- The skin is made up of three layers: The epidermis (outermost layer), dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis has a protective layer known as the stratum corneum, which is much thinner on the lips than it is anywhere else on the body;
- Worse, the lips do not have oil glands—they’re depending on you to keep them moisturized; and
- The lips contain less melanin than the rest of the skin— melanin is the skin pigment responsible for protecting the skin from the sun.
The Lips: More Vulnerable Than You Think
The skin on your lips is very different than that of the rest of your body. Here’s how: