Can drinking water help chapped lips?

The idea that drinking more water could solve the problem of chapped lips is based on intuitive logic: since the lips suffer from dehydration, it would be enough to increase one's water intake to compensate for this deficiency. As a reminder, if the lips are often affected by dryness and chapping, it's because they are significantly more fragile than the rest of the body. Lacking sweat glands, which produce sweat, and having very few sebaceous glands, responsible for the synthesis of sebum, they are practically not covered by a hydrolipidic film, which is supposed to limit dehydration. Moreover, the epidermis of the lips is very thin, which amplifies water loss.

While it seems logical to believe that drinking water can prevent chapped lips, the reality is more complex.

Of course, drinking water is essential for maintaining the proper functioning of the body, including the skin of the lips. Generally, it is recommended to drink about 1.5 liters of water per day. Once in the body, water joins the circulatory system to nourish cells, including those of the skin. However, this internal hydration does not specifically target the lips. Indeed, if you wish to prevent chapped lips in winter by increasing your water intake, it is important to know that there is no guarantee that this excess water will be distributed to the cells of the lips. On the contrary, water is typically directed primarily towards vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, and not to the skin.

To date, scientific evidence showing an effect of internal hydration on chapped lips is lacking. Only one study has suggested that drinking more water could have benefits for the skin as a whole. This study was conducted with 80 volunteers, who were asked to add one liter of water to their daily water intake for 42 days. The hydration of their skin was then measured on their forearms using a corneometer. An average improvement of 16.3% was noted. However, this does not apply to the lips, as no measurements were taken in this area.

In this context, it is quite challenging to assert that drinking water could aid chapped lips.

The impact of internal hydration on the health of chapped lips remains hypothetical to date. To alleviate and prevent chapped lips while waiting for more conclusive data, it is preferable to focus on actions whose effects on the lips have been scientifically validated. Regularly hydrating your lips with a rich lip balm, avoiding licking your lips, and controlling the humidity level in your environment are among the good habits to adopt.