Dry, chapped lips are a hassle that everybody faces once in a while. Luckily, they’re very easily remedied with the number of skincare products on the market today. However, before you add anything to your basket, make sure to know the reasons behind your dry lips first.

Below are the top six reasons your lips could be dry.

1. You’re Dehydrated

Your skin needs constant hydration to look healthy and glowing. Since the skin on your lips is particularly thin, and they don’t have sweat glands that typically moisturize the rest of your body, then if you’re lacking water, the lips are usually the first to fall apart. They could crust and crack and bleed if you don’t drink enough water.

You should drink plenty of water every day to prevent dry lips and maintain a healthy body in general, which are both pretty good reasons. Men should drink around 125 fl. oz, while women should aim for 91 fl. oz. This is something you must do—no amount of lip balms and creams can hide dehydrated lips.

Furthermore, keep in mind that saliva does not equate to water. Licking your lips might moisturize your lips for a bit, but they dry them out twofold. Always drink more water or add lip products. You can also eat water-rich fruits and vegetables if you’re not a huge fan of drinking water!

2. You’re Sunburnt

Lips are often an overlooked part of the face. People slather sunscreen all over their forehead, nose, and cheeks, but completely neglect their lips! In fact, we argue that protecting your lips from the sun is even more important than the rest of the face—the skin here is way more fragile and delicate. They also lack melanin, a crucial compound that protects the rest of your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Find lip balms or creams with at least SPF 15. This will create a barrier the ultraviolet rays can bounce off from, sparing your lips from damage. They also retain moisture and prevent it from getting lost. If you don’t have lip balms or creams, applying sunscreen directly on your lips also works.

Just make sure you reapply it often. It dries out after a while. On top of that, some of the products can get wiped off when you eat or drink.

3. You’ve Been Exposed to Wind

Having your lips exposed to the wind can quickly dry them out, especially if said wind was cold. It also weakens the skin on your lips, which is why many people suffer from dry lips during the winter when the wind is harsh, or when they’re going pretty fast like on a boat or jet ski.

So, when you know you’re in an environment like this, make sure to apply a liberal amount of lip balm or lip cream. Once you feel the product dry out, reapply as soon as possible. Don’t just apply once and call it a day!

Keep note, though, that some lip creams like Vaseline or Aquaphor are great at retaining moisture but awful at protecting your lips from the sun. That’s why we mentioned buying lip products with SPF earlier. So, if you’ll be out in the sun and wind all day, go for something that has SPF. You can then pack on the moisture when you are home.

4. Your Makeup and Cosmetics are the Problems

Skin varies from person to person. Some can use unfamiliar skincare and makeup products easy-peasy, while others have to do a lot of trial and error to find products that don’t cause a reaction. If you’re part of the latter group, and you notice that your dry lips started after trying out a new product, then new makeup could be the reasons you’re having an allergic reaction.

Additionally, some lip balms are actually very bad for you because of their chemical profile. If they’ve got ingredients like menthol, salicylic acid, or flavorings, that could cause the delicate skin on the lips to break. Instead, opt for lip balms with dimethicone, shea butter, or petrolatum.

Another reason your makeup and cosmetics could be the problem is how you handle them. For example, you’re using shared lipstick with your mom, sister, friend, or partner. Or, you’re using a lip brush you haven’t used in a while. You should always practice proper hygiene when it comes to that stuff.

5. You Have a Yeast Infection

A yeast infection in the mouth (also known as thrush) causes dry, cracking lips, especially at the corners of your mouth. More likely than not, however, you’ll know if you have a yeast infection because that’s not the only symptom you’ll be experiencing. Indeed, it probably won’t even be the first symptom you’ll notice!

Other symptoms of an oral yeast infection include white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, tonsils, gums, and roof of your mouth that sort of look like cottage cheese. There’s also pain in the general area that makes it difficult to talk or eat or swallow. Finally, there’s that feeling of cotton in your mouth.

Oral thrust is very uncommon among people who aren’t babies, elderly, or immunocompromised, so you probably won’t get it as a teenager or adult. If you do, please make sure to consult your doctor or dentist—it could be a symptom of another underlying medical issue.

6. You Have Vitamin Deficiencies

Vitamin B12 is one of the essential vitamins our body needs. It’s responsible for repairing damaged cells, so if you lack this vitamin, your cells won’t be as healthy.

Now, while vitamin B12 deficiency is extremely rare, it is possible, especially if you’re a vegetarian or over the age of 60. Vegetarians have a hard time getting vitamin B12 because many food sources with vitamin B12 are non-vegetarian. Meanwhile, older people have a harder time absorbing vitamin B12 in their system as they age.

So, if you’re having chronic dry lips, a lack of vitamin B12 could be the culprit. Eat plenty of foods like fish and eggs to get natural food sources of the vitamin. Take vitamin B12 supplements if you can’t eat these foods, or else take them from shiitake mushrooms or nutritional yeast.