Lip and skin health
Lip health and the skin around the mouth, understood first.
The lips and the skin around the mouth (the perioral area) change with age, sun, habits and dental health. This page explains how the area is built, why lines and dryness develop, the warning signs that need a doctor, and what helps at home. It also covers skin treatments, their risks and recovery, and when leaving things as they are is the sensible choice.
Understanding it
How the lips and the skin around them are built, and how they change
The red part of the lips, called the vermilion, has a thin surface layer, almost no oil glands and less of the pigment that protects skin from the sun. Blood vessels close to the surface give it its colour. That is why lips dry out readily, crack in cold or windy weather and burn easily. The skin around the mouth, called the perioral area, is facial skin that creases constantly as you talk, eat and smile. It is also a common site for cold sores, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus and can be triggered by sun, illness, stress or skin treatment around the mouth.
Lips vary widely between people, families and backgrounds, and most people's lips are a little asymmetrical. These differences are part of an individual face, not a problem that needs treatment. Close-up phone photos can exaggerate them, because a camera held near the face distorts its features.
With age, skin everywhere becomes thinner and makes less collagen and elastin, and years of sun exposure speed this up. Around the mouth, this can show as fine vertical lines above the upper lip, dryness and uneven texture. On the lips, long-term sun damage can cause persistent dryness, scaling and a blurred edge where the lower lip meets the skin, which should be checked by a doctor. Lines and texture change are a normal part of ageing and happen to everyone at a different pace.
Contributing factors
Why lips dry out and the skin around the mouth changes
Sun on the lips and mouth
The lower lip catches more sun than the upper lip and has little built-in protection. Long-term sun damage can cause dryness, scaling and a blurred lip edge. In some people this becomes actinic cheilitis, a sun-damage change that needs medical review because it can develop into skin cancer. In Queensland, an SPF 50+ lip balm (SPF 30 at a minimum) matters as much as sunscreen on the face.
Smoking and vaping
Repeatedly pursing the lips to draw on a cigarette or vape, together with the effects of smoking on blood flow and collagen, contributes to lines above the upper lip. These are sometimes called smoker's lines, although they are also common in people who have never smoked. Stopping benefits your skin as well as your overall health, and your GP or Quitline on 13 QUIT (13 7848) can support you.
Teeth, dentures and the jaw
The teeth and jaw sit directly behind the lips. Tooth loss, worn teeth, ill-fitting dentures, orthodontic changes and gradual bone changes in the jaw can all change how the mouth area looks and where lines form. When this is the main factor, a dentist or prosthodontist is usually the right first step rather than a cosmetic clinic.
Everyday habits
Lines tend to form where skin creases in the same place over many years. Lip biting, picking and habitual lip licking also irritate the lips. Licking dries them further, because saliva evaporates and contains digestive enzymes that irritate thin skin. Over time this can cause a red, scaly rash around the mouth known as lip-licker's dermatitis.
Inherited skin traits
Skin thickness, oiliness, colour and how readily you form lines are partly inherited. Fair skin tends to show sun damage sooner, while deeper skin tones are more prone to pigment change after irritation or treatment. These differences affect which options, if any, are appropriate for you.
Dryness and irritation
Cold, dry or windy weather, air conditioning, mouth breathing, some medicines, and fragrances or flavourings in lip products and toothpaste can leave lips dry and inflamed. Cracking at the corners of the mouth, called angular cheilitis, can be caused by infection, ill-fitting dentures or other medical factors, and is worth checking with your GP if it persists.
Your consultation
What is checked on and around your lips
Cosmetic consultations at Oak are with Kirby Shannon (NMW0002042639), Registered Nurse (Division 1), general registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Kirby has more than ten years' experience in cosmetic and skin practice. She works within Oak's doctor-led team. The assessment starts with what you have noticed and why it matters to you, and looks at the health of your lips and the skin around your mouth.
- What you have noticed, how long it has been there, and what, if anything, you would like to change
- Your medical history, medicines and allergies, including any history of cold sores, which skin treatment around the mouth can trigger
- Skin type, sun damage and pigment risk, including any dry, scaly, crusted or non-healing patch on the lips, which is referred to a doctor before any cosmetic treatment is considered
- The condition of the lips themselves, such as dryness, cracking or irritation, and the products you use on them, including lip balm and toothpaste
- Whether the changes you have noticed may relate to your teeth, dentures or jaw, in which case a dentist may be the right first step
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking, vaping and sun exposure, and your current skin and lip care
- Whether a cosmetic procedure is the right step at all, or whether home care, a referral or no treatment makes more sense
Approaches we may discuss
What may help with dry lips and lines around the mouth
There is no standard plan for this area. For many people, daily lip care and sun protection are the right place to start. Where a skin treatment may help, it is aimed at the texture and fine lines of the skin around the mouth. Every option is discussed in consultation, with its risks, recovery and costs, before you decide.
Lip care, sun protection and a home routine
A skin consultation reviews your current routine and builds a plan you can keep up: a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 50+ (SPF 30 at a minimum) sunscreen on the face, an SPF 50+ lip balm (SPF 30 at a minimum) reapplied through the day, a moisturiser that supports the skin barrier and, where suitable, an over-the-counter retinol (vitamin A) skincare product introduced slowly and kept away from the lips and the corners of the mouth. Retinol is usually avoided during pregnancy. Home care works gradually over months and depends on consistency.
Learn moreChemical peels for the skin around the mouth
A chemical peel applies an acid solution that removes the outer layers of skin in a controlled way. For uneven texture and fine lines around the mouth, a course of light to medium-depth peels may be considered. After a light peel, redness usually lasts for hours to a day, followed by flaking for a few days. Stronger peels cause visible peeling, sometimes crusting, for a week or more. Deeper skin tones carry a higher risk of pigment change, which affects the choice of peel.
Learn moreMicroneedling or radiofrequency (RF) near the mouth
Microneedling (skin needling) uses a device with very fine points to create tiny, controlled channels in the skin, prompting its normal repair response. Radiofrequency (RF) uses controlled heat to warm the deeper layers of the skin. Either may be considered for texture and fine lines around the mouth, usually as a course several weeks apart. Microneedling commonly causes redness, swelling and sensitivity for 1 to 3 days, sometimes longer, with possible pinpoint bleeding or bruising. RF usually causes redness and warmth for a few hours to a day or two, with swelling occasionally lasting longer. Any change develops gradually over months, varies between people and may be modest.
Learn moreYour own plan, including leaving things as they are
Your plan comes from your assessment, not a menu. It may be home care alone, one skin treatment spaced over time, a referral, or a recommendation to leave things as they are. Before you consent, you will know what is involved, the risks, the recovery, the likely number of sessions and the total cost, and you are welcome to take time to decide.
Learn moreReferral when another professional is the right fit
Some changes around the mouth are medical or dental rather than cosmetic. A persistent scaly patch or sore on the lip should be checked by a GP or dermatologist. Recurrent cold sores, cracking at the corners of the mouth and changes linked to teeth or dentures may be better managed by your GP or dentist. If worry about your appearance is taking up a lot of your day, a GP or psychologist can help.
What to expect
Your visit, from first appointment to aftercare
- 01
Booking a cosmetic consultation
Your first appointment is for assessment and discussion, and you are not expected to decide anything on the day. Cosmetic consultations at Oak are for adults aged 18 and over. Please bring a list of your medicines and the products you use on your skin and lips. The consultation fee is shown when you book.
- 02
Assessment and advice
Kirby takes your medical and skin history and examines your lips and the skin around your mouth in good light. With your consent, clinical photos may be taken for your record only. If a patch looks like sun damage, or anything else needs medical attention, Kirby will explain why and will refer you to your GP, another doctor or an emergency department when a medical assessment is needed. You may be told that no treatment is needed.
- 03
Planning and informed consent
If a skin treatment is suitable, we explain what it involves, the risks, realistic recovery, the likely number of sessions and the total cost, including any ongoing costs. A cosmetic procedure is a serious decision, and you are encouraged to take the information home before you decide. Not going ahead is always an option.
- 04
If you go ahead with a skin treatment
Your skin is cleansed and checked first, including for an active cold sore. If another team member carries out your skin treatment, you are told who they are and their qualifications before you consent. Warmth, stinging or discomfort during treatment are common and vary between people. Afterwards, expect redness and possibly swelling, tightness, peeling or flaking. Depending on the treatment, this can last from a few hours to a week or more, and some people plan time away from work or social commitments.
- 05
Aftercare and a healing check
You receive written aftercare instructions and a way to contact the clinic. Expect to avoid make-up, heat, heavy exercise and direct sun while your skin heals. A review appointment checks how your skin has healed and whether continuing makes sense. Results vary between individuals, develop gradually, and some people notice little change.
Risks & recovery
Risks of skin treatments around the mouth
All cosmetic procedures carry risk, including skin treatments. The skin around the mouth creases constantly, sits right beside the lips and is a common site for cold sores, so treatment here needs careful planning. Your individual risks are discussed before you consent. These are the main ones to know about.
- Cold sore flare-ups: skin treatment around the mouth can trigger an outbreak in people who carry the cold sore virus, sometimes more widespread than usual. Tell us if you have ever had a cold sore. Treatment is postponed while one is active.
- Short-term effects: redness, swelling, stinging, tightness, dryness, peeling and flaking are common. After a light peel, redness can last hours to a day, then flaking for a few days, while a stronger peel can cause visible peeling, sometimes crusting, for a week or more. Microneedling usually causes redness, swelling and sensitivity for 1 to 3 days, sometimes longer, with possible pinpoint bleeding or bruising. RF can cause redness and warmth for a few hours to a day or two, with swelling occasionally lasting longer. Discomfort varies between people.
- Pigment change: darker or lighter patches can develop after treatment, particularly in deeper skin tones or with sun exposure while healing. These may take months to fade and are occasionally permanent.
- Infection: uncommon, but possible whenever the skin barrier is broken. Signs include increasing pain, heat, swelling, pus or spreading redness.
- Burns, blistering, scarring and visible marks: burns, blisters and scarring are uncommon but possible with heat-based devices and stronger peels. Temporary marks from microneedling, or a visible line where treated skin meets untreated skin, can also occur. Heat-based and focused ultrasound devices have also rarely been reported to cause numbness, which is usually temporary, and loss of fat under the skin, which can leave a hollow and may be long-lasting.
- Breakouts and skin flares: pimples, small white cysts (milia), or a flare of rosacea, eczema or perioral dermatitis (a red, bumpy rash around the mouth) can follow treatment.
- Reactions to products: irritation or allergy to products used during treatment or aftercare can occur and, rarely, persistent inflamed bumps (granulomas) have been reported after microneedling.
- Not suitable for everyone: some treatments are not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with certain medicines or skin conditions, after recent tanning, or with active infection around the mouth. This is checked at assessment.
- Results vary between individuals: changes are usually gradual and modest, some people notice little difference, results may not meet your expectations, and maintenance may be needed. The likely number of sessions and any ongoing costs are explained before you consent.
When to seek urgent care
After any cosmetic procedure, seek prompt medical care if you have severe or increasing pain, spreading redness, heat or swelling, pus, blistering, a fever, or any change that is getting worse rather than settling. Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if your lips, tongue or throat swell, or you have difficulty breathing or swallowing. If you are unsure how urgent it is, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) at any time for advice from a registered nurse. Then let the clinic that treated you know.
Questions to ask before any skin treatment near your mouth
- What is your name, profession and Ahpra registration number? You can check any registered health practitioner on the public register at ahpra.gov.au.
- Who is responsible for my care if something goes wrong, and how do I contact them outside business hours?
- What is this treatment designed to do for the skin around my mouth, and what is a realistic outcome for someone with my skin?
- What are the risks for my skin type, including cold sores and pigment change, and how would you manage a complication?
- How much recovery time should I plan for, and what should I avoid while my skin heals?
- What is the total cost, including any follow-up or maintenance, and what happens if I decide not to continue?
- What would happen if I chose not to have treatment, and is there a non-cosmetic option I should consider first?
One side of my mouth looks different from the other. Should I be concerned?
Usually not. Most people have some difference between the two sides of the mouth, and it is part of an individual face, not a problem that needs treatment. A sudden change is different: if one side of your face or mouth droops, or you have new weakness or slurred speech, call 000, as these can be signs of stroke. Any new drooping or weakness that develops over hours or days should be seen by a doctor the same day.
Why do lines form above the upper lip?
Usually from a mix of thinning skin with age, sun damage, genetics and years of repeated creasing, including pursing the lips to smoke. They are also common in people who have never smoked. Daily sun protection, not smoking and a consistent skin routine can help slow further change. Some skin treatments may make fine lines less noticeable for some people, but they are unlikely to remove them completely, and results vary.
How should I care for dry or cracked lips?
Use a fragrance-free lip balm with SPF 50+ (SPF 30 at a minimum) during the day, and reapply after eating, drinking and swimming. At night, a plain ointment such as petroleum jelly can protect cracked lips while they heal. Try not to lick, bite or peel your lips, and avoid tingling glosses and strongly flavoured balms while your lips are irritated. See your GP if cracks at the corners of your mouth persist, or if a dry, scaly patch or sore on your lip has not healed within a few weeks.
How much recovery should I expect after skin treatments around the mouth?
It depends on the treatment and your skin. After a light peel, redness usually lasts hours to a day, followed by flaking for a few days. After a stronger peel, visible peeling, and sometimes crusting, can last a week or more. Microneedling commonly causes redness, swelling and sensitivity for 1 to 3 days, sometimes longer, and there may be pinpoint bleeding or bruising. After radiofrequency (RF), redness and warmth usually last a few hours to a day or two, with swelling occasionally lasting longer. Some people plan time away from work or social commitments. You are usually asked to avoid make-up, heat, heavy exercise and direct sun while the skin heals. Discomfort during and after treatment varies between people.
Do I have to go ahead with treatment after a consultation?
No. A consultation is for assessment and advice. Some people leave with a home-care plan, some with a referral to a GP, dentist or dermatologist, and some with reassurance that no treatment is needed. If a treatment is suitable, you receive written information on its risks, recovery and total cost to take away and consider. The consultation fee is shown when you book.
Are consultations and skin treatments for adults only?
Yes. Cosmetic consultations and treatments at Oak are for adults aged 18 and over. If you are unsure whether a concern is cosmetic or medical, your GP is a good first point of contact, and we will tell you if a referral to a doctor, dentist or dermatologist is more appropriate.
Other areas we assess
- Lines & facial movementRead more
- Facial shape & proportionRead more
- Under-eye & mid-faceRead more
- Skin quality & hydrationRead more
- Review & correctionRead more
This page is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Cosmetic consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. Treatment is only offered where clinically appropriate following an in-person consultation with a registered health practitioner. All cosmetic procedures carry risks, and results vary between individuals.