Why Are Your Lips Dry In The Morning And What Can You Do About It?

Having dry or chapped lips can be a literal pain in the morning. The burning or flaking of your lips might have you sleeping with lip balm by your nightstand. According to the Cleveland Clinic, your lips don't have oil glands of their own, so environmental factors plus what might be going on inside your body could make your lips begin to crack or peel. As a result, you might lick your lips to give them a little bit of moisture, but that can make them worse. Licking your lips could eventually cause a rash around your mouth.

Eastern medicine holds that low stomach acid can give you heartburn after eating, which produces excess saliva, according to Province Apothecary. This excess saliva, which accumulates overnight, can cause your lips to dry out by the morning. Traditional Chinese Medicine also says that stress can bring on problems with your fluid metabolism that can cause bloating, fatigue, loose stools, and dry lips. The Cleveland Clinic adds that allergies, a thyroid or immune disorder, or vitamin B or zinc deficiency can cause chapped lips. Dry lips can also result from spending too much time in the sun or exposing your lips to the dry winter air. They can also signal that your body is dehydrated.

The Cleveland Clinic suggests healing dry lips by keeping yourself well hydrated and using a humidifier when the air is dry. Your lip balm should be hypoallergenic and fragrance-free ointments or oils that both moisturize and protect your lips from the sun. It's best to avoid menthol, eucalyptus, camphor, wax, or fragrances, because they can irritate your lips. Keep a few tubes of lip balm around your home and with you so that they're always available. Using a lip ointment at night can help seal in moisture while you sleep. If your symptoms don't improve after a few weeks, you should consult your doctor.

You should also see your doctor if your dry lips are also accompanied by red patches or cracks on the corners of your mouth. That could be a sign of angular cheilitis, which is typically a fungal infection that occurs when yeast from your saliva collects on the corners of your mouth, according to WebMD. Having braces, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, licking your lips often, or smoking are some factors that can increase your likelihood of getting angular cheilitis. If you have angular cheilitis, your doctor can prescribe an antifungal or antibacterial medication depending on the nature of your infection.