Mia Williams
A dentist has shared a warning for people who suffer from chapped lips, saying there could be an underlying infection waiting to be addressed.
There's many unhelpful things that come with the winter months.
Namely, shorter daylight hours, the dreaded flu, and for some people - dry or chapped lips are a common occurrence.
And some may find that no matter how much lip balm they put on, the problem just doesn't seem to mend.
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Well, a dentist has just explained why this often tends to be the case.
Dr Joyce Kahng, owner of Orange and Magnolia Dental Studio in California, reacted to a clip of a man complaining about the sores in the corner of his mouth.
After thinking that his pain was a result of the cold weather, he was told that it could possibly be caused by a fungal infection.
The dentist, known as @joycethedentist on Instagram, said: "This could actually be angular cheilitis."
She explained: "Bacteria and yeast will get into little cracked corners, and then cause an infection.
"This is why no matter how much chapstick you use, it is not going to fix anything, and it's not addressing the root of the issue."
And Dr Kahng noted two causes - Staph bacteria and Candida yeast.
But helpfully, she shared two ways in which you can tackle the problem.
The healthcare expert said: "If it's caused by yeast, you can pick up over the counter Clotrimazole.
"But if the cause is bacteria, prescription antibiotic ointment is the way to go.
"Seal is all in with Vaseline - not chapstick!"
Dr Kahng also warned people against licking the corners of their mouths - a common habit for those who suffer from dryness.
She explained: "People think the saliva is re-moisturising the area, but it's actually the opposite and makes it worse."
But there is also such thing as more chronic cases of angular cheilitis - which could be as a result of an underlying health condition.
This could be things such as nutritional deficiencies - notably iron and vitamin B12.
Of course, if you just happen to suffer from minor dryness in general over the winter months, a lip balm will probably go a long way in helping.
But if you feel there is something more serious going on, tackling one of these two infections could help to eradicate the problem for good.