It is often observed that make up of lips is given more importance than lip care itself. This is not the right attitude because it needs specific attention as their outermost protective layer is very thin. They contain no sweat glands and few oil glands therefore they are prone to dryness and chapping. Cracked dry lips can be painful and can develop infections also. Chapped lips have many causes and can occur in any season. They are caused by overexposure to wind and dry conditions in any season and have a thin & delicate covering of mucous membrane and do not have oil glands to keep them lubricated. Biting and the habit of keeping the lips moist with saliva makes them flaky.
Symptoms of Chapped Lips
Chapped lips often look dry and red
Roughness and sensitivity
Tenderness
Lips become rough and reddish
Bleeding
Loss of moisture from the lips
Peeling and cracking sensitivity of lips
Causes of chapped lips
Dry weather: Living in a dry place can make your skin parched. It is essential to drink enough water.
Outdoors: The sun and wind have a drying effect and sunburn can rob the lips of moisture.
Vitamin deficiencies: Deficiencies of Vitamin B group can lead to chapped lips.
Lip licking: This is a habit that can lead to chapping of lips on account of the loss of natural oils. The chemicals in saliva work on the sensitive skin on the lips and causes them to chap.
Smoking: The natural oil from the lips is lost.
Treatment of Chapped Lips
Apply lip balm or petroleum jelly. You can try coating your lip with skin moisturizer, vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel.
Use lip balm that contains sunblock.
Avoid licking your lips, since the saliva will evaporate and leave them dry.
Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Consider moistening the air in your home with a humidifier.
Keep in mind that cracks at the corners of your mouth can indicate riboflavin deficiencies: you can treat this with vitamin B-2 supplements.
Have a dentist readjust ill-fitting dentures.
Avoid going out in dry. cold weather without putting on lip balm or lipstick.
Use a sunscreen on your lips when outside in sunny weather.
Prevention for chapped lips
Regular use of sunblock on the lips before going out into the sunny outdoors.
Use a base of petroleum jelly on your lips before you apply lipstick.
Use cool saltwater on chapped lips to keep them cool and moist. This can be done at bedtime. This can be followed up with a rich coat of lip balm containing lanolin or petroleum jelly.
If you notice any allergic reaction to lipstick, change your brand.
Take a small amount of petroleum jelly and massage it on the dry lips. It is very effective to get soft skin of lips.
Use a lip balm two times a day one time in the morning and before going to bed. Drink large quantity of water (about 10-12 glasses) a day to prevent dehydration.
Home remedies to heal dry cracked lips
Mix 5 ml of glycerine with 5 ml of lime juice and 5 ml of natural rose water in a bowl. Apply this mixture daily in the morning and evening to hydrate and disinfect the lips. Let it stay on till it is absorbed or evaporates naturally. Keep the bowl in a refrigerator and re-use this mixture for three days before creating a fresh batch.
Mix equal quantities of nutmeg, turmeric powder and fresh butter and apply on lips. The turmeric acts as a natural antiseptic and the butter helps the cracks to heal.
In case you have trouble finding the above ingredients, try the following remedy. Take slightly warm to hot water in a bowl and dip a cotton wool in. Squeeze the water out and apply the hot cotton wool on the lips. Do these six to eight times and provide hot fomentation to the lips. Follow this up with a mixture prepared with an equal quantity of glycerine or Vaseline and honey. Apply the same with a cotton swab and leave on for an hour or so. Try this every alternate day for 10 days to find relief from chapped lips.
Super Tip: While buying lipsticks, do check if the manufacturer offers some kind of barrier protection and hydration of the lips. Many good brands would contain ingredients which would help moisturize the lips and protect them from minor infections. These kinds of lipsticks can be useful as a daily defence against cracked dry lips. Many (colourless) lips balm also contains glycerine and antiseptic properties and even men can use them to moisturise their lips. This problem is not gender and affects both women and men.
