# Why does only  my lower lip get chapped?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-only-my-lower-lip-get-chapped/390191>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 30, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-only-my-lower-lip-get-chapped/390191 "2007-01-30T23:24:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Impounded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Impounded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Impounded)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-only-my-lower-lip-get-chapped/390191/1 "2007-01-30T23:24:56Z")

</div>

In the winter I find myself going through a case of Chapstick cause my lower lip is always so chapped.

How come my upper lip is never chapped. Seems since they are made out of the same type of skin shouldn’t they both be chapped or not chapped?

😕

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-only-my-lower-lip-get-chapped/390191/2 "2007-01-31T00:37:15Z")

</div>

I get the same problem. My WAG has always been that the lower lip is both under more strain than your upper lip (smile, and feel which of the two gets stressed) and gets moistened more often by saliva, leading to its drying out. But if anybody has a good answer I’d love to hear it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheBaptiste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f6c823/32.png) [@TheBaptiste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBaptiste)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-only-my-lower-lip-get-chapped/390191/3 "2007-01-31T04:04:59Z")

</div>

My 3 year old has the same problem. Burts bees is good stuff. Chapstick is gross IMO.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-only-my-lower-lip-get-chapped/390191/4 "2007-01-31T05:39:33Z")

</div>

For me I thinks it’s because I bite my lower lip, as opposed to, say, licking both lips. it’s the dampness (plus the cold) that does it.

And curse the flag, insult kittens, but speak not ill of chapstick!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-only-my-lower-lip-get-chapped/390191/5 "2007-01-31T13:08:45Z")

</div>

Is this true of everybody? Could it have to do with your bite in that a more jutting jaw puts the upper lip in the path of the air (mouth breathing) and a more receded jaw puts the lower lip in the path of the air and it dries more? Just WAGging it here.