Possibly...skin pH?

Since I started str8 shaving I have developed cracks in the corners of my mouth. I've had these before, when my lips were dry and I yawned, but these have been there a long time. I consulted a Dr. he said just keep petroleum jelly on them. I don't mind fixing the problem, but I would like to know what caused it. I was thinking maybe a change in skin pH or maybe it was my homemade aftershave splash. I really can't figure it out and my Doc just told me to shave "like a normal person". I know I didn't understand that either.

It could be the soap you're using, or the aftershave you made, or a combination of the two. Are those the only products you use, or do you use others as well, either pre or post shave?

The chances are that any products you use for shaving will come in to contact with the edges of your mouth and lips, and will affect those areas if they are too harsh for your skin.

I find some soaps dry my skin out much more than others, and I've stopped using a couple of them as my skin felt really dry after shaving.

Petroleum jelly and lip balms will help, but the ideal solution would be to work out which product is causing the problem and swap it for a different one. You could try swapping the products out one at a time and see if the condition clears up. If the cracks go, then thats the product to stop using..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

I think I've figured it out. It is a combination of how heavy the hair growth is there and shaving products. How I shave in response to the heavy hair there is my opening my mouth as wide as I can then tucking my lips into my mouth. A way to add extra stretch in that area this adds extra stress to the skin in this area, weakening it. Then on the weakened skin I add a nice dose of EO and or FO to irritate the skin that much further.