How to Heal Cracked Lip Corners Fast: Tips for Quick Relief

Smiling for selfies should be fun, not painful! If cracked lip corners or angular cheilitis make it hard to smile, eat, or kiss, don’t worry. Check out these tips to heal those cracks quickly. With some care and good habits, you’ll have pain-free, makeout-ready lips in no time. Say goodbye to angular cheilitis and hello to a happier smile!

The first step to healing your cracked lip corners quickly is to lock in any moisture. Reach for a product dermatologists call an occlusive, which creates a protective barrier that prevents your lip corners from getting drier. Vaseline, Aquafor, or CeraVe ointment are common occlusives that will help reduce cracking.

Locking in moisture only works if you have enough moisture, so staying hydrated is key! Keep a refillable water bottle with you as your trusty sidekick. Sip on plain water throughout the day, or jazz it up with a splash of cucumber or another non-acidic flavor. Pro tip: Avoid lemon juice, which can irritate and sting sensitive skin.

Have you noticed that moisture is a common theme here? Lend your lips a humid hand by sleeping with a humidifier beside your bed. Adding moisture to the air is especially helpful for your cracked lips during the winter or in hot, dry climates. Think about popping a small humidifier in your workspace or wherever you spend the most time.

It might seem like a quick fix to lick your lips to keep them moist, but that can make things worse. Saliva evaporates quickly, leaving a sticky residue that can attract bacteria and lead to infection. So, keep your tongue away from your lips and remember this: “Licking your lips will cause them to lickety-split.”

Whether from frigid cold or dry heat, your skin can lose water rapidly, causing cracking, flaking, discoloration, or swelling. So avoid jumping from a sweltering afternoon at the beach into a freezing cold movie theater.

Also, skip the hot showers or cold plunges for a bit. These types of rapid temperature changes will quickly dry out your lip corners. Bonus tip: Your lips can take a beating from the sun, so find a lip balm with SPF protection.

Following these tips will make your lips feel better in about a week. Really bad cases of angular cheilitis can take a few weeks. Avoid smoking and eat a balanced diet to get faster results.

As mentioned above, Vaseline and other occlusives help create a protective barrier over the cracked lip corners, which helps the healing process.

You might have woken up with cracked lip corners, but you won’t be able to get rid of them overnight. Be patient and follow the tips above!