Baby's Chapped Lips: Causes, Home Remedies And Prevention

Dry weather and prolonged sun exposure can cause your little one’s lips to become dry.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shaon Mitra, MD Dr. Shaon Mitra Dr. Shaon MitraMD MomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on YouTube Specialty: Pediatrics & NeonatologyExperience: 17 years
Written by , M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Swati Patwal M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Food, Nutrition and HealthExperience: 10 years
Edited by , BSc, MBA Rohit Garoo BSc, MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Baby Health and WellnessExperience: 9 years
Fact-checked by , B.Tech Anindita Ghatak B.Tech Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Health & WellnessExperience: 3 years
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Baby With Chapped Lips

Image: iStock

Chapped lips in babies are a common concern for many parents, especially during winter. It may be more prevalent in places with low humidity. Babies who naturally tend to lick their lips may also experience chapped lips. While adults commonly use lip balms to manage their dry lips, are they safe for babies as well?

Read this post as we talk about the causes, home remedies, and prevention of a baby’s dry and chapped lips.

In This Article

Key Pointers

  • Chapped lips in babies are caused due to dry weather or frequent lip-licking.
  • You may apply infant formula, pediatric petroleum jelly, or breastmilk to treat them.
  • Parents need not worry as it is a manageable condition.

What Causes Chapped Lips In Babies?

Common reasons behind dry and chapped lips in babies include:

  1. Dry weather, which is the most common cause of chapped lips among babies. During the winter season or whenever there is a decrease in humidity, lips tend to crack and harden. If you live in a place with low humidity, then the baby can have chapped lips any time of the year. Dry weather rid the lips of moisture, thus leading to chapping.
  1. Prolonged exposure to wind and sun can also cause the lips to lose their moisture, resulting in dryness (1).  One such scenario is when the baby spends too much time at the beach.
  1. Frequent lip-licking may cause the lips to lose moisture. The saliva evaporates rapidly, leaving the lips stretched and dry (2).
  1. Dry and cracked lips are among the many signs of dehydration in babies (3). Other symptoms of severe dehydration, such as lethargy and weakness, are bound to get your attention before chapped lips.
  1. Kawasaki disease is a rare form of vasculitis, which is an inflammation of the blood vessels. It mostly affects infants and even newborns. One of the several symptoms of the disease is red, cracked, and dry lips (4).  Infants with Kawasaki disease almost always have high fever and irritability which are hard to miss. The disease is rare, and the reason behind it is unknown.
  1. Nutritional deficiency: Sometimes, chapped lips could indicate a deficiency of a nutrient, such as vitamins A and B. This is uncommon but possible to happen in babies. This is more likely to be the cause in cases of chronic lip chapping. In case your baby is suffering from chronic lip chapping, it is wise to consult a pediatrician to address any nutritional deficiency.
  1. Sucking blisters: Lips of breastfed babies may resemble chapped lips due to constant friction with the breast. They may even develop blistersiA painful skin condition where the affected area is covered in raised, fluid-filled bubbles. . Baby lip blisters are generally harmless and resolve on their own

If your baby or toddler has other severe symptoms, then it is best to take them to a doctor. Newborn chapped lips are usually a result of benign reasons rather than acute illnesses and can be dealt with right at home, with a few safe solutions.

protip_icon Quick fact
Older babies may develop lip licker syndrome, which is characterized by obsessive lip licking that can cause chapped lips (14).

Home Remedies For A Baby’s Chapped Lips

If your baby is otherwise healthy, then the following are the best and safest methods to treat chapped lips in babies. By following these simple lip care steps, you can help keep your baby’s lips healthy, soft, and free from chapping:

  1. Breast milk: Breast milk is rich in water and fats that aid in healing and hydrating a baby’s dry lips. Store a tiny quantity of expressed breast milk to apply on the baby’s lips. Dip your clean finger in the milk and apply a thin layer on the baby’s lips at least 2-3 times every hour. Don’t store for more than four hours at room temperature.
Breast milk for baby's chapped lips

Image: Shutterstock

  1. Infant formula: If your baby is on formula, you may also use it for chapped lips. Make a thick paste of infant formula and store it to treat the baby’s chapped lips. The formula’s fat, combined with added water, acts as a moisturizer to help soothe chapped lips. Apply the formula paste with a clean finger several times in an hour, depending on the severity of the chapped lips.
  1. Pediatric petroleum jelly: Baby petroleum jellies are not regulated by the FDA  (6). So, the use of petroleum jelly for relieving chapping should be done under pediatric guidance.
Petroleum jelly for baby chapped lips

Image: Shutterstock

  1. Baby-safe lip balms: Baby-safe lip balms are available over the counter. Their use, however, should be done under pediatric guidance. Discuss the safe ingredients that you must look for in the balm. For babies, opting for lip balms made of natural ingredients can help reduce irritation and provide a safer option.
  1. Hydration: As drying and chapping of lips could happen due to dehydration, keeping your baby hydrated is essential  (7). For babies below six months of age, exclusive breastfeeding is a must. Whereas, for babies over six months of age, fluid intake from various sources like thick soups and fruit and vegetable purees could ensure hydration.
Vegetable puree for hydration in babies

Image: Shutterstock

Breast milk and formula are the best remedial methods for chapped lips since they do not pose a health risk when licked or swallowed by the baby. Treatment of underlying conditions, such as dehydration, will be symptomatic while treatment for Kawasaki disease involves the use of several medicines.

protip_icon Did you know?
Folk medicine considers ghee or clarified butter an effective remedy for babies’ dried lips. However, do not use it without consulting your doctor.

What Not To Apply On The Baby’s Chapped Lips?

Coconut oil has emollient propertiesiThe quality of soothing and softening the skin. . Hence its use to provide some relief from chapped lips is common  (8). However, you should not apply baby oil, lotions, and even natural remedies such as coconut oil without pediatric consultation.

Lanolin is a common remedy used by breastfeeding mothers to alleviate nipple soreness (9). It might cause poisoning when ingested, but the effects depend on the amount of lanolin ingested. Medical-grade lanoliniNatural moisturizing wax extracted from sheep's wool. carries much less risk of poisoning (10). Thus, its use must be done under pediatric guidance only.

When To See A Doctor?

Usually, chapped lips are not a matter of concern. However, if you see any of these other symptoms associated with chapped lips, consult a pediatrician.

  • Sore, red, and dry lips
  • Chronic chapping that is increasing with time
  • Bleeding lips
  • Baby is unable to feed
  • Baby is fussy and cranky
  • Other problems such as high fever, diarrhea, or vomiting

Some causes, such as dehydration or nutritional deficiency, could be causing the above-mentioned symptoms. These need to be addressed promptly to avoid any complications further.

How To Prevent Chapped Lips In Babies?

Humidifier prevents baby chapped lips

Image: Shutterstock

Maintaining a regular feeding schedule allows your baby’s lips to stay hydrated by breast milk. Another way to prevent chapped lips is by keeping adequate ambient humidity. Cool-mist humidifiers help you achieve it.
Install a cool-mist humidifier in your baby’s room, especially during the dry seasons, when there is a rapid drop in water vapor content. Pediatricians recommend using a cool-mist humidifier and ask to stay away from hot-mist/steam humidifiers that increase the chances of burn (11). Sufficient humidity means well-hydrated and smooth lips. Additionally, regular lip hydration with some natural oils and limiting exposure to sun can also prevent chapped lips in babies.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do pacifiers cause chapped lips?

Persistent sucking on pacifiers can irritate a baby’s mouth and cause their lips to dry and chap. Lips can also get dry and chapped when they suck on their thumb (13).

2. Can teething cause chapped lips?

Several babies drool excessively during teething (14). DroolingiInvoluntary flow of excess saliva from the mouth. can cause their lips to dry and chap (13). Therefore, teething may indirectly contribute to chapped lips in a baby.

3. How long does it take for chapped lips in babies to heal?

Ideally, two to three weeks is the period for chapped lips to heal completely (15). However, the duration may vary depending on your baby’s condition, treatment, and underlying causes.

4. Should I avoid certain foods or drinks if my baby has chapped lips?

Experts generally advise avoiding spicy and sour or acidic foods since they may further irritate or cause pain in chapped lips (14). Since breastfed babies can taste certain foods through breast milk, you may consult your doctor about the type of foods to avoid if your baby has a chapped lip.

5. What are the long-term effects of untreated chapped lips in babies?

Cracking and bleeding of lips often occur due to untreated chapped lips. Excessive cracking of lips may also make them prone to infections. Sometimes, it may also cause lip-licking habits and aversion to certain foods in babies.

Dry weather conditions, dehydration, or licking lips frequently may cause chapped lips in babies. This is seldom a cause for concern and may be addressed by applying breast milk or formula paste on a baby’s lips multiple times a day. Try using humidifiers to maintain ambient humidity during dry seasons. However, if the condition becomes severe or causes bleeding, check with your child’s pediatrician to get any underlying health issue diagnosed. Baby safe petroleum jelly or lip balms are available over-the-counter, but it is advisable to use them only under a pediatrician’s guidance.

Infographic: Lip Balm For Babies: Selection And DIY Recipe

Lip balms are an effective tool to treat chapped lips or care for baby lips (in general). Our infographic shares simple tips you can follow with doctor consultation to find a baby-safe lip balm for your little one. Also, we provide you with a simple DIY lip balm recipe made with baby-safe, natural ingredients you can use for your baby after getting a pediatrician’s approval.

buying and making a baby safe lip balm (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Baby&039s Chapped Lips: Causes Home Remedies And Prevention

Baby's Chapped Lips: Causes, Home Remedies And Prevention_illustration

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Cracked or Dry Skin; Seattle Children’s Hospital
    https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/cracked-or-dry-skin/
  2. Cracked or Dry Skin; Symptom viewer; Healthy Children; American Academy of Pediatrics
    https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Cracked+or+Dry+Skin
  3. Gastroenteritis And Your Child; University of Mississippi
    https://www.umc.edu/apps/library/pe-db/pe-gastro-child.pdf
  4. Kawasaki Disease; Cedars-Sinai Hospital
    https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions—pediatrics/k/kawasaki-disease.html
  5. Vitamin A deficiency; DermNet NZ
    https://dermnetnz.org/topics/vitamin-a-deficiency
  6. BABY PETROLEUM- white petroleum jelly; National Institute of Health
    https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=63d65efb-55a3-4460-beca-6250214487c9&type=display
  7. Sore or dry lips; NHS UK
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sore-or-dry-lips/
  8. Sandeep R. Varma et al.; In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil; National Center For Biotechnology Information (2018)
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6335493/
  9. Sore Nipples; University of Michigan
    http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/Gyn/Lactation/SoreNipples.pdf
  10. Lanolin poisoning; U.S. National Library of Medicine
    https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002663.htm
  11. Caring for Your Child’s Cold or Flu; American Academy of Pediatrics
    https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/flu/Pages/caring-for-Your-childs-cold-or-flu.aspx
  12. Angular Cheilitis
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21470-angular-cheilitis
  13. Teething
    https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=teething-90-P01873
  14. How to Treat and Prevent Chapped Lips
    https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2019/12/chapped-lips
  15. Chapped Lips
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22005-chapped-lips#management-and-treatment

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Dr. Shaon Mitra
Dr. Shaon MitraMD
Dr. Shaon Mitra is a consultant pediatrician and neonatologist with 17 years of experience. She is attached to several hospitals in Kolkata, West Bengal, including Bellevue Clinic, ILS Hospitals Salt Lake, and Park View Superspeciality Hospital.

Read full bio of Dr. Shaon Mitra
Swati Patwal
Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA
Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal
Rohit Garoo
Rohit GarooBSc, MBA
Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

Read full bio of Rohit Garoo
Anindita Ghatak
Anindita GhatakB.Tech
Anindita Ghatak holds a B.Tech degree in Biotechnology from Amity University, Kolkata. During the course of her studies, she has worked on different research projects in the fields of Microbiology and Bioinformatics. Anindita has over three years of experience writing medical articles for journals.

Read full bio of Anindita Ghatak
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