Why do lips become drier the more you lick them?

　　Licking the lips can make them even drier and may be caused by environmental factors, bad habits, cheilitis, angular cheilitis, or lip eczema. Improvements can be made according to different situations. It is recommended to visit a hospital promptly and receive treatment under a doctor's guidance.

　　1. Environmental factors: A dry environment reduces the moisture content in the air, accelerating water evaporation from the lip surface, causing lips to lose hydration and become dry. Use lip balm to keep lips moisturized, and choose products containing hydrating ingredients such as vitamin E, honey, or plant oils.

　　2. Bad habits: Licking the lips may temporarily provide a moist sensation, but enzymes and acidic components in saliva can damage the natural protective layer on the lip surface, accelerating moisture loss and making lips even drier. Try to avoid frequent lip licking and use lip balm to maintain lip hydration.

　　3. Cheilitis: Cheilitis may be related to sunlight exposure, climate changes, or consumption of spicy foods. These factors can disrupt the normal metabolism and repair mechanisms of the lips, leading to symptoms such as flaking and cracking. It may also be accompanied by lip pain, itching, and swelling. It is recommended to apply medications such as erythromycin ointment, metronidazole tablets, or tetracycline hydrochloride ointment as directed by a physician. Reduce adverse stimuli, such as avoiding direct sunlight and limiting intake of spicy foods.

　　4. Angular cheilitis: Angular cheilitis may be caused by vitamin B deficiency, fungal infection, or poor oral hygiene. These factors can compromise the skin barrier around the lips, leading to moisture loss and dryness, and may be accompanied by cracked, painful, and slightly bleeding corners of the mouth. It is recommended to use medications such as clotrimazole cream, compound vitamin B tablets, or vitamin B12 tablets under a doctor's guidance to improve the condition.

　　5. Lip eczema: Constant licking of the lips can easily trigger lip eczema, damaging the mucosal barrier of the lips and causing symptoms such as itching, pigmentation, dryness, and cracking. It may also be accompanied by lip itching, pigmentation, dryness, cracking, and exudation. It is recommended to undergo anti-allergic treatment with medications such as chlorpheniramine maleate tablets, loratadine tablets, or cetirizine hydrochloride capsules as directed by a physician.

　　In daily life, it is important to keep the lips clean and dry and avoid bad habits such as lip licking. Additionally, drink plenty of water to replenish body fluids and maintain an appropriate indoor humidity level.