Dry skin and cracked lips are a sign that winter is approaching. However, health experts state it could also be a sign of a vitamin deficiency.
Cracked lips or bleeding lips indicate a deficiency of vitamin B.
Lips get cracked because the lips are 10 times thinner than any other body part. Therefore, experts state that a lack of essential nutrients has a direct impact on the lip skin.
According to Tri-City Medical Centre, “A Vitamin B deficiency can wreak havoc on your skin, causing acne, rashes, dry and flaky skin, cracked lips, and wrinkles.”
The medical centre adds, “It can also make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, personal care products, and other potential aggressors, and can accordingly lead to redness and irritation.”
Cracked lips or lips that are split are caused by a deficiency of vitamin B9, also known as folic acid. When your body lacks vitamin B9, you can experience dry skin, chapped lips, liver problems and hair problems.
There are eight types of vitamin B, (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12) and each of these vitamins has a unique function in the body.
Also, deficiencies in each of these vitamins result in different symptoms, Healthline informs.
According to previous research, skin lesions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin deficiency is also the “most common cause of cheilitis” which is a type of lip inflammation. The symptoms include red, dry, scaling, and itchy lips.
The health site Mathis Dental states, “The symptoms of cheilitis include redness, cracking, bleeding, pain, fissures or lesions on the mouth’s corner, and inflammation.
“Research reveals 90 percent of angular cheilitis is caused due to poor diet.”
Angular cheilitis refers to inflammation of the skin located at the sides or “angles” of the mouth.
This condition is caused when saliva collects at the sides of the mouth, leading to dryness and cracking of the skin when the saliva dries up.
The risk of dry, cracked lips and cheilitis can reportedly be reduced by eating more foods rich in vitamin B2 such as eggs, milk and lean meat, the Mirror explains.
Some of the other helpful foods include poultry products, lentils, peanuts, tomatoes, and dairy products such as paneer, yoghurt, ghee or clarified butter.
However, most people can get all the essential nutrients including B vitamins, from a diet that includes lean meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)