Have you ever noticed that during winter months when chilly wind blow, your lips tend to become chapped more often? Have you ever caught yourself licking your lips and eventually developing what my mother affectionately termed "clown mouth", where the skin surrounding your lips also becomes red and chapped?

As a child I had constant "clown mouth" and seemingly never-ending chapped lips, dryness and cracking of the skin on my lips and the skin surrounding my mouth. As I got older, this problem lead to acne around my mouth and more embarassing skin conditions.

This type of chapping can be a result of a variety of factors, many of which are more prevalent during the cold winter months. Although chapped lips can be caused by the elements, dehydration, the use of harsh chemicals and some medications, dehydration and sun exposure can cause of worsen chapped skin.

To combat this condition, use a sunscreen on your face and lips (in the form of a protective lip balm) whenever you are exposed to the sun, stay adequately hydrated, and treat chapped lips with products containing beeswax or Vaseline.

Most of all, avoid licking your lips!

How do you deal with your chapped lips? Got any tips?