Most people experience chapped or cracked lips from time to time, making cracked lips a common problem.1 Dry conditions like winter weather are the most common explanation for why your lips may be cracking. However, dry air from cold weather isn’t the only thing that can cause problems for your lips. While winter is an unlikely time to be on the lookout for sunburn, the sun can burn dry, chapped lips more easily and cause them to crack further.2 Sunburn on lips that are already dry and cracked can also trigger cold sores and give you another painful problem to worry about tying back to your lips.2 You might feel the urge to constantly moisten your lips when they feel dry or cracked, but try to avoid licking your lips. When you lick your lips, the saliva evaporates quickly and leaves them feeling drier than before you licked them.1 Try to avoid picking at or biting your lips when they’re cracked or peeling, as this can irritate them and prevent healing.2