First, wind, sun, cold and dry air can wreak havoc with the lips. It's a problem that can strike any time of year, but particularly during the colder months when the air is chilly and dry.
Driscoll also points the finger at lip licking.
"You get a little dryness, you start licking and you could end up with dermatitis of the lip, which can spread all around the mouth," she says.
According to the Mayo Clinic, breathing with an open mouth is a trigger, as is dehydration.
But Driscoll thinks the reason so many women suffer chapped lips is poor cosmetic choices. In fact, she blames cosmetics above all else.
In lipsticks, glosses, moisturizers and even seemingly medicinal balm, she says there are numerous ingredients with the potential to irritate.
One of the most common allergens in general, not just for the lips, are the fragrances that have invaded all sorts of products. Culprits, Driscoll says, include laundry detergents that come with the aroma of everything from lavender to a spring breeze, the endless list of scented soaps and lip glosses that people want to eat, infused with aromas like pumpkin cheesecake, tropical fruit and bubble gum.
It's also possible that chapped lips are a symptom of something else - often a more pervasive skin ailment. Those with sensitive skin, with tendencies toward dermatitis or eczema also tend to get chapped lips, Driscoll says.
If chapping is severe and doesn't respond to treatment, Driscoll and other doctors advise seeing a dermatologist.
LIP SERVICE FACTS
What does a normal case of chapped lips look like?:
Usually the lips are red and they're flaking or scaly. Sometimes there's cracking. Patients describe pain, especially when consuming foods with a lot of acid such as tomatoes or orange juice.
Recommended treatments:
Aquaphor and Vaseline: Dr. Marcia Driscoll, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the University of Maryland, recommends Aquaphor an over-the-counter treatment. The gooey ointment, without fragrance or irritating additives, comes in a tube. She also endorses Vaseline, or any simple petroleum jelly.
Dr. Dan's Cortibalm: Dr. Dan's is a lip balm in a tube designed by a dermatologist. It contains 1 percent hydrocortisone, an active ingredient to help healing that's not found in Aquaphor or Vaseline. The brand isn't easily available but people can order it at drdanslipbalm.com.
Sunscreen: Doctors and the Mayo Clinic recommend people apply lip balm with sunscreen before going outdoors. The sun's rays are as damaging in the winter as they are in the summer.
Hydrate: Drink plenty of fluids and consider using a humidifier.
Avoid: Driscoll advises people steer clear of balms with phenol, lanolin, parabin and anything with a fragrance or a "botanical." "People can have allergies to plant ingredients." Phenol, which is found in some balms, gives a soothing effect at first, but it also is an irritant that promotes peeling of the skin, she says.
