Why Do My Lips Burn? Discover Common Causes and Effective Solutions

Burning lips can be caused by chapped lips, sunburn, allergic reactions, cold sores, or spicy food. See a doctor if it persists.

Common causes

• Chapped lips or lip licking.
• Sunburn.
• Allergic reaction to toothpaste, lip balm or food.
• Cold sores (herpes simplex).
• Spicy food or acidic fruit.
• Vitamin deficiencies.

Relief

Use petroleum jelly or a fragrance-free lip balm with SPF 30 and avoid licking.

See a doctor

If burning lasts over a week, with blisters, or with swelling.

Emergency

Swollen lips or tongue with trouble breathing is anaphylaxis. Call 911.

Common causes

• Chapped lips from cold, dry or windy weather, or lip licking.
• Sunburn from UV exposure.
• Cold sores caused by herpes simplex virus, with tingling or burning before blisters appear.
• Contact dermatitis or allergy to lip balm, toothpaste, lipstick, cinnamon flavorings or foods.
• Spicy food or acidic fruits.
• Angular cheilitis, cracks at the corners of the mouth from saliva, yeast or bacteria.
• Oral allergy syndrome, tingling after eating raw fruits, linked to pollen allergy.

Medical reasons

• Nutrient deficiencies such as iron, B vitamins and zinc.
• Medications, including retinoids like isotretinoin, which dry the lips.
• Burning mouth syndrome, which may include lips and tongue.
• Allergic reactions.
• Autoimmune conditions.

Relief steps

• Apply a thick, fragrance free ointment like petroleum jelly.
• Use lip balm with SPF 30 or higher outdoors.
• Drink water and use a humidifier in dry climates.
• Avoid licking, picking or peeling the lips.
• Stop using any product that triggered the reaction.

Cold sore care

Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, valacyclovir or docosanol cream work best when started at the first tingle. Cold sores usually heal in 7 to 10 days.

See a doctor if

Burning lasts more than 2 weeks, blisters keep returning, the lip is cracked and bleeding, or a sore does not heal. A persistent lip sore may need a biopsy to rule out cancer.

Emergency

Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat with trouble breathing is an allergic emergency. Call 911.

Skin and mucosa irritation

Burning lips can come from sunburn, wind, dry cold air, lip licking, allergic reactions to lipstick, toothpaste, food or lip balm ingredients such as fragrance or cinnamon, and from exposure to spicy foods. Angular cheilitis causes cracks and burning at the corners. Cold sores from herpes simplex virus type 1 start with tingling and burning, then form blisters, and about 67 percent of people under 50 worldwide carry HSV-1, according to the World Health Organization. Vitamin B12, iron or riboflavin deficiency can cause burning and cracked lips. Burning mouth syndrome involves the lips, tongue and palate without visible lesions.

Care and when to get help

Use petroleum jelly or a fragrance free lip balm with SPF 30, avoid licking the lips, stay hydrated and stop any product that irritates. Antiviral creams or oral antivirals such as valacyclovir shorten cold sore outbreaks when started early. See a doctor if burning lasts more than 2 weeks, comes with white patches, sores that do not heal or numbness, or if you take new medicines. Lip swelling with hives, trouble breathing or throat tightness is an emergency and may signal anaphylaxis.

Based on data from the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Dermatology