Re: Chapped lips same as peeling lips?

Thanks for the replies.
I just went to look at the explanation/definition/pictures of 'exfoliative cheilitis' and it appears to be my condition. I just happened to notice this topic by mistake. I didn't even know that this condition existed. Like I mentioned, I've always had chapped lips and when I was in a very humid climate for a week they were gone. I wasn't drinking any water while I was there, so I assumed that the humidity was keeping my lips moist enough so that they would not get chapped and then peel. Mine are constantly doing this, they get very dry, then the skin hardens and then peels. It's a never ending cycle. I didn't know my lips were growing skin. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't consider it growing skin. When my old chapped lips have peeled off, it leaves the new skin of my lips to then dry up, harden and peel..again exposing fresh new skin on my lips that then dry up, harden and peel. The cycle goes on and on. Isn't this what chapped lips are? They don't hurt. Of course sometimes when I hurry the cycle along and peel them off before they are ready to come off on their own, I rip them off and cause them to bleed.... and this hurts a little... especially when I put on some of those lip colors that contain alcohol in them... OUCH! Sometimes I use a pumice stone to get the old skin off. I never really considered this a problem. Maybe because I've been dealing with this since I was born? At any rate.... I'm really curious now if there is really something (aside from moving to a humid place) that would heal this condition. Perhaps wearing some kind of humectant on the lips? Perhaps drinking LOTS of water? I've been starting to mix myself a drink (maple syrup, cinnamon, real salt, oatmeal and water) to disguise the taste of the water. I have a 14 year old son that also seems to have chapped lips.... except his aren't as bad.... I only notice it once in a great while. Perhaps it's because I got him used to drinking ONLY water ever since he was a baby? He drinks water through out the day and lately he's been taking a whole gallon to bed with him.... he doesn't drink it all ... just keeps it near by.
As a side benefit, I noticed a while back, when I had forced myself to drink water for a period of time that my cholesterol level dropped way down. That's the only thing that I was doing that was different. However, Red Yeast Rice does the same thing with out having to endure the taste of water!!!!! I'll see if drinking more water in disguise makes any difference. Perhaps there are herbal teas that will moisturize internally?