Winter is here! And this season is associated with dryness and cold. Like the rest of the parts, lips are also an integral part of your body, and at times, we end up ignoring them. The frosty weather tends to make our clips dry. They tend to make our lips chappy, and even the skin may peel out. So, one should take care of your lips because they get prone to peeling, cracking, and flaking.
WHAT CAUSES CHAPPED LIPS?
 The lips on your skin are very different. It is thinner and delicate. Also, the lips do not have oil glands. It cannot moisturize your lips. So, in this blog, let us discuss how to soothe chapped lips with nourishing ingredients.
- Using a good lip balm:
A few lip balms are far better than others because these brands contain ingredients that make your lips soft. But other lip balms can make your lips dry. For example, if you are using a lip balm that contains menthol; it will make your lips more chapped than before.
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID CHAPPED LIPS:
- Lanolin
- Camphor
- Eucalyptus
- Menthol
- Fragrance
- Phenol
INGREDIENTS THAT HEAL CHAPPED LIPS:
While some ingredients; can make your lips dry, others can help heal them. So, if you are looking for products to use on your chapped lips, try using them:
- Castor oil
- Mineral oil
- Petroleum jelly
- Hemp seed oil
- Shea butter
- Exfoliating the lips:
When it comes to eliminating your chapped lips, you can use lip scrubbers that contain sugar or baking soda that will gently exfoliate the dryness from your skin. So, while shopping for a lip scrub, make sure that you look for products that contain ingredients that will soothe your lips. You can buy lip scrubs from drug stores or online.
- Drink water:
 Dehydration is one of the major reasons for your chapped lips. People make not notice it, but when it comes to avoiding dryness from your lips, make sure that you drink water throughout the day. Dehydration takes place when the body loses more fluid than it consumes. So, stay hydrated because this will prevent skin dryness.
- Don’t smoke:
Tobacco can cause a lot of skin irritation. It also makes your lips dry and helps in developing cracks. Smoking also causes other problems in the mouth, such as ulcers and cancers. So, don’t smoke.
- Slather on lip balms that contain SPF 30:
To protect your lip dryness, make sure you apply SPF 30 on your lips and protect it from the sun. Yes, even in winters it is important to protect your lips from the harmful sun rays. They can burn dry and could trigger cold sores.
By following these tips, you can see an improvement in 2 to 3 weeks. But you don’t, then you should see a dermatologist.
WHEN TO VISIT A DERMATOLOGIST?
Most of the time, the above self-care can heal dryness within 2-3 weeks. But if your lips do not cure, you should see a dermatologist.
Your chapped lips could be a reason due to dry weather. But, an allergy or yeast infection can make your lips drier.
Actinic cheilitis is a precancerous symptom that can also make your lips dry. Hence, it is necessary to see your dermatologist before facing any serious issue.
TAKEAWAY:
Having chapped lips is a common issue. Some people experience this problem in winters, while others experience this all year round. So, use lip products that suit your lips. Or a few lifestyle adjustments are enough to heal your chapped lips and prevent them from returning.
