Chapped lips are a problem that can hardly be avoided and solved instantly. Prevention is the best cure for most people. In other subjects it is not possible to prevent them, because they constitute a symptom and a side effect that lasts over time, so you need to keep them under control and learn to live with them. In most cases, they can be remedied (and prevented!) By staying hydrated and using lip balm. If, on the other hand, they are severely chapped or a recurring problem, you should consult your doctor.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Treating Chapped Lips
Step 1. Apply lip balm
Choose one made from simple beeswax or with sunscreen. The lip balm protects the lips from the elements, so don't forget to use it on the driest days, when there is sun or wind. It also goes to seal the cracks that are created on the surface, preventing any infections. Apply it before going out, after eating or drinking, or whenever the effect has worn off.
- Don't buy it flavored if you have a habit of licking your lips. Opt for an unpleasant-tasting lip balm with sunscreen.
- Avoid lip balm sold in jars, because by repeatedly dipping your finger in the cream, there is a risk of producing bacteria that can also attack chapped lips.
- Put a scarf or blanket in front of your mouth on windy days. You will prevent the lips from becoming irritated during healing.
Step 2. Avoid teasing them
Sure you'll be tempted to pinch them between your teeth, peel off bits of dry skin, and bite them when they are chapped, but it won't help the healing process. By doing so, you risk irritating them and making them bleed, slowing their recovery and favoring any infections. You could also trigger a cold sore if you are prone to this infectious disease.
Do not exfoliate if they are chapped! You have to treat them gently as they heal. Exfoliating could cause infections
Step 3. Stay hydrated to promote healing
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of this problem. Drink water and apply a moisturizer to your skin. This way, if the lips are slightly chapped, they can recover within a few hours. However, if their condition is more severe, it will take longer - drink with meals, before and after exercising, and whenever you feel thirsty.
Dehydration is not a particularly common problem in the winter. Prevent your home from drying out due to heating or buy a humidifier
Step 4. See your doctor
If your lips become red, sore, or inflamed, you may be suffering from cheilitis. It is inflammation caused by an irritation or infection. If they are so cracked that they crack, there is a risk that, where ulcerations form, bacteria that cause cheilitis are introduced. Your doctor may instruct you to apply antibiotic or antifungal cream until the problem is resolved. One of the most common causes of cheilitis, especially in children, is due to lip licking.
- Cheilitis can be a symptom of contact dermatitis. If you often suffer from skin rashes, consult your doctor to find out if it is contact dermatitis.
- Cheilitis can be acute or chronic.
- Certain medications, treatments, and supplements can increase the risk of getting cheilitis. The most common are retinoids. Others are lithium, high doses of vitamin A, D-penicillamine, isoniazid, phenothiazine and achylating (or chemotherapeutic) agents, such as busulfan and actinomycin.
- Chapped lips are also included in the symptoms of many diseases, such as autoimmune diseases (lupus and Crohn's disease), diseases that attack the thyroid gland and psoriasis.
- People with Down syndrome often have chapped lips.
Part 2 of 2: Preventing Chapped Lips
Step 1. Stop licking your lips
You are likely prone to automatically wetting them to hydrate them when you start to feel drier. Unfortunately, in this way you get the opposite effect, since the tongue removes the natural fat present on the surface, causing dehydration and cracking. If you find yourself licking them, apply lip balm. If it is compulsive, consult your doctor and ask him if he can recommend a psychotherapist or psychologist. Compulsive abuse of lips, licking, biting, and biting may indicate a disorder, such as obsessive-compulsive or body-focused repetitive behavior.
- Apply lip balm frequently to remind yourself not to lick them, pinch them between your teeth, or bite them. Opt for an unpleasant tasting product with sunscreen.
- Between the ages of 7 and 15 people are prone to developing cheilitis by licking the lips.
Step 2. Breathe through your nose
By breathing through your mouth, you may dehydrate your lips. If you tend to breathe through your mouth, learn to use your nose until you get used to it. Concentrate every day for a few minutes by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Try sleeping with a nasal dilator to help open the nasal passages.
Step 3. Eliminate allergens
Try to keep allergens and dyes out of your mouth. Even a mild allergy or intolerance to a food can lead to cracking of the lips. If you have not been diagnosed with hypersensitivity but have other symptoms in addition to chapped lips, such as digestive problems or skin rashes, see your doctor. If the problem is difficult to diagnose, see an allergist recommended by your doctor.
- Check the ingredients in the lip balm. Avoid anything you might be allergic to, like red dye.
- Some people are allergic to para-aminobenzoic acid, which is found in many SPF lip balms. If your throat becomes swollen or short of breath, stop the application and call 911.
Step 4. Stay hydrated and protect yourself
What's the best way to prevent lips from chapping? Act as if they are already cracked. Drink water with meals and whenever you are thirsty. Apply lip balm when you leave the house or when the heat is on. Cover your face on the windiest winter days and use an SPF lip balm on sunny days.
