Everyone at some point in their life will have chapped lips. Whether it is a mild annoyance or a serious interference on your everyday life, chapped lips should never just be ignored.
Chapped lips can occur for many reasons. Common causes include:
- Dry/Cold weather: During the winter especially, staying inside and relying on forced air can dry out the skin, especially the lips and lead to cracking skin.
- Medications: certain medications, such as those containing retinoids, high doses of vitamin a or certain chemotherapy medications can lead to dry skin, especially in the lips.
- Dehydration: a lack of hydration affects all areas of your body, including the delicate skin on your lips.
- Frequently licking your lips: it may sound counter-intuitive but frequently licking your lips can actually remove moisture and cause your lips to feel drier and begin to crack. Side note: bacteria from your mouth can enter these tiny cracks and cause infections – this can lead to serious medical problems that require medication.
How can they be fixed?
The good news is many over-the-counter remedies will work to smooth your lips and restore proper hydration. Here are some simple tips to remember:
- Your lips need to be protected just like the rest of your skin. Choose a lip balm with SPF to prevent any damage from UV rays.
- Avoid flavored lips balms which encourage licking as these will remove the balm and cause your lips to dry out further.
- Lips balms with aloe vera and vitamin e may help to reduce redness and irritation.
- Reapply frequently as lip balm gets removed by daily activities such as talking and eating.
One product that really works is Vibran C .
When to seek medical attention
Persistent dry lips which do not respond to at-home treatment options should be looked at by a medical professional. Remember that your skin is an indicator of overall health and you should not ignore persistent skin issues, even if they seem inconsequential.