thats so funny because i just bought two aloe vera plants to test on my botom lip because i was reading and the gel is filled with essential vitamins that the body needs. I just took off two leaves and made a smal bowl of gel so im going to try tonight. One other thing thats funny is that i just had nose surgery because of my cats which im trying to get rid of (allegries) and this has forced me to breath out of my mouth for the past two weeks whichas we all know is horrible, the lips dry beyond belief and the affected area runs about half a centimeter inside in the mouth do more of an area peels then originally with the mouth closed most of the time, anyways, my point being, the only thing that helps (because i dont like using lip balms) is putting cloth over my mouth when i breath and hold it there most of the time (only till i can breath through my nose again) and my lips dont dry, dont chap really, and dont burn or look irritated. So I agree with the dryness theory of yours. Not the cause but definately a factor in our problem.