 |
| Home Remedies For Chapped Lips |
Say Goodbye To Chapped Lips With These Simple Tricks And Home Remedies
Dry or chapped lips are a common problem that can be
unattractive and painful. Common symptoms can include redness, dryness, and
flaking, cracking and sore or tender lips. A few of the main causes include an
allergic reaction, vitamin deficiency, smoking, dehydration, over-licking of
the lips, harsh weather or exposure to the sun. There are plenty of commercial
products out there for chapped lips, however you can save money and get relief
easily with home remedies for dry lips.
Even though this is the
most common factor, sometimes there are some more serious causes for persistent
chapped lips like:
1. Sun damage to the lips
that has become a precancerous condition
2. Allergies
3. Inflammatory skin
disease
How To Get Rid Of Chapped Lips – Common Causes And Prevention Methods
The following tips will help you in the treatment and prevention of chapped lips:
Stay Hydrated:
Cracked lips can
happen as a result of a lack of water in the organism, meaning that you should
up your water intake to stay hydrated and prevent the problem before it
happens.
Use lip products with a
sun protection factor (SPF). They will protect your lips from sun damage,
which can lead to chapped lips.
Don’t Lip-Lick:
Dry lips can urge
people to lick them to shake off the feeling of dryness. However, this habit
can actually make matters worse and you enter an endless vicious circle. Fight
the urge to lick your lips and apply some lip balm instead.
Don’t Exfoliate:
Exfoliation can
make dry lips even more uncomfortable which is why it’s not recommended. The
skin on the lips will regenerate on its own in time.
Choosing the Right Chapped Lip Product
It’s best to use a basic
lip balm, petrolatum or paraffin based which can keep moisture in your lips,
protect them from the elements, and give them time to heal. This is the primary
ingredient in “medicated” lip products as well.
Cockerell says “My
recommendation is to put on Vaseline Intensive Lip Therapy or Chap Stick
frequently throughout the day,” who adds that you should also choose one with
sunscreen protection. “Your skin will return to normal over a period of time.”
If you frequently suffer
from chapped lips you shouldn’t go through your medicine cabinet on the first
signs of the condition. Try the following advices to prevent and relieve the
situation
Antibiotic Ointment:
“You probably
don’t need this unless you have an infection,” says Cockerell. She adds that if
you suspect your lips are infected it’s best that you consult a doctor to find
the best course of treatment instead of trying self-medications.
Zinc Oxide:
That’s mainly a
sunscreen. It won’t treat chapped lips, but will help prevent sun damage”.
Hydrocortisone:
This steroid cream can
cause a problem with thinning of the skin around the mouth and the development
of an acne-like condition. Don’t overdo the hydrocortisone or the steroids.
Natural Products
Natural products, like beeswax, Shea butter, lanolin, mentholatum and coconut oil are recommended for lip care but you should be vary when using it because they can lead to allergies and make your dry, cracked lips even worse.
Home Remedies For Chapped Lips
Below are some useful
home remedies for chapped lips.
Rose Water and Honey
This is a remedy which will help to prevent cracks on
your lips and act as a great moisturizer. All of the elements of honey and rose
water come together to moisturize your skin, leaving you with new and
refreshed lips.
How to Use:
- Mix one teaspoon of rose water and one teaspoon of honey in a bowl.
- Put the mixture on your lips and leave it there for around 15 minutes.
- Wash away the solution with regular water and pat dry.
- Do this every day on a regular basis until your feel lips are renewed.
Jojoba Oil
This oil can moisturize your lips by nurturing the cells
within the lips. It can also help in building new skin cells, which in turn
repair your skin right away. Jojoba oil will give you a natural immediate
relief from chapped lips.
How to Use:
Home remedies for dry lips don’t have to be complicated.
Just take a few drops of the jojoba oil and put it on the area which is
affected. Leave it on for around 15 minutes.
Green Tea Bag
This is the best of all home remedies for dry lips and
also the oldest home remedy which many follow. The wet green tea bag can
effectively moisturize your dry lips.
How to Use:
Take 1 used green tea bag and press it against your lips
for at least 4 minutes. Do this every day to raise the moisture content of your
lips.
Lemon Juice
This home remedy will stop the aging of skin. It
will help to nourish the sensitive skin on your lips, which results in softer
and smoother lips.
How to Use:
- Mix together 1 teaspoon of cream or milk with 3 drops of lemon juice in a bowl.
- Put the bowl in the refrigerator for an hour, then take it out.
- Put the mixture on and around your lips before going to bed.
- If you do this for 3 days, you’ll get the best results.
Milk Cream
This remedy has a high content of fat that helps your
lips to be moisturized naturally.
How to Use:
- Get some fresh milk cream and put it on your lips. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Dip a cotton ball into lukewarm water and wash your lips gently with it.
- Do this daily, so you can get faster relief from your chapped lips.
- As a natural moisturizer, aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties that help to heal the pain by soothing it. It also has hygroscopic properties that can moisturize your dry lips.
Cucumber
Home remedies for dry lips include cucumbers which can
fight chapped lips to make them smooth again.
How to Use:
- Take one slice of cucumber and gently rub it over your dry lips. Ensure that the juice is put all over your lips.
- Leave it on for around 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse your lips with water.
- Repeat this process several times a day to get a fast fix from dry lips.
Coconut Oil
This is one of the greatest natural moisturizers that
help heal chapped, dry lips that are caused by dry or cold weather.
How to Use:
- Use a few drops of pure coconut oil and put it right on your dry lips.
- This process has to be done many times a day to keep your lips moist all the time.
- You can also use mustard oil or olive oil instead for the same healing.
Mango Butter or Oil
Mango Butter or oil is full of fatty acids which
make them great emollients. The fats have stearic and oleic acids that act as
triglycerides. It has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, meaning one end
attracts water while the other repels it. It softens your lips but locking in
the moisture.
How to Use:
- Take a small amount of oil or mango butter and put it on your lips, leaving it there until its dry.
- Wash with water and remember to repeat the process to get complete relief from chapped and dry lips.
Sugar
Sugar exfoliates the dead cells in your chapped lips,
plus helps to restore the natural softness. It takes away your dry lips and
makes them smooth and soft, making it one of the best home remedies for
dry lips.
How to Use:
- Take a small amount of sugar and use a teaspoon of olive oil to mix it with.
- Rub the mixture on your lips gently and keep it there for 10 minutes, and then rinse it with lukewarm water.
More Tips For Chapped Lips
- One of the most common causes for dry lips is dehydration. Therefore, drink enough fluids and use a humidifier in your home to moisten the air and prevent dehydration.
- Stay away from allergens or irritants like dyes or fragrances in skin care products or cosmetics. Stay away from foods such as mustard, pepper, orange juice, barbecue sauce, and alcoholic beverages. Check as well whether there are any ingredients in your mouth wash or toothpaste that will cause an allergic reaction.
- Put a lubricating lip balm or cream that contains sunscreen on your lips before going outside in the dry, cold weather. Cover your lips with a scarf while you are outside.
- Eat fresh vegetables and fruits of different colors to get the nutrition essential to your needs, especially vitamins A, B, C, B2 and E, plus iron.
- Do not peel the dead skin off your lips, but instead clean it with a cotton ball that has been soaked in warm water or with a soft bristled toothbrush.
- Avoid licking your lips, as saliva dries quickly, leaving your lips drier than before you licked them.
- Breathe through your nose, as breathing through your mouth can make your lips dry out.
