Why Do Our Lips Get Dry After Licking Them?

By Vanshika Gaur
10 Apr 2025, 16:30 IST

People often believe that licking their lips can add moisture to them, however, it can actually make them even drier and chapped by evaporating the remaining moisture. Here are a few reasons why our lips get dry after licking them. Tap to read!

Saliva Evaporates

The saliva on the lips evaporates quickly and while evaporating it takes some of the natural moisture of the lips, making it even more dry.

Increased Sensitivity

The licking of lips makes them more sensitive over time due to friction and irritation, making them more prone to cracking and dryness.

Digestive Enzymes

Our saliva consists of digestive enzymes, amylase and lipase, which can damage the delicate layer of lips, causing dryness and sensitivity.

pH Level Imbalance

Licking our lips can cause a pH imbalance, disrupt skin barrier, and make them more dry and sensitive.

Inflammatory Response

The constant licking of the lips causes them to trigger the inflammatory response, which can lead to swelling, redness, and dryness.

Lip Licking Dermatitis

Constant licking can cause lip-licking dermatitis, leading to a dry and itchy rash-like ring around the lips.

Air Exposure

Saliva evaporates quickly when exposed to air, especially in dry climates. This causes the moisture of the lips to evaporate too with the saliva, making them dry.

Information Credits

According to PubMed, our saliva contains digestive enzymes, which when applied to lips breaks the protective barrier and reduces moisture of the lips. It is advisable to consult a dermatologist if you're experiencing Lip-Licking Dermatitis.