Cracked lips is one symptom of dry, peeling or chapped lips. Cracks that appear at the corner of your mouth may reflect a condition of angular chelitis which is a fungal infection associated with having inadequate quantities of Vitamin B, zinc, iron or excessive Vitamin A.  Breaks or tears that appear on the surface of the lips may become painful and bleed.  Although sometimes painful, It is not a serious condition and does not pose any risk to your health.

What Causes Cracked Lips?

Cracked lips occur resulting from several factors such as licking your lips, dry or cold weather, wind exposure, sunburn, breathing through your mouth and conditions like mild dehydration, nutritional deficiencies and the common cold. Licking your lips is not helpful because the same acids that help saliva break down food in the mouth can irritate and dehydrate the skin. Once the skin cells loose moisture, they also loose their elasticity which results in cracked, chapped skin surface.