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Dermatologist Tips for Hydrated Lips and Healthy Skin

February 2026


Combat Dry Winter Skin With These 6 Dermatologist Tips.

Dry skin is common in the winter months as the low humidity outdoors and heated air indoors can zap moisture and cause red, chapped, and uncomfortable lips and skin. While skin and lip hydration matter all year long, it is especially important in colder weather when symptoms can worsen.

Lip hydration is a key component of overall healthy skin – the skin on our lips is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the body, making lips especially vulnerable to dry air, sun exposure, and other irritants.

In this article, we do a deep dive into the importance of lip hydration and skin health in the winter months. Our dermatologists share six practical tips to keep lips and skin soft, hydrated, and protected in colder weather and year-round.

Choose Lip Products That Won’t Irritate the Skin

It can be tempting to grab the colorful lip balms with fun flavors at the grocery store checkout line, but if you’re suffering from dry, chapped lips, it’s important to check the ingredients and find one that will treat your problem, not mask it or make it worse.

Certain ingredients can sting or further irritate sensitive or dry lip skin. We recommend avoiding products that contain:

  • Camphor or menthol
  • Eucalyptus or flavorings like cinnamon or citrus
  • Fragrance
  • Phenol
  • Salicylic acid or propyl gallate

Instead, choose lip balms that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. We recommend CeraVe Healing Lip Repair Balm and Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick. Look for healing and moisturizing ingredients, such as:

  • Petrolatum or white petroleum jelly
  • Mineral oil
  • Ceramides
  • Dimethicone
  • Hemp seed oil or castor seed oil
  • Shea butter
  • Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for sun protection

For very dry lips, layering products can make a big difference. Applying a humectant like hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture, followed by an occlusive such as petroleum jelly or Aquaphor to seal it in, helps keep lips hydrated and protected. Practiced consistently, this simple routine can be a game changer for lip hydration.

Apply Moisturizer Often

To truly combat dry skin, be sure to apply moisturizer consistently. Use a non-irritating, fragrance-free moisturizer and lip balm or ointment in the morning, several times throughout the day – especially before outdoor activities – and before bed. CeraVe’s moisturizing cream and daily moisturizing lotion are great options.

Your body naturally loses moisture during the night, and petroleum jelly or thick ointments can seal in moisture while you sleep to repair dry, cracked, and irritated skin.

Use a Humidifier

Dry indoor air can do a number on our lips and skin, and with more time spent indoors in the winter, a humidifier can help reduce dryness and help you feel more comfortable.

We recommend running a humidifier in your home, particularly in your bedroom, to add moisture to the air while you sleep. If you live in a dry climate, a humidifier is useful all year long.

Practice Sun Protection

Don’t forget about your lips when applying your daily sunscreen! The thin and delicate skin on your lips lacks the protective melanin on the rest of your skin, making them more susceptible to sun exposure.

Apply a daily lip balm of SPF 30 or higher and use every few hours when you’re outdoors. Protecting your lips from the sun will help reduce irritation from dry skin.

Drink Plenty of Water

With so many topical ointments and creams, it’s easy to forget the best hydration tool in your arsenal – water! If your body is dehydrated, your lips and skin will also suffer.

Drinking enough water throughout the day helps maintain healthy moisture levels in your body and will keep you feeling energized and awake. Focus on drinking water throughout the day, rather than just a glass here and there.

Other Factors to Combat Dry Skin

There are some habits we all have that can worsen dry skin that we may not even realize. Here are a few habits to kick, and tips to help you practice healthier habits to prevent dry skin.

Licking your lips. When our lips feel dry, we naturally will lick them to try and apply some moisture. However, saliva evaporates quickly and leaves lips drier than before.

What to do instead: When you find yourself licking your lips to relieve discomfort, reach for a water bottle and a hydrating lip balm instead – you’ll feel the difference right away.

Biting or picking. Dry skin often cracks and peels, and it can be tempting to bite or pick these areas – we often practice these habits without realizing it. However, further aggravating dry skin disrupts healing and can cause irritation or even bleeding.

What to do instead: When you recognize the urge to bite or pick at your skin, reach for your lip balm or moisturizing lotion instead. You’ll feel the dryness disappear, leaving smooth skin behind.

Turn the shower down. Piping hot showers are tempting in the winter, but hot water can strip moisture, worsening dry skin.

What to do instead: Turn the shower temperature to warm, not scalding hot, and try to shorten the time you’re under the water. Apply a thick, fragrance-free moisturizer when your skin is still damp, which helps lock in moisture for longer-term comfort.

When to Visit Your Dermatologist

If you have applied these tips and still struggle to get dry skin under control, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist for some extra help.

While most cases of dry skin and chapped lips will improve with consistent care in a few weeks, you should see your dermatologist if you’re experiencing continued cracking, bleeding, or irritation with no relief. You could be suffering from another skin condition that requires professional evaluation – or you may simply need some tips for switching up your skincare routine.

Get personalized advice from one of Optima Dermatology’s board-certified dermatologists and providers, and find dry skin relief before it gets worse.

Schedule an appointment today and keep your skin healthy and protected all winter long!