Cracked Lips and Riboflavin / Iron Associations

Winter air, licking your lips, allergy to lipstick ingredients, and yeast/bacterial angular cheilitis explain a lot of cracked lips. Nutrition teaching sometimes associates riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency, and occasionally iron or other B-vitamin shortfalls, with cracking at the lip corners. That’s education for pattern-awareness, not a reason to ignore infection or denture fit issues.

Non-dietary causes

Angular cheilitis, eczema, retinoid meds, dehydration habits, dental problems. Persistent cracks → clinician.

Associated nutrients

Nutrient	Note	Guide
Riboflavin (B2)	Classic teaching includes oral-corner cracking in deficiency	ODS Riboflavin
Iron	Appears in some oral-mucosa / deficiency education stacks	/nutrients/iron/

Related: Mouth ulcers, Dry skin.

Food patterns

Very low dairy/eggs/meat/fortified grains variety; restrictive dieting that also tanks iron.

How CalBuddy helps

Log meals; notice whether varied B-vitamin and iron sources appear; keep buddy accountability so you don’t ghost the diary.

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