A consultant dermatologist has shared one of the reasons why you might have chapped lips so much.
Winter has a lot of positives about it - sipping hot chocolate, a day out in the snow, and finally getting to wear your favorite coat without sweating.
But as with any season, there are of course some negatives, and we're not talking about the long, dark nights.
This is that winter often leads many of us to have chapped lips.
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They might not be extremely painful in most cases, but they can feel uncomfortable - no one likes the feeling of their lips being dry and scabby.
While there are plenty of chapsticks out there to help relieve the symptoms, what actually causes chapped lips?
Well, one cause might surprise you.
An unexpected cause of chapped lips
There are plenty of causes of chapped lips, but one person has claimed that they are caused by a fungal infection if they are persistent.
A TikToker called Pumpkin Head recalled being messaged by a dental hygienist who had noticed how cracked her lips were, and advised that she try an anti-fungal cream as it could be a fungal infection.
They recommended this as the creator's lips were consistently chapped, and not just for a short period during a cold snap.
Is this true?
Well, yes and no, is the short answer.
Dr Conal Perrett, a consultant dermatologist at The Devonshire Clinic, shared that while it is possible, fungal infections causing chapped lips are relatively rare.
The expert told Metro: "The most relevant fungal condition around the mouth is oral candidiasis, commonly known as thrush, but it rarely presents as isolated chapped lips. When Candida is involved, people usually notice white patches inside the mouth, redness at the corners of the lips, soreness, or a burning sensation, not just dry or flaky lips.
"Another condition, angular cheilitis, can involve yeast, but it typically causes painful cracks at the corners of the mouth and is often linked to moisture, dentures, or nutritional deficiencies."
Dr Perrett said that ‘social media has made fungal causes sound far more common than they are’, adding that as a result, it can be ‘often over-suspected’.
So while it is true that fungal infection can cause chapped lips, this is not a common cause of the irritating condition.
What are the more common causes of chapped lips?
There are plenty of ways that chapped lips can develop, which are a lot more common than a fungal infection.
This might be licking your lips too much or an allergic reaction.
Cold weather is also a factor in this, including dry wind as well, explaining why we always seem to get them in winter.
Dr Perret said: "In the vast majority of cases, cracked lips are due to irritation, frequent lip licking, allergic reactions, sun damage, or underlying skin condition, not fungus."
Chapped lips can be treated and prevented with a lip balm, but if they persist for a long time despite this or feel hot and burning, then it's recommended that you speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
Topics: Health
Kit Roberts