5 Common Things That Cause Dry Skin Around The Mouth + How To Deal

Before we dive into the potential reasons you’re experiencing dry skin around the mouth, let’s touch on the basics. The first thing you should know is that the skin around your mouth is slightly different from the skin on the rest of your face and your body. 

“The skin around the mouth is thinner and therefore more prone to redness or irritation than the rest of the face,” medical esthetician and founder of JTAV Clinical Skincare Joie Tavernise tells mbg. 

“This area of the mouth, upper lip, and chin also has fewer oil glands compared to the rest of the face so you do not get the moisture from oil as you do in your T-zone,” she adds. So if your skin is generally drier around the mouth, it’s not a cause for concern. 

However, if you’re experiencing occasional dry and flaky patches, irritation, or tiny red bumps, there’s more going on behind the scenes. To follow, a few of the most common reasons causes. 

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According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “If you have a rash around your mouth, you may have perioral dermatitis.” The rash may itch, burn, cause acne-like bumps, and will likely consist of skin flaking as well, the AAD notes.

However more severe cases, the skin can become so dry it may even bleed or become infected. But what causes perioral dermatitis?

“The truth is, perioral dermatitis is a symptom that arises from a fluctuating set of circumstances unique to each patient, just as fever can be a symptom of numerous diseases,” skin care expert and founder of clean skin care brand Osmia Sarah Villafranco, M.D. once said. 

However, there are a few specific causes that are more common, including: 

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General seasonal allergies or food intolerances can also cause dry skin around the mouth, Tavernise notes. If you suspect this might be the cause, try to keep a running note of when your dry skin flares and note any correlation between foods or exposure to common allergens. 

What’s more, when you have a cold or the flu, your skin barrier is likely going to be compromised due to dehydration, “Making it more susceptible to environmental aggressors and irritants,” Tavernise explains.  

“Once the skin barrier is compromised from allergies or sickness, you are more likely to experience dry skin. This is especially true if you are blowing your nose and wiping your nose and mouth more than usual,” she adds. 

As mentioned above, the skin around the mouth is more prone to dryness as is—so what you put on this area might exacerbate the flakes. Rubbing your face too harshly with a towel, overexfoliating, or using harsh topical actives like retinoids may cause increased dryness as well. 

Dry skin around the mouth can also be from kissing, or what’s more often called “beard burn” See, when you kiss someone, especially if that person has facial hair, your skin is naturally going to be exfoliated by the hair and friction. This could look like redness, flaky skin, and overall sensitivity. When the skin is overexfoliated, the barrier can be compromised. You can read more about treatments and tips for beard burn here.

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1.

Load up on topical hydration. 

If your skin is dry and flaky, your skin barrier is compromised, and thus will not be able to tolerate harsh exfoliants like AHAs, BHAs, manual scrubs, or actives like retinoids. Instead, keep the routine focused on hydration. 

“I suggest using a serum that contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid under an occlusive moisturizer daily to help seal hydration (water) and moisture (oil) into the skin,” Tavernise notes. 

Ceramides are essential for mending dry skin. In fact, this clinical review1 analyzed 41 different studies on ceramides and found the use of topical synthetic ceramides effective at increasing water retention, restoring barrier function, and even improving the skin barrier in patients with atopic dermatitis.

To sum up: Start with a hyaluronic acid serum, then follow up with a ceramide cream and a nourishing face oil. If you’re going to be outside, top it off with a trusty SPF. 

2.

Don't skimp on your water intake.

You can't forget the simplest step of all: Internal hydration. "When our bodies are dehydrated due to lack of water consumption, it decreases skin elasticity and makes wrinkles more pronounced, causes chapped or cracking lips, and even can prompt the body to produce excess oil and lead to acne," Tavernise says.

Be sure to drink 11-15 cups of water a day. If you're already doing so, add a hyaluronic acid supplement to your routine for an extra boost—here's our top picks for the latter.

3.

Look for naturally soothing ingredients. 

If your dry skin is itchy or irritated, look for soothing ingredients in your products as well. “Formulas with natural ingredients like calendula, chamomile, rose hip seed can help soothe the skin, and decrease inflammation,” celebrity esthetician and holistic skin care expert Tammy Fender tells mbg.

Here are a few more soothing ingredients to prioritize: 

6.

Home remedy: A DIY soothing mask. 

The thing about dry skin around the mouth is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all cause. As you can tell there are plenty of factors that can contribute to dry skin around the mouth and not all of them are in your control. 

If your dry skin won’t budge with the protocol above, you should visit a dermatologist to get professional help and advice. Once there, they may even prescribe you a topical cream that will help nip the dryness in the bud ASAP. 

The best way to prevent dry skin from popping up again is by determining what is causing your skin dryness in the first place and limiting exposure to the triggers. 

If you notice that environmental factors are causing your skin to peel, then try your best to cover that area of the face with a mask or scarf when you go outside, and always wear SPF. 

Allergies can be difficult thing to prevent, so check with your dermatologist or another medical professional to get a handle on what may be causing your skin to dry out. 

As for topical ingredients, lay off the harsh exfoliators and retinol—even if it’s just in that area. For some people, sensitive areas like around the mouth and under the eyes are particularly prone to negative reactions from these products. 

If this is the case, apply an occlusive moisturizer like a botanical oil balm before using these actives on the rest of your face. This will help minimize the exposure and prevent the product from migrating to your mouth area.