Licking or biting your lips can be a sign of stress or a health problem. Dentist. doctors, and beauticians agree that this is a bad habit and should be stopped. If licked, lips can become dry and painful. Learning to break the habit of licking your lips may take time, but it will benefit your health.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Knowing the Reasons Why Lips Are Licked
Step 1. Watch as you lick your lips
Once you know that licking your lips is a problem, pay attention when you do it. This will help remind you to break the bad habit. It will also give you information on whether the cause is related to a health problem or stress.
- Do you lick your lips at certain times, like in the morning when you wake up? This could be an indication that you are dehydrated.
- Do you lick your lips at work? This could be a sign of stress or concentration.
- Do you lick your lips after eating? This could be a sign of dehydration or a habit of cleaning up food on your lips.
Step 2. Identify the things that stress you out
Stress can have a bad effect on the skin. Identify the causes of stress in your life and determine whether it is causing your lip licking habit or not. Try using stress relief techniques to relieve or reduce stress. You can try:
- Meditation.
- Yoga.
- Sport.
- Anxiety medicine.
- Sleep longer.
- Looking for a new hobby.
Step 3. Write down the habits you have
Writing down the time you licked your lips will help develop strategies for dealing with it. You can then go through the notes and consider why you licked your lips. This can help you break the habit because the thought of writing can be a sincline.
Method 2 of 3: Stop Licking Your Lips
Step 1. Try a lip balm that tastes bad
To try not to lick your lips, try applying an unpleasant-tasting substance to your lips. The substances in question can be lip balm that tastes bad, petroleum jelly, or even chili sauce. A negative reaction to the taste will incline you to stop licking your lips. However, do not apply a toxic substance on the lips!
Step 2. Keep yourself busy
If you lick your lips during certain activities, try to focus your attention on something else, like sucking on candy or chewing gum. These activities are good for distracting because they are similar to your subconscious habits.
Step 3. Apply lipstick
The use of cosmetics can help you break the habit because in addition to the unpleasant taste, lipstick will also fade if you lick it often. If you lick your lips in public, the motivation to keep your makeup clean can help break the habit.
Step 4. Use positive encouragement
Reward yourself for breaking the habit of licking your lips. Set goals like: “I won't lick my lips until lunch time.” Setting reasonable targets can help you break the habit.
Method 3 of 3: Preventing the Damage
Step 1. Keep your body well hydrated
Licked lips will become dry. You may subconsciously lick your lips from the salt. This could be an indication that you are not drinking enough water. Keep your body hydrated by drinking the required amount of water according to your lifestyle.
Step 2. Use almond oil
Almond oil is a healthy, delicious oil that can help keep your lips hydrated and moisturized.
Step 3. Do not shower with hot water
Hot water can cause dry skin. To help soothe damaged skin, don't take long hot showers. Instead, take colder, shorter showers.
Step 4. Dress appropriately
Various elements can cause dry skin. When the weather is cold, the winds can be quite brutal. Cover your neck and mouth with a scarf to prevent it from drying out even more.
Step 5. Use a humidifier
A humidifier will help humidify the air in a room. This can help moisturize the skin naturally. Cold weather often makes the air dry and harmful to the skin.
Step 6. Wear sunscreen
Always protect your lips. Use a lip balm that contains sunscreen with at least SPF 15 protection. This will help heal dry lips and prevent further sun damage.
