Chapped Lips are brought on by unique symptoms that are not contagious. Cheilitis is a disorder that typically results from an infection on the corners of the lips, where the skin may be damaged. A sign of chapped lips is when the skin on your lips is extremely dry, flaky, or scaly. Lips that are chapped will have sores, bleeding fissures in the skin, and even puffiness.
Why Do I Have Chapped and Dry Lips?
1. Warm water
Lip skin is significantly thinner than skin elsewhere and lacks oil glands. They are more susceptible to becoming dry and painful as a result. Using really hot water to wash your face might dry out your lips by robbing them of their natural oils.
2. Drug-Related Side Effects
Some medications, including isotretinoin used for acne and antihistamines prescribed for allergies, have side effects that cause lips to become dry. Lithium and chemotherapy medications used to treat bipolar disorder can also result in chapped, dry lips.
3. Lickety Split
Another reason your lips become chapped and dry is if you lick them frequently. This occurs so that our food can be more easily digested, thanks to the enzymes in the saliva that coats our lips. When you lick your lips often, the skin on your lips starts to break down, which leads to chapped lips. Frequent lip-licking creates a vicious loop where you lick your lips to manage the dry feeling, which makes the dryness worse. It can result in lip licker’s dermatitis, which has symptoms like severe dryness and lip redness.
4. Weather and Low Water Intake
Dry lips might result from not drinking enough water or from living somewhere with cold, dry weather. Long periods of time in the sun during the summer can also dry out your lips. Lips can become chapped and dry even if you don’t frequently exfoliate them or use lip balms to keep them moisturised.
5. Medical Issues
Dry lips can also be caused by health issues like insufficient stomach acid, a bad diet, and an unhealthy gut. The body will take water from other parts of the body to hydrate its cells if you are dehydrated. Dry skin, chapped lips, and constipation may result from this.
Have you heard?
Dry lips may be a sign that your spleen isn’t working properly and that you’re not digesting your food and liquids well. The cheilitis that is brought on by excessive licking of the lips typically affects children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 15, but it can also happen to adults.
How Can You Get Rid of Dry Lips?
1. Purchase a quality lip balm
The simplest and best remedy for chapped lips is to keep a quality lip balm on hand at all times. Applying lip balm frequently can prevent dry lips. Choose lip balms with natural ingredients whenever possible. Dermatologists advise that a good lip balm should have any of the following components: Shea butter, beeswax, coconut oil, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and lanolin are among the ingredients. The following ingredients should not be used in lip balms or any other skincare product you use to treat chapped lips:
• Synthetic flavours or perfumes
• Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)—used as preservatives in lip balms; chemical sunscreen components
• Petrolatum, mineral oil, and petroleum jelly; parabens of any type
• Menthol, peppermint, and a cinnamon-flavoured aldehyde
• Salicylic acid
2. Scrub your lips
Dry lips can be gently exfoliated using a natural facial scrub. The dead skin will slough off as a result. However, be sure the scrub doesn’t contain salicylic acid or big grains that can worsen the issue. Use gramme flour paste as an excellent, gentle scrub.
3. Use natural remedies
You have all you need to treat dry lips in your kitchen and house. Applying honey, a natural moisturiser, is one option. Fatty acids found in coconut oil can emollient moisturise chapped lips. • Butter or ghee can lubricate your lips and replenish their natural oils. • Aloe vera gel used straight from the plant can heal chapped lips.
4. Utilize a humidifier
Invest in a humidifier for your house. You can moisten the air and keep your lips from drying out by doing so. If you frequently have cold, dry days with strong winds where you live, protect yourself by covering your mouth and using plenty of lip balm.
5. Consume more water
Drinking enough water throughout the day will keep you hydrated and stop your lips from drying out. Even coconut water can be consumed because it provides the body with the minerals it needs to stay hydrated.
How to Avoid Chapped Lips
• Refrain from using hot water or excessive scrubbing or exfoliation to prevent chapped lips.
• Use a lip balm with SPF 15 when going outside, or apply your moisturiser or sunscreen to your lips as well.
• You should increase the amount of healthy fat in your diet, such as fish oil and coconut oil.
These aid in lubricating the intestines, decreasing intestinal inflammation, and enhancing body hydration levels. If you have dry lips, avoid using metal cutlery or holding anything metallic in between your lips to prevent further irritation. If you are prone to dry lips in the winter, consume more prepared meals like stews, soups, and broths with spices like turmeric and ginger. If you have chapped lips, always apply lip balm before applying lipstick. Salads, ice cream, and fruits can harm the spleen, disrupt fluid metabolism, and produce dry lips. It will prevent your lips from being chapped and dry and give the lipstick a smoother finish.
Why Doesn’t Drinking Water Treat Chapped Lips?
Your digestive tract may get ill if you are dehydrated. Short-term relief from chapped lips may not be possible if you don’t drink enough water over the long term. To keep your lips from getting chapped, you should do all of the above, including drinking enough water.
How Long Does It Take for Chapped Lips to Heal?
Chapped lips can take anywhere from a day to two to three weeks to fully heal, depending on their state. If your lips continue to crack, peel, or bleed even after you’ve tried every treatment, you should see a doctor.
Conclusion
For chapped lips to regain their original suppleness, intensive care is required. You may keep them moisturised by using a decent lip balm produced with natural ingredients, drinking enough water, and avoiding the sun.