Dry chapped lips are a common problem that usually occurs during winter and allergies. While usually harmless, dry, chapped lips can be very irritating and painful. There are many methods of treating chapped lips, from changing your daily habits to using lip balms and creams.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Choosing Quality Medicine
Step 1. Use the right lip balm
Not all lip balms have the same ingredients. Choose a lip balm that contains ingredients that can heal dry, chapped lips.
- Purchase a lip balm that contains ingredients such as cocoa butter (cocoa butter), vitamin A, vitamin E, petrolatum, and dimethicone. Lip balms that do not contain these ingredients may not heal chapped lips; On the other hand, it can make symptoms worse.
- Lip balms that contain alpha hydroxy acids can soothe and exfoliate dry skin on chapped lips. Alpha hydroxy acid is an excellent ingredient in lip balms. Gently apply on lips, scrub lips with a toothbrush to remove dry skin, then wipe the balm off of lips.
- Petroleum and beeswax are also good ingredients for lip balm. However, the effect of these products on each person is different so you may have to try several products to find the best one.
- Reapply lip balm before going outside in extreme weather.
Step 2. Use sunscreen
Sunscreen helps protect dry, chapped lips from further damage from going outside.
- Purchase a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher for optimal protection. Sunscreen SPF 15 or higher can be purchased at most pharmacies and supermarkets.
- Apply lip balm as a protective layer under sunscreen.
Step 3. Use home remedies
If you want a more natural method, there are a variety of home remedies you can use to relieve dry, chapped lips.
- Natural oils, such as coconut oil and mustard oil, can be used to moisturize dry lips. Dilute the pure oil with water or cooking oil, such as olive or canola oil, before applying it to the lips. Natural oils tend to be most effective for chapped lips due to bad weather.
- Cucumber can soothe and relieve dry, chapped lips. Eating cucumber and applying cucumber water on chapped lips can help.
- Aloe vera, which can be purchased at most pharmacies as a cream or gel, is a great chapped lip treatment. However, be careful, you may not like the taste of aloe vera. So, do not let aloe vera into the mouth when applied to the lips.
- Milk cream can smooth the skin all over the body, including the lips. Apply milk cream on dry chapped lips and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wipe the cream off your lips with a cotton ball soaked in lukewarm water. Repeat the procedure as needed until the lips heal.
Step 4. Talk to your doctor about using an antibiotic or antifungal cream
If dry chapped lips are severe and don't improve even with over-the-counter medications, see your doctor for a prescription.
- If your lips are inflamed and sore, see a doctor. Inflammation is usually harmless and caused by mild irritation, but it can also be a sign of a bacterial infection.
- Antibiotic and antifungal creams, such as hydrocortisone cream, can be used to treat chapped lips that become infected. You may get a prescription for an antibiotic or antifungal cream if your doctor thinks it's necessary. Always consult with your doctor about the various side effects that may occur as well as the rules for using the drug before starting to use a new drug.
- Steroid creams should not be used long term. Use as much and as long as the doctor recommends.
Part 2 of 3: Changing Habits
Step 1. Don't bite or lick your lips
Dry, chapped lips can be caused or exacerbated by the habit of biting or licking the lips. Both habits should not be done during the healing process of the lips.
- Licking your lips may sound helpful because it can provide relief and temporarily relieve dry lips. However, the saliva evaporates quickly so the lips become even drier after licking. Also, don't use flavored lip balms, as they can make you tempted to lick your lips.
- Biting your lips may be an anxious response. People often bite their lips unconsciously in response to anxiety-provoking situations. When in a situation that causes you to feel nervous, pay close attention to your body's habits. Are you biting your lip? If so, talk to a psychiatrist or therapist about a better method of dealing with anxiety. This method can help prevent chapped lips in the long run.
Step 2. Limit allergen exposure until the lips heal
Chapped lips are sometimes an allergic reaction itself, but it can also be a side effect of another allergic reaction, such as congestion (blockage of the airways).
- Some allergens, such as pollen in the air, can cause congestion. Congestion causes you to breathe through your mouth, causing your lips to become dry and chapped. If you are prone to allergies at certain times of the year, try to stay indoors as much as possible and use over-the-counter allergy medications to relieve allergy symptoms.
- Chapped lips can be an allergic response. If you recently started using a new shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, lipstick, or toothpaste, those products may be causing mouth irritation. If you have just started using a new product, try stopping the product for 1 week to see if your symptoms improve. If so, you are most likely allergic to the product.
- Even though dry lips may not be an allergic reaction to lipstick or lip balm, it's a good idea to stop using such products until your lips heal. Any product that is applied to the lips when they are dry or chapped can cause irritation and make or hinder the healing process of symptoms.
Step 3. Do not exfoliate the dry skin on the lips
If it's really bothering you, you may want to exfoliate the dry skin on your lips. While it may seem like a great way to speed up the healing process, exfoliating dry skin on your lips actually makes the condition worse.
- Exfoliating dry skin on the lips can cause bleeding and scab formation, slowing the healing process.
- If you're tempted to peel dry skin on your lips, try trimming your fingernails or applying tape to your fingertips so you don't accidentally peel them off.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Long Term Precautions
Step 1. Keep the body hydrated
Chapped lips are often caused by dehydration. Keeping your body hydrated can relieve chapped lips, especially during dry winters.
- Try to drink 2 liters of water every day. If you are active, you may need to drink more than 2 liters of water.
- If the air condition in the house is dry, buy a humidifier (a humidifier) to humidify the air in the house.
Step 2. Protect lips in certain weather conditions
In the fall, when the weather becomes cooler and drier, try to protect your lips before they dry out and crack.
- Always apply a lip balm that contains the right ingredients to protect your lips before going outside in cold weather. Lip wax and balm act as a protective layer so that the lips are protected from bad weather.
- Apply sunscreen, even in the fall and winter. UVB rays are still present during the day even though the weather is colder so the lips still need to be protected from the sun.
Step 3. Use flaxseed oil
Flaxseed oil has a number of health benefits. Incorporating healthy flaxseed oil into your diet can help prevent dry, chapped lips.
- Flaxseed oil can be applied directly to the lips. This method is a good option if chapped lips have already occurred. However, simply including flaxseed oil in your daily diet can prevent chapped lips before they happen.
- Flaxseed oil can be added to smoothies, oatmeal, dips, dressings, and sauces. If you touch your lips every day, the content of flaxseed oil in the food can strengthen and protect your lips so they don't dry out and crack.
- Flaxseed oil spoils quickly. So, pay close attention to the expiration date listed on the packaging. Buy them in small quantities so they can be used up before they break.
Warning
If chapped lips don't heal within a few weeks, check with your doctor to make sure you don't have a bacterial infection
Related article
- How to Overcome Chapped and Sore Lips
- How to Overcome Chapped Lips
- How to Prevent Dry Chapped Lips
