What causes dry lips upon waking up in the morning?

In general, waking up with dry lips may be caused by environmental factors, poor lifestyle habits, vitamin B deficiency, excessive liver heat, or colds. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and undergo targeted treatment after identifying the specific cause. The detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Environmental Factors

Staying up late in a dry climate or air-conditioned room can lead to skin dryness due to low humidity, resulting in dry lips upon waking. This condition typically does not present other obvious discomforts. It is advisable to maintain proper indoor humidity and use a humidifier to increase moisture in the air.

2. Poor Lifestyle Habits

Habits such as breathing through the mouth at night or frequently licking the lips can accelerate saliva evaporation, leading to dry lips upon waking. This may also be accompanied by snoring or reduced sleep quality. It is recommended to improve sleeping posture, breathe through the nose, avoid licking the lips, and apply lip balm regularly to keep the lips moisturized.

3. Vitamin B Deficiency

Picky eating or an unbalanced diet may result in insufficient vitamin intake, particularly vitamin B, which affects normal metabolism of the skin and mucous membranes. This can cause dry lips upon waking, often accompanied by symptoms such as angular cheilitis or cheilitis. It is recommended to take supplements such as vitamin B1 tablets, vitamin B2 tablets, or compound vitamin B tablets under medical guidance.

4. Excessive Liver Heat (Liver Fire)

Excessive fatigue or consuming too many spicy and stimulating foods may lead to excessive liver heat, increasing internal body heat and causing dry lips upon waking. This may be accompanied by symptoms such as bitter taste in the mouth or dry throat. Under medical supervision, medications such as Long Dan Xie Gan Wan, Xiong Ju Shang Qing Wan, or Chai Hu Shu Gan San may be used for treatment.

5. Cold

After exposure to cold, a cold may develop, causing nasal congestion that forces mouth breathing during sleep. This increases water evaporation from the mouth, leading to dry lips upon waking. This is usually accompanied by symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as compound paracetamol and amantadine tablets, Lianhua Qingwen capsules, or oseltamivir phosphate capsules for treatment.

In daily life, it is important to drink adequate amounts of water to prevent dehydration.