Caring for dry skin
around your mouth
What is
dry skin around your mouth?
Dry skin around the mouth, often called perioral dryness, is a common occurrence that can feel uncomfortable and irritating. This can result from a variety of factors, including harsh weather conditions, dehydration, and in some cases, the use of irritating skincare products.
To combat dry skin around your mouth, it’s essential to prioritise hydration by drinking plenty of water and using nourishing skincare products. Additionally, choosing gentle, dermatologically tested skincare products and protecting your skin from harsh weather conditions can help you combat this dryness and contribute to a smoother, healthier-looking complexion.
Common causes of
dry skin around your mouth
Dry skin around your mouth can be attributed to several causes. Here are the 6 most common:
- Weather conditions:Harsh weather conditions, particularly cold and wind, can strip your skin of its natural moisture, leading to signs of dry skin around your mouth.
- Dehydration:Insufficient water intake can lead to general skin dehydration, which shows up as a dry sensation in sensitive areas such as your mouth.
- Excessive lip licking:Frequently licking your lips may seem like a quick fix to combat dry skin, but it only worsens the problem, as saliva contains enzymes that can further dry out your skin.
- Using irritating skincare products:Certain skincare or hygiene products, particularly cleansers containing alkaline soaps or powerful surfactants, alcohol-based disinfectant gels, or other products containing harsh chemicals or alcohol (ethyl alcohol) at a high concentration, can irritate the delicate skin around your mouth, leading to dryness and discomfort.
- Allergies:Allergic reactions to certain ingredients in cleansers, toothpastes, or lip products can cause a sensation of dryness and the appearance of localised red patches around your mouth. The presence of certain fragrances can also be responsible for allergies in people who are sensitive to them.
- Skin conditions:Conditions such as eczema or perioral dermatitis can contribute to a persistent sensation of dryness and irritation around the mouth in adults.
Understanding these common causes is the first step to effectively combating and preventing the appearance of dry skin around your mouth. If you’re in any doubt about the cause of your dry skin around your mouth, or if you suspect a medical condition, chat to a doctor or dermatologist to get to the bottom of it.
Signs of
dry skin around your mouth
It’s essential to identify the signs of dry skin around your mouth to adopt an effective routine and care. Here are six common signs to watch out for:
- Scaly skin:
Dry skin around your mouth often tends to form scales or to peel. Because of its resemblance to crocodile skin, it’s also called the crocodile skin effect. You may notice small, fine flakes or larger, more visible scales.
- Peeling:Along with scaling, you may notice peeling skin around your mouth, particularly if it has become excessively dry. This can cause an irregular skin texture.
- Tightness:Dry skin can lead to a feeling of tightness and discomfort, particularly after cleansing or exposure to harsh environmental conditions. This sensation is due to a lack of hydration and a lack of natural oils on the skin’s surface.
- Redness:
The affected area may appear red or inflamed. This redness is often accompanied by a sensation of irritation and can accentuate how sensitive your skin is, both in appearance and to the touch.
- Itching:Dry skin can cause itching, and with it a strong urge to scratch the affected area. However, scratching can worsen your skin’s condition and potentially lead to skin lesions or infection.
- Cracks:In more severe cases, the skin around your mouth may crack. These cracks can be painful and even cause bleeding, leading to discomfort when you eat or speak. If this is what you’re experiencing, we recommend consulting a doctor.
It’s important to note that these signs can worsen if they’re not addressed early. It’s therefore essential to quickly combat dry skin around your mouth by adopting an appropriate skincare programme and adjusting your lifestyle to avoid any further discomfort. If symptoms worsen, seek advice from a specialist.
Dry skin around the mouth
in men and women
Women
Dry skin around your mouth can affect both men and women. In women, hormonal fluctuations, particularly during menopause or pregnancy, can accentuate dryness in this area. You might also face this problem because of make-up, particularly with prolonged or repeated use of lip or mouth contour products, which can deprive the skin of moisture.
Men
In men, frequent facial shaving can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dry and irritated skin around the mouth. To reduce dry skin around your mouth, it’s essential to adopt a gentle skincare routine adapted to different sensitivities and to avoid excessive use of skincare products containing alcohol (ethyl alcohol) or powerful surfactants.
The NIVEA Men Sensitive Skin range is an ideal solution if you’re looking for skincare products suitable for sensitive skin. This range is formulated without alcohol (ethyl alcohol) and contains gentle skin ingredients such as vitamin E and natural plant extracts like chamomile and witch hazel. These ingredients work together with the other ingredients in the formula to protect your skin against signs of irritation, soothe it, and hydrate it.
A skincare routine to combat
dry skin around your mouth with NIVEA
Dry skin around your mouth can cause discomfort and inconvenience. Whether it’s caused by environmental factors, dehydration, or linked to your skin type, NIVEA is here with solutions. Here’s a complete skincare routine to help you combat dry skin around your mouth:
1. Gentle cleansing:
Start your skincare routine by cleansing your face with a gentle, hydrating cleanser. Look for a gentle product, specially formulated for dry skin and whose skin tolerance has been tested under dermatological control. Containing Hydramine® and sweet almond oil, the NIVEA Gentle Cleansing Milk is formulated to help remove impurities from dry and sensitive skin while maintaining your skin’s natural hydration.
2. Exfoliation (1–2 times per week):
Exfoliating your skin helps remove dead skin cells, allowing moisturising products to penetrate better. Use a gentle exfoliant with fine particles to avoid irritating the delicate skin around your mouth. Apply the exfoliant in circular motions, focusing on dry areas, then rinse thoroughly. Avoid using an exfoliant if your skin is red, irritated, or cracked.
3. Moisturising:
Apply a moisturising and nourishing cream to your face, focusing on the dry areas around your mouth. Look for a product containing ingredients that help retain water in your skin. The NIVEA Nourishing Day Care 24H Hydration contains natural sweet almond oil, natural magnolia extract, and NIVEA’s intense hydration complex to nourish and smooth your skin. Additionally, it includes light SPF 15 protection to help protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
4. SPF:
Using SPF to protect your skin from UV rays is crucial to protect its health and prevent it from drying out further. NIVEA SUN UV Face Anti-Age Q10 Normal to Dry Skin SPF 50 helps provide immediate and highly effective protection against skin damage caused by UV rays and blue light. This sun protection is designed for normal to dry skin and leaves your skin feeling soft thanks to its moisturising formula. Containing Q10, the formula also helps combat the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sun-induced pigment spots.
5. Lip care:
Use a moisturising lip balm to nourish your lips. Made with shea butter, natural oils, and vitamins, the Labello Original Moisturizing Lip Stick helps hydrate your lips long term and keep them soft.
By following this NIVEA skincare routine, you can help effectively reduce the signs of dry skin around your mouth, allowing you to enjoy a noticeably more radiant complexion. The key is to follow a daily routine, as consistency is the secret to soft and supple skin.
If the sensation of dry skin around your mouth worsens or if there is significant redness, irritation, or cracking, we strongly recommend consulting a dermatologist to get expert advice and specialised care.
To combat dry skin around your mouth, choosing products specifically designed for dry skin can offer many benefits. NIVEA offers a range of skincare products designed to help effectively combat dryness, formulated to help intensely and lastingly hydrate your skin. By integrating NIVEA dry skin products into your skincare routine, you can help reduce the sensations of discomfort and tightness associated with dry skin in the mouth area, and promote skin that looks more supple and nourished.
Important points about
dry skin around your mouth:
Characteristics: scaly, peeling skin, redness, and a sensation of tightness or discomfort.
Causes: harsh weather conditions, frequently licking your lips, over-cleansing, and using harsh skincare products.
Protection: staying hydrated, avoiding excessive lip licking, and adopting a skincare routine that helps strengthen your skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Care: using a moisturising lip balm or moisturiser to maintain your skin’s water content, and gentle, dermatologically tested skincare products to limit the risk of additional irritation around your mouth.
Universal moisturisers for
dry skin around your mouth
NIVEA Soft and NIVEA Creme are universal moisturisers, suitable for use on your entire body.
NIVEA Soft is a particularly effective moisturising cream for daily use. Its light formula, which contains vitamin E and jojoba oil, penetrates quickly and refreshes your skin. This cream is a multi-purpose moisturiser for your face, hands, and body.
NIVEA Creme is NIVEA’s original moisturising cream for dry skin on hands, body, and face. The formula of this cream, containing the ingredient Eucerit®, provides your skin with all the protective care it needs to stay soft. Its tolerance has also been tested under dermatological control.
How to help prevent the appearance
of dry skin around your mouth?
- Stay hydrated:Drink enough water each day to hydrate your skin from the inside. Aim to drink between 1.5 and 2 litres of water per day.
- Avoid over-cleansing:Avoid washing your face too often and use skin-friendly cleansing products. Opt for a non-irritating toothpaste, as in sensitive people certain toothpastes may be irritating and cause dry skin around the mouth. Rinse well with clean water and pat your skin dry rather than rubbing.
- Protect from harsh weather conditions:Extreme weather conditions, such as cold, wind, or sun exposure, can contribute to dry skin. In these conditions, use clothing such as a scarf to protect your face from the cold and wind.
- Avoid licking your lips:Saliva can actually accentuate dry skin. Try to resist the urge to lick your lips, as you risk worsening irritation and chapping. Instead, regularly use a moisturising lip balm to keep your lips hydrated and discourage you from licking them.
- Avoid excessive exfoliation:Avoid excessive exfoliation around your mouth, as this could increase the sensation of dryness. Instead, opt for gentle exfoliation methods and exfoliate one to two times per week. Avoid exfoliation completely if your skin is irritated.
- Choose gentle, dermatologically tested products:When choosing skincare or make-up products, opt for products whose tolerance has preferably been tested on dry and sensitive skin.
- Use a moisturiser:Apply a gentle moisturiser around your mouth in the morning and evening. Look for products containing ingredients such as sweet almond oil, shea butter, or vitamin E.
- Protect from the sun:
Use sun protection on your facial skin, including around your mouth, when you go out, as exposure to UV rays from the sun can worsen dryness.
To avoid dry skin around your mouth, you need to combine hydration, protection, and gentle skincare. By following these tips and paying attention to the products you use, you’ll help maintain smooth and comfortable skin in this sensitive area.
A look at
dry skin around your mouth
Dry skin around your mouth is a phenomenon frequently observed in many people, but with some basic knowledge and appropriate care, it’s possible to care for it effectively and help prevent it. To tackle this, it’s essential to understand the causes, which can include, among others, factors such as harsh weather conditions, dehydration, and the use of harsh skincare products. Adopting a targeted skincare routine adapted to your skin’s needs is essential to reduce dryness in this sensitive area.
FAQs
