CHAPPED LIPS? 8 WAYS TO AVOID IT

Your lips are among the most expressive parts of your body. Dry and chapped lips are not what you would want anyone to see because it’s unattractive. It can also be painful. Dry weather, dehydration, drugs, fever, nasal allergies, smoking, deficiencies of certain nutrients, and frequent exposure to sun can cause your lips to chap. Also, beware of what you put on your lips. Certain lipsticks, lip dyes or lip flavours that can cause reaction especially one that contains alcohol which leads to lips drying out. Toothpaste and very spicy foods can irritate the lips. Citrus fruits, when they come in contact with the lips, can contribute to your chapped lips. Ensure your body is not deficient in B Vitamins, iron and essential fatty acids because deficiencies of these can cause scaling of the lips and cracking of lip corners.

Here are ways to prevent chapped lips:

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER: Dehydration can cause your lips to dry out which can lead to painful parched patch. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Increased water intake keeps our bodies hydrated including skin cells and keeps our lips looking fresh by preventing it from drying out. You can apply a hot wet rag to your lips to soothe skin and help heal faster. You can use cucumber to re-hydrate your lips. Simply use slices of cucumber to rub on your lips. Hold them on for 5-10 mins. Aloe Vera helps heal minor cracks on the lips and soothe the pain of chapped lips.

STOP LICKING YOUR LIPS:  It makes sense to lick your lips to moisturize them but it does for a while. When the saliva evaporates, it removes moisture and natural oils leaving them drier than before. Your saliva contains digestive enzymes (amylase and maltase) which break down food for digestion and it acts on the lips and degrade the skin on the lips. Use a moisturizing lip balm instead. Also, avoid biting your lips as this removes the protective covering on the lips and cause further drying.

APPLY NATURAL OILS:  Natural oils like olive oil, Vitamin E oil, coconut oil and almond oil are good moisturizers. Especially olive oil is an anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and antioxidant that lubricates and soothes dry lips. Apply 2 or 3 times a day and your lips will begin to heal in few days.

EXFOLIATE YOUR LIPS:  Buff your lips by removing the deposit of dead skin to fight flakiness. After brushing your teeth, use your toothbrush to gently scrub your lips. You can also scrub gently with a mixture of sugar and honey. Moisturize afterwards to keep the softness in tact.

MOISTURIZE YOUR LIPS: The driest time for your lips is just after waking up in the morning. Moisturize your lips in the morning, during the day and at night. You can moisturize your lips with emu butter, Shea butter or honey. Vaseline also works wonders by preventing sun blisters.

INVEST IN GOOD LIP BALM:  Lip balms moisturize as well as protect your lips. Apply lip balm every hour or two to treat dry lips and keep them healthy. Apply lip balm before eating and wash your lips after eating. Use balm with SPF of at least 15 to save your lips from sun damage which can cause dryness.  There are few ingredients you want to look for in a lip balm. Balms need a base, often petroleum, beeswax which will provide a barrier to prevent moisture loss. Emollients like aloe or lanolin soften the lips. Vitamins and nutrient-rich compounds are also often added to aid tissue regeneration and protection.

USE TEABAG: Press a damp black tea bag to your lips for 30 seconds to soften them. Tea contains antioxidant polyphenols that repair damaged skin cells and speed cell renewal. Do this 3 to 5 times a week and it will keep your lips smooth.

USE A HUMIDIFIER: In cases where the air is very dry, you can invest in humidifier to keep the air moist.