Say goodbye to chapped lips. These steps can help prevent dry lips and get rid of chapped lips to keep them supple year round.
This past summer and now winter I’ve been going through a journey with my lips. From cracking to dryness to peeling, it has been a quest for me to heal my lips. I know that I am not alone and as you know, once your lips begin to crack and peel, the discomfort is hard to ignore and licking them only makes matters worse.
So in my quest to heal my lips here is what I found and maybe it can help you as well. However, before I get into the how, let’s look at the what and why shall we? Here is what I learned.
What causes chapped lips?
The skin on our lips is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of our body. And because our face is rarely covered, the environment can be extremely punishing as well. Cold weather, dry indoor air, sun and wind all can cause our lips to become cracked, dry and scaly.
Also, if our body is dehydrated, our lips will be. In addition, there are no oil glands on our lips to prevent excessive dryness. While it may feel tempting to dampen our lips with the tongue, what happens is the saliva evaporates, and the lips become even drier. As I lick my lips writing this.
Another thing, the skin on our lips can also become irritated with certain lipsticks and balms or if we hold foreign objects like pens or jewelry, in our mouth.
Ok, that’s a lot of factors to contend with. Here’s the how to help get those lips soft again.
How to help get rid of chapped lips
Hydration is the first order of business. Lip balm or ointment, applied frequently throughout the day, can help. However, stay away from balms that contain lip-tingling ingredients such as camphor, eucalyptus or menthol.
Any form of alcohol, such as menthol or camphor, can be very irritating to lips and cause them to become even more dry after the initial cooling sensation wears off.
Stay away from using balms or ointments with chemical exfoliators, like salicylic acid, which are too harsh for delicate skin on lips.
Instead, look for lip balm for chapped lips with ingredients that seal in moisture and begin to repair cracked skin. Some of those include castor or hemp seed oil. White petroleum jelly also does a good job of soothing chapped lips.
Some products that tick these boxes include Burt’s Bees Renewing Lip Treatment with Natural Retinol Alternative and Ceramides, Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick and Vaseline Lip Balm Therapy.
Another option is the lip mask: a product that sits on the lip for an extended period to deliver hydrating ingredients. Lip masks can work for short periods of time, as with the LANEIGE Lip Sleeping MaskMask, which delivers intense moisture and antioxidants while you sleep.
Flavored lip balms may be fun to use, but they can actually make chapped lips worse. Products containing cinnamon, citrus, mint and peppermint flavors can be especially irritating to lip skin, and you may even find yourself licking off a flavored balm because it tastes good!
“By frequently licking your lips, you are actually dehydrating them,” says board-certified dermatologist Edidiong Kaminska, MD, the medical director of Kaminska Dermatology in Chicago. “Using a product without a flavor can help prevent that constant licking.”
To help with my chapped lips, I applied lip balm or ointment several times a day and liberally whenever needed. Slicking on some before bedtime also helped to prevent my lips from becoming extra dry. It can also be helpful to use a humidifier in your bedroom at night to add some moisture to the air.
Also, try as you must to avoid picking at the peeling skin, which can cause lips to bleed, further irritating them and prolonging the healing process. And drinking plenty of water helps the whole body, including the lips, stay hydrated.
Home remedies for treating lips
Aloe vera gel, coconut oil and honey have anti-inflammatory properties that when applied to the lips, can soothe and moisturize.
Staying hydrated is one way to avoid drying out the skin on your lips. Resist holding metal objects in the mouth.
To keep your lips looking smooth and supple, some people like to use lip scrubs to exfoliate them. If that option sounds appealing, do so gently and infrequently. Exfoliating makes lips look good because you are removing the top layer of dead skin cells. However, once every two weeks is enough. If you over-exfoliate, you are creating inflammation, which can lead to irritated, dry lips.
If you struggle with chronically dry lips, or if over-the-counter (OTC) products aren’t helping, it could be a sign that there is an underlying problem that needs medical attention. It’s best to seek help from a dermatologist.
By incorporating these simple yet effective tips into your daily routine, you can bid farewell to chapped lips and welcome a soft, smooth pout. Remember, consistency is key when it comes to lip care, so make these practices a part of your regular skincare routine. With a little TLC, you’ll be flaunting healthy, kissable lips in no time. Pucker up!
This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
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