Do some people just have chapped lips and there's nothing to be done about it?

[BipBippadotta]

I have revolting, peeling, chapped, dried-up lips. Always have. They are like mummified filo dough. I drink gallons of water, so that's not the problem. I exfoliate every couple of days.

Products I've tried:
Carmex pot
Nuxe Reve de Miel
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream
Lanisoh nipple cream
Burt's Bees
Laura Mercier lip something or other
Various hydrating oils (anything from stretch mark oil to coconut oil)

I've also tried not using any lip balm at all in case I've become some sort of addict. That didn't work either - after a week or two they got so bad they were bleeding.

I don't have dry skin anywhere else (if anything I'm over-oily). Is this just how my lips are and I have to live with it? I feel sorry for my DH who has to kiss my awful crackly mouth. Is there any magical thing I haven't tried yet?

[terrylene]

put blistex on every night.

Avoid licking lips if they feel dry as this makes it worse and is known as lip lickers dermatitis - put moisturiser on instead.

[WaegukSaram]

Do you spend a lot of time outside? Because UV rays can cause chapped lips. When I switched to an SPF chapstick my chapped lips became much better.

[jesterkat]

One of the sensodyne think daily original is sls free.

[brassbrass]

yes get your iron,zinc and B vitamins checked as you say you've always had this problem

[hopsalong]

I have this problem too, and it has been much worse in my current pregnancy. A cab driver visibly recoiled from me about three weeks ago saying "why is your mouth peeling off?" as I got into the car and although I was tempted to give him a low Uber rating, I decided instead to spend the journey Googling about the problem. My lips are like this no matter how much lip balm I use, whether I exfoliate etc. Also noticed that I was occasionally getting chapped sores (pimples?) in the corners of my mouth, and these seemed most noticeable when lips peeling heavily. Apparently this can be due to riboflavin deficiency and is called angular cheilitis:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_cheilitis

Anyway: decided to buy a pure B2 supplement (seems reasonably high doses fine in pregnancy because water soluble) and have been taking for two weeks, and it has made a huge difference. My lips are now only a little bit dry and don't have the constantly exfoliating bits of half-attached skin any more. The sores at the corners of the mouth have completely gone. Maybe worth a try, anyway?

[mistermagpie]

Any kind of whitening toothpaste has this effect on me, also make-up - I don't just mean lipstick but some foundations make me have dry lips as well for some reason (i don't put it on my lips BTW). Carmex makes them peel as well.

This that have helped me are a zinc supplement which the Dr recommended and Lansinoh nipple cream. Seriously - it really works!

[CalmItKermitt]

Second Nivea SOS.

You need something to sink in, not a waxy one to sit on top.

Slather it on overnight.

[MrsMeeseeks]

Lush Lip Service is good for people who can't use petroleum-based balms. Mine are much better since I switched to a SLS-free toothpaste too.

[SlipperyLizard]

When my lips are really bad the only thing that sorts them is hydrocortisone, just don't tell the pharmacist it is for your lips!

I use hydrocortisone for my hands and other places that get mild eczema, but had never really thought about trying it on very dry lips until someone suggested it on here.

[BabyPigeon83]

This one helped me: www.boots.com/eucerin-dry-skin-intensive-lip-balm-10ml-10184137
It's on the same stand with other eucerin products so not on the lip care stand.
I applied as much as possible but mainly before going to bed and it's the best I found till now.

[BipBippadotta]

Update here: Blistex medicated seems to be helping! I also went nuts and got some Korean lip sleeping mask stuff to put on at night. It has a nice little pink paddly applicator.

The trouble won't be any sort of nutritional deficiency - been TTC for the best part of 6 years so have had all the blood tests and have been taking all the supplements known to man since I can remember.

[Holowiwi]

Blisterex is all you need

[Holowiwi]

Blistex*

[redmimi]

It's a bit pricey but this Laneige mask has really helped my dry lips www.amazon.co.uk/d/Skin-Care/Laneige-Sleeping-Mask-Skin-Type/B00XKWMDJG?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[ClementineWardrobe]

Try emollient cream from the chemist, or Dermalex. I use Unguentum Merck. Moisturisers doesn't work in any form for me, and softening and protecting agents like Vaseline don't help. In fact they make it worse.

[eurochick]

For me, it's more about frequency of application than the product. I make sure my lips are protected before going outside and overnight.

[spankhurst]

I had a road to Damascus moment 20 years ago after years of chapped lips. I realised I was dehydrated, which caused dry, flaky lips. Since then I drink way more water and rarely have chapped lips.

[MountainDweller]

I use blistex too and then something very moisturising on top. Doing this over a few nights seems to help when they are really bad.

Second layer is one of these, used alone when lips are past the worst: L'occitane shea butter lip balm in white tube; hurraw lip balm (all natural); and Claris lip oil (expensive but really soothing).