
When your lips are dry, sore, or cracked, chapped lips are frequently the result. When the air is cold and dry, or if you are dehydrated, you may develop chapped lips. In contrast to the rest of your skin, your lips lack oil glands and, therefore, cannot produce any natural oils to keep them from drying out. Your lips may dry if you don’t take proper care of them.
What causes dry lips?
Unlike other skin types, lips do not have oil glands. This indicates that lips are more prone to drying out and getting chapped. Whether the issue is caused by the weather or a lack of self-care, a lack of moisture can worsen it.
Chapped lips are a well-known wintertime symptom of low humidity in the air. Summertime sun exposure regularly can make your condition worse. Habitual lip-licking is another common cause of chapped lips. Tongue saliva can remove more moisture from the lips, making them even drier.
Here are some tips for maintaining healthy, hydrated lips:
- Increasing the air’s humidity
Dry environments and the chilly, dry winter air can irritate delicate lips. If you have severely cracked lips, you might want to use a humidifier to add more moisture to your home or business air. This will make the environment less demanding on dry skin and help your lips retain moisture.
- Select goods free of flavors or fragrances
Your lips’ skin is thinner than the rest of your body, making it more vulnerable to products and chemicals. Avoid lip balms flavored with citrus, peppermint, menthol, or eucalyptus. Avoid ingredients like lanolin and camphor because they can aggravate already irritated skin and make it drier.
- Avoid using lip-plumping products
Plumping lip glosses contain irritants to make your lips appear fuller and stimulate blood flow. To get a lip that is plump and hydrated, choose lip care products that contain moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E.
- Apply a lip moisturizer frequently
Apply a high-quality lip product before bed and every few hours to avoid having chapped lips. Look for fragrance-free lip moisturizers or lip balms that contain oils, shea butter, ceramides, beeswax, or petroleum-based ingredients and are dermatologist-recommended. For more intensive lip treatment, consider a nourishing ointment or thick emollient like white petroleum jelly.
- Exfoliate your lips
You should exfoliate to help remove dry or dead skin cells if you have flaky lips. Use a gentle toothbrush, a chemical-free lip scrub, or even a straightforward homemade concoction of olive oil and brown sugar. Exfoliating more frequently than once a week should be avoided because doing so can irritate your skin and dry your lips.
- Limit your time in the sun and use SPF
It will help if you protect your lips from the sun like you protect the rest of your skin. Pick a gentle lip balm with at least an SPF 30 rating and ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Even in the winter, use it before going outside. If you have sunburned or sun-damaged lips, compress them with a cool washcloth, use aloe vera products, and drink lots of water.