What’s Your Body Trying to Tell You?

Cracks at the Corners of Your Mouth

Most Likely Causes

Excessive lip licking or exposure to the wind, cold, or dry air can dry out the lips and lead to cracks in their very thin skin. Another culprit: a deficiency in iron, vitamin A or C, or any of the B vitamins.
 
 

Less Likely Causes

Cracks may be a sign of a fungal infection, such as thrush, which also causes redness around the cracks. Or the cracks may be due to a slight allergic reaction to an ingredient in a cosmetic product you recently started using.
 
 What to do: 

• Keep your lips hydrated by applying a thick, unscented ointment (such as Aquaphor).
• If you recently started using any new cosmetics, stop, then slowly reintroduce them one at a time.
• If the cracks persist, worsen, or seem infected, see a doctor to talk about your diet or to be tested and treated for a fungal infection.