Ah, it is the most wonderful time of the year again. Leaves falling, hot tea, the first frost, and Christmas shopping are amazing. But the less desired part of this whole season is chapped lips. They can appear on anyone no matter the age, skincare routine, or skin tone. There are many ways besides the classic chapstick to treat this affliction, so let’s find out more about it.

What causes chapped lips?

This topic is particularly important in our discussion because it can also lead to the easy fix of this problem. Chapped lips appear due to the fact that the hydration in the superficial layers of the lips gets dry and starts to flake to make room for new tissue. This dehydration of the tissue is caused by lifestyle problems, environmental agents, health issues, or skincare flaws. Let’s take them one by one.

Lifestyle

The lifestyle problems that lead to this affliction is linked to the intake of water and eating habits. Our body is made of about 70% water so if you don’t drink enough, your body will let you know. Chapped lips are one of the main symptoms of chronic dehydration besides nausea, headaches, and overall dry skin. In addition, the lack of vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals also leads to chapped lips because the skin cells don’t get enough nutrients, so be careful to add enough fruit and veggies in your diet. Smoking is also a factor that leads to this problem because it irritates the skin cells and leads to flawed tissue reparation.

Environment

Environmental agents are perhaps the most obvious causes of chapped lips. “Windburn” is the common term to describe chapped lips in the dry season, or when we stay too long in windy weather. You have to imagine that the wind blows off all the hydration and warmth from the skin cells and they dry out and die. Keeping your lips and face covered with a scarf can protect the skin. Also, a very important point is to NOT LICK YOUR LIPS during windy or cold weather because it will make your skin even more sensitive and it can lead to very chapped and bloody lips.
There are also some afflictions that cause chapped lips. In this list, we can include dermatological and renal illnesses that need special medical treatment to deal with effectively.

Skincare

Be very careful when you choose your next chapstick because even some of the big and popular brands contain drying agents. Try to stay away from the following ingredients:

● Menthol
● Camphor
● Phenol
● Alcohol
● Perfumes

All these ingredients dry out the skin and lead to even worse chapped lips. Also, don’t apply lipstick on chapped lips even if they are hydrating because all the dye and other ingredients will cause even more flaking.

How to treat chapped lips?

As we discussed before, lifestyle changes can greatly help your lips and your comfort during this season. Also, make sure that you drink the recommended amount of water and you eat enough vitamin and mineral-rich foods. Some of the recommended ingredients: petroleum, lanolin, beeswax, and ceramides. Make sure that these ingredients are some of the first in the ingredient list and if you want to have a more home-made approach you can go for: coconut oil, aloe vera, honey, and even argan oil.

In addition, make sure you constantly exfoliate your lips to get rid of the dead cells and make room for the new cells. To take extra care of your lips you can also go for overnight lip masks and serums to maintain the healthy structure and hydration of your lips. Wearing a scarf and covering your lips is also a great way to protect your lips from windburn and dehydration.

Lip care should be a constant part of your skincare routine, and if they are properly taken care of they will beautifully frame each of your smiles this cold season!

References:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324281#natural-lip-remedies
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/chapped-lips