The key facts

  • Dryness, flaking and cracked lips in winter are often associated with meteorological cheilitis
  • Lip balm before going outside and enough fats in the diet are recommended
  • Inflammation may also have non-hygienic causes — tooth decay, tartar, streptococcal infection

Why lips suffer during the cold season

With the onset of cold weather and the heating season, many people face dryness, flaking and cracked lips. Dermatologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences Yulia Gallyamova, in a comment to Moscow 24, explainedthat such symptoms are often associated with meteorological cheilitis. It is triggered by cold, wind and sharp temperature swings, with an additional factor being dry indoor air where heating is running.

What doctors recommend

According to the specialist, balanced nutrition also helps maintain the condition of the lips in winter and during the off-season: the diet should include enough fats, including vegetable oils and nuts. As for external care, Gallyamova advises regularly applying lip balm, especially before going outside. After washing, lips should be patted dry: water left on the skin, as it evaporates, intensifies the feeling of dryness.

When it is not about the weather

The doctor emphasized that lip inflammation can be linked not only to weather conditions. Among the possible causes she named tooth decay, tartar and streptococcal infection. In such cases, she said, examination and treatment prescribed by a specialist are necessary — that is, the problem requires seeing a doctor, not just cosmetic care.