3 Ways to Heal Chapped Lips Naturally (2025)

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Medically reviewed byMargareth Pierre-Louis, MD

Last Updated: February 7, 2025References

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   Get a lip balm that contains natural plant oils to soothe your lips. Look in health stores or online for lip balms with few chemical additives or fragrances. Balms with plant oils are usually the most effective, as long as they aren’t mixed with perfumes. Get a product with one or more of the following ingredients:^[1]

   • Castor oil, hemp seed oil, shea butter, mineral oil, beeswax, dimethicone, and ceramides have proven benefits.
   • Products labeled “hypoallergenic” usually contain few additives and should prevent irritation.
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   Avoid lip balms with ingredients that fragrances or harsh ingredients. Not all lip balms have natural ingredients, and some can dry your lips out more. Check all the ingredients on any balm you’re considering using. If it contains any of the following ingredients, don’t use it.^[2]

   • Ingredients known to dry out lips are camphor, eucalyptus, lanolin, menthol, oxybenzone, phenyl, propyl, and salicylic acid. Fragrances and flavorings can also dry your lips out.
   • Also check any lip balms you currently use for these ingredients and stop using them if they contain any of them.

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   Use petroleum jelly as a simple moisturizer. Petroleum jelly was the primary moisturizer that people used for years and is a main ingredient in many balms. You can use it by itself for a simple lip balm. Get a tub, put a small dab on your finger or a cotton swab, and apply a thick layer to both lips.^[3]

   • If you apply the jelly with your fingers, wash your hands first.
   • Petroleum jelly is a good treatment if your lips are already chapped. It’s very thick and locks in most moisture.
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   Apply the lip balm whenever your lips feel dry. Unless the product instructs you otherwise, you can apply lip balms as much as you have to. It’s good practice to keep a thin layer of balm on your lips at all times so you’re always protected. If it rubs off, or your lips are feeling dry, apply some more.^[4]

   • It’s good practice to apply some balm every time you go outside, especially in cooler weather, to protect your lips from the wind and temperature.
   • It is possible to use too much lip balm, which could make your body rely on it. This could make your lips dry out even more. Prevent this dependence by only applying it when your lips feel dry, or when you're going outside in cooler weather.^[5]
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   Reapply lip balm when you go to bed. Most people sleep with their mouths open, which dries out your lips. Put a thick layer of balm on when you go to bed to keep them moisturized throughout the night.^[6]

   See Also

   I Drank A Margarita and Got A Blistering Burn All Over My Lips—Derms Say This Was My Big MistakeEverything You Need to Know About SPF Lip Care: Benefits, Best Products & Sun Care TipsLip Care: Best Practices for Maintaining Healthy and Soft Lips | Smile Widely10 Ways to Take Care of Your Lips

   • Reapplying lip balm after you brush your teeth, not before. Toothpastes can dry your lips out, so moisturize them afterward.

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   Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Dehydration is a common cause of chapped lips, so keep yourself hydrated. Drink the recommended 8-10 glasses of water per day so your lips get the hydration they need.

   • This amount of water is a guideline. You might need more water if you live in a hot climate or exercise regularly. Drink enough so you don’t feel thirsty and your urine stays bright yellow.
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   Turn on a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist. Besides using balm, keeping the air in your home moist prevents your lips from drying out. If your lips often chap, get a humidifier and keep it running so the air in your home isn’t too dry.^[7]

   • The air is usually drier in the winter, so many people run a humidifier seasonally. If you live in a very dry climate, you may need one at all times.
   • If you don’t have a humidifier, you could get a similar effect by leaving a bowl of water on your heater. Fill a bowl with tap water and place it on a radiator or similar heating unit. The heat will slowly evaporate the water and humidify the room. Refill the bowl when it starts getting low.
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   Avoid licking your lips to wet them. Ironically, licking your lips dries them out faster, so it’s a bad way to try and moisturize them. Stop doing this, and apply lip balm to keep them moist instead.^[8]

   • If you lick your lips regularly, this might be a hard habit to break. Stay conscious of your actions and stop yourself from licking. Try doing something else to distract yourself when you feel the urge, like licking the inside of your mouth instead.
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   Breathe through your nose to prevent your lips from drying out. Pulling air past your lips dries them out faster. Do your best to breathe through your nose instead to protect your lips from drying out.

   • This is difficult if you have a cold or any type of congestion. If you have no choice but to breathe through your mouth, apply lip balm more regularly.
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   Use lip balm with sunblock with you go outside. Sun can also damage your lips and cause chapping. Always use a balm with at least an SPF-30 protection when you go outside in sunny weather and reapply it every 2 hours, even if your lips don’t feel dry.^[9]

   • Most commercial lip balms have some type of sun protection.
   • Balms with zinc or titanium oxides are effective at blocking the sun.
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   Cover your lips with a scarf in cold weather. Wind and cold dry your lips out fast. When you go outside in the winter, wrap a scarf around your neck and pull it up over your lips to keep them shielded.

   • Also remember to apply lips balm regularly, even if your lips are covered.

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   Talk to your doctor if your lips won’t heal after 1 week. If you try natural remedies and lip balms but your chapped lips still won’t heal, it could be a sign of an infection or another underlying issue. See your doctor about the problem. They may want to refer you to a dermatologist for additional testing.

   • If you have a regular dermatologist, then visit them instead of your regular doctor.
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   See a psychiatrist if you can’t stop licking your lips. Constant licking can dry out your lips. If you’re unable to control the impulse or stop yourself from licking your lips, it could be a sign of a mental health disorder such as Tardive dyskinesia. Make an appointment with a psychiatrist to discuss treatment for obsessive compulsions.^[10]

   • Compulsive behavior can also be a side effect of psychiatric medication. Contact the doctor who prescribed your medicine to tell them that you’re experiencing side effects.
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   Go to a dentist if you have chapped lips and painful gums. Dry mouth and cracked lips can be a side effect of certain tooth and gum diseases. If you have pain inside of your mouth as well as cracked lips, see a dentist for treatment.^[11]

   • The dentist may want to refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in gums.
   • Bleeding of the gums is also a sign of gum disease.

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