Going without food and drink for many hours, changing your diet when you fast can affect your whole body. If you eat and drink too little at suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and stay very active during the day, your body can become dehydrated. When you are dehydrated, your mouth and tongue may feel dry, and you can experience intense thirst, pass less urine, get fatigued, and even become dizzy.

Dry, cracked lips can cause a burning or stinging sensation, especially if you break your fast with spicy, salty, or acidic foods. If this condition is not managed properly, the cracks can bleed and make talking or eating at iftar very uncomfortable.

Here are some simple steps you can follow so your lips stay soft and moisturized throughout the fasting month.

Drink Enough Water

Fasting can be challenging because you are not allowed to drink all day and endure your thirst. To keep your body hydrated, the Directorate of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control (P2PTM) of the Ministry of Health advises planning a regular drinking schedule during Ramadan. You can divide your water intake between iftar and after evening prayers, before sleep and after waking up, and again at suhoor. Try to drink enough water at suhoor so you do not become dehydrated during your daytime activities.

Apply Lip Balm

Lip balm helps protect the thin skin on the lips and keeps it from losing moisture. Ingredients such as petrolatum or petroleum jelly help lock in hydration. Choose a lip balm that is gentle, fragrance-free, and labeled hypoallergenic so it is less likely to irritate your lips. Reapply your lip balm at least every four hours or whenever your lips start to feel very dry.

Use Lip Products With SPF

If you need to be outdoors, choose a lipstick or lip balm that contains sunscreen with at least SPF 30. This type of product helps shield your lips from UV rays, which can make dryness and chapping worse. When you are outside for long periods, reapply lip products with SPF every two hours to maintain protection.

Avoid Licking Your Lips

You might think that licking your lips will make them feel less dry, but the opposite is true. Saliva evaporates quickly and, as it dries, it removes moisture from the surface of the lips. Over time, this habit makes your lips even drier and more chapped.

Do Not Peel Flaking Skin

Seeing loose, peeling skin on your lips can be annoying and you may feel tempted to pull it off. Try to resist this urge. Peeling or picking at dry lips can tear the skin, cause pain and bleeding, and slow the healing process.

Be Careful in Choosing Lip Products

Avoid choosing lip products carelessly, especially those that contain irritating substances such as eucalyptus oil, menthol, or camphor, as these ingredients can make dryness and irritation worse.

Relying on a good lip balm, drinking enough water, and eating fruits with high water content are key ways to deal with the causes of dry, chapped lips when you fast. However, if your lips remain dry, cracked, or do not get better despite these efforts, another underlying problem may be present. In that situation, consult a doctor or dermatologist to find out more and get appropriate treatment.

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