Here’s why you have dry skin around your mouth—here’s what you can do about it
Dry skin is a common problem that can occur anywhere on your face or body. Dryness can lead to flaking, irritation, and, perhaps most importantly, physical and emotional discomfort. Dry skin around your mouth or lips can be particularly bothersome. After all, it’s front and center on your face and an area that’s often subject to stress. If the skin in this area is drier, it’s not uncommon and can often be explained by environmental factors.
We reached out to board-certified dermatologists Nava Greenfield, MD, and Debra Jaliman, MD, to get the lowdown on the issue. Read on to learn the most common causes of dry skin around your mouth and how to prevent and treat them.
Possible causes
Anatomy: The skin around your mouth is different from the skin on the rest of your face. Structurally, it’s the same thing. However, there are fewer sebaceous glands around the lips and mouth than there are around your nose or midface, explains Dr. Jaliman. This, in turn, makes the area more susceptible to dryness and tenderness.
Sun exposure: Since the lips and area around your mouth are often exposed to the sun, they’re vulnerable to UV damage: “Long-term sun exposure can lead to dry skin,” says Dr. Greenfield. Greenfield.
Cold Weather: Just as cold weather can cause chapped lips or dry hands, it can also cause dry skin around the mouth. Wearing a face mask and applying thicker creams than usual is recommended. 1
Skin Conditions: Canker sores are a dry skin condition that occurs in the corners of the mouth, says Dr. Greenfield. They are most common in people with deep wrinkles around the lips and those who like to lick their lip corners (saliva production can also have a drying effect). 2 Eczema or psoriasis can also occur on the skin around the mouth and dryness can be the cause of this area.
Mouthwash/Toothpaste: Dry skin on the lips and around the mouth can be caused by external factors like mouthwash or toothpaste. Cinnamon is a common ingredient in both of these products and can trigger a true skin allergy or contact dermatitis, notes Dr. Jaliman. This can manifest as dryness, redness, itching and peeling.
Fragrances: Any scent in a lip product can cause and exacerbate dryness, says Dr. Jaliman.
How to Prevent Dry Skin Around the Mouth
As with most conditions, prevention is easier than cure.
Limit contact with drying ingredients, advises Dr. Jaliman. Greenfield. That means products that contain retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, or sulfates. While these ingredients may not cause dryness in other parts of your face, the area around your mouth has fewer sebaceous glands. That’s why these ingredients can cause that area to be particularly dry, notes Dr. Jaliman.
Avoid fragrances and flavorings in your makeup. Dr. Jaliman advises avoiding fragrances and flavorings. It may taste nice, but it makes you more likely to lick your lips (consciously or unconsciously). When you do that, your saliva evaporates quickly, which can dry out your skin.
Use dental care products that are targeted for “sensitive gums.” Products with this designation are less irritating and are generally better suited for sensitive and dry skin, says Dr. Jaliman.
How to Treat Dry Skin Around Your Mouth
If you’re looking for practical solutions to treat dry skin around your mouth, you’ll be happy to know that these methods are similar to those for treating dryness elsewhere on your face—so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Use moisturizers and serums. Both dermatologists stress the importance of stocking up on such products. Dr. Jaliman recommends looking for formulas that contain ceramides (which help repair a damaged skin barrier) as well as hyaluronic acid and glycerin to attract and “lock” moisture in the skin.
Use a gentle cleanser. Try a gentle foam or cleanser that’s free of sulfates. This will prevent further irritation, peeling, and dryness.
Try a humidifier. Sleeping with a humidifier on can keep the air moist all night long. This is especially helpful if you live in a dry climate and rely on air conditioning or space heaters.
Expert Tips
When using serums, creams, or salves, make sure the product is fragrance-free and has very few ingredients. This can reduce the chances of other ingredients irritating the skin, says Dr. Jaliman.
When to see a dermatologist
While dry skin around the mouth can often be prevented and treated at home, there are some situations where you should see a board-certified dermatologist.
Make an appointment if your dry skin is accompanied by the following symptoms:
Painful tearing
Redness
Excessive peeling
In this case, you may need a prescription treatment, says Dr. Greenfield. Your dry skin may be due to a skin condition that requires professional treatment.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
