more lip balm — and most of the time, that helps them get back to their prime condition. However, sometimes, our lips don't heal quickly (or at all), and often, that's because we haven't figured out just what is causing the irritation.

In order to understand just what our lips could be telling us, we turned to Dr. Brendan Camp, who is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology. "Healthy lips are smooth, soft, and plump, indicating that they are well hydrated and free of irritation and dryness," Dr. Camp explains to Glam exclusively. However, if your lips are persistently dry, itchy, irritated, or swollen, chances are that something more is going on than simply a lack of lip balm application. It could be as simple as changing your skincare or makeup regimen or as complex as a vitamin deficiency, in which case consulting a doctor is crucial.

Even though most of the time, irritated lips just mean your puckers need some extra TLC, sometimes they can actually be irritated as a consequence of something else. In fact, problems that show up on your lips could say a lot about your health, especially if they're persistent.

"Particularly swollen lips may indicate an allergic reaction to a medication or environmental allergen," Dr. Brendan Camp shares with Glam exclusively. "Persistently chapped lips may be an indication of a deficiency in a vitamin or mineral, such as iron, vitamin B, or zinc." If a deficiency is the reason your lips aren't in peak condition, we recommend getting a blood test done before adding any supplements to your routine. "Paleness around the lips can be associated with anemia, a condition in which blood does not contain enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin," Dr. Camp adds. While some of these conditions might pass on their own with a healthier lifestyle, others can be more serious and require professional help. "Intractable stomatitis is a condition in which sores on the mouth do not respond to treatment and can be associated with an underlying malignancy," Dr. Camp says.

In any of these cases, it's crucial to consult a doctor to ensure you're working on the underlying cause and not just on healing your lips. Of course, unless the irritation is persistent or painful, there's no need to instantly panic — everybody gets chapped or irritated lips every now and then, and in most cases, it's nothing that a simple moisturizing lip balm can't fix. 

Luscious and hydrated lips are commonly considered beautiful, but there are plenty of reasons why your lips might become dry or itchy. "Chapped lips can indicate that they are dry as a result of dehydration or exposure to dry environments, such as a cold, windy winter day," Dr. Brendan Camp explains to Glam exclusively. However, your lips can become irritated through other things, too, such as makeup, skincare, or food. "An itchy rash around the lips may indicate a contact dermatitis, for example, to an ingredient in a skincare product or food," Dr. Camp clarifies.

While all of those are things you can easily fix by protecting your lips in cold and dry environments — a coat of lip balm with usually keep lips hydrated under makeup — or avoiding food and products that might irritate them, some causes are a bit more out of your hands, and they require professional help.

"Cracks in the corners of the mouth can indicate the pool of saliva overnight and damage from salivary enzymes, or irritation caused by yeast," Dr. Camp tells us. "Sores or blisters may indicate an infection from a bacteria or virus." Either way, if you're unsure what is causing that irritation, seeing a dermatologist will help you determine what needs to be done to achieve healthy and hydrated lips!