“This makes them especially prone to losing moisture and becoming sore.”The medical term for chapped lips is cheilitis, and symptoms include dryness, cracking and peeling. “Repeated lip licking worsens dryness because saliva evaporates quickly,” says Dr Sharon Belmo, a consultant dermatologist on Harley Street. ‘’It can even cause a type of eczema that we call lip licking dermatitis because they’re constantly licking. ‘’Highly fragranced or minty lip products may give a temporary “cooling” sensation but often irritate further,” says Dr Belmo. “Also, the dye in lip stain or lip gloss.’’Dr Kentley says the quickest way to heal chapped lips is to restore the protective barrier that the lips can’t provide themselves.