Keeping lips moisturized can be a never-ending battle, especially in the winter. If you live in a harsh climate, chances are that sooner or later you will find yourself chapped lips during the cold months. However, you can solve the problem directly, using the humidity to your advantage, protecting the lips from the elements and avoiding certain products and foods to help the lips heal.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Keeping Lips Hydrated
Step 1. Drink lots of water
When you don't drink enough, you become dehydrated and your skin dries up, including your lips. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to soften your lips.
Step 2. Turn on a humidifier
Dry air can dry the skin, while a correct percentage of humidity can help the skin stay hydrated. Dry air is a problem especially in winter, so put a humidifier in your bedroom to keep your skin and lips properly hydrated.
Step 3. Use cucumbers
Some people have found positive results using a cucumber to rehydrate their lips. Simply cut it into slices and place it on your lips for 5-10 minutes.
Step 4. Apply aloe vera
When the lips are chapped, slight cuts are formed and aloe vera can help heal these small lesions. It also helps relieve pain resulting from cracking. You can apply pure aloe vera gel to your lips a couple of times a day.
Step 5. Try a ceramide based lip balm or product
Lips typically already have natural protection that allows them to stay moist, but sometimes weather conditions and food destroy these defenses. A cosmetic containing ceramides encourages the reconstruction of this barrier and has a refreshing action on chapped lips.
Step 6. Apply hydrocortisone cream
If your lips are in really bad shape and you don't get positive results with other methods, you can try spreading a hydrocortisone cream a couple of times a day. While you shouldn't use this solution for too long, you can apply it for up to a week to restore your lips to their original softness, giving them a chance to become healthy again.
The best time to apply this cream is in the evening before bedtime, when you plan on not eating or drinking anything else
Step 7. Take a moisturizer, such as Aquaphor, to put on in the morning
As soon as you wake up in the morning, apply a moisturizer to activate the lip hydration process throughout the day.
Part 2 of 3: Avoid Lips Harm
Step 1. Put on a scarf
Not only does the scarf protect your neck and chest, it can also provide protection for your lips if you place it over your mouth. The wind is a terrible enemy for chapped lips, so if you can prevent it from hitting them, you can prevent the problem at its source.
Step 2. Use a lip balm every day
Use a natural lip balm frequently, especially in winter. It not only has a moisturizing action, but also protects the lips from atmospheric agents.
Step 3. Apply lip balm before washing your face
To wash your face, you will likely use a specific cleanser to exfoliate the skin or remove the sebum. These actions can damage your lips instead of helping them, so protect them by applying conditioner first. The oil contained in the conditioner blocks the dehydrating effects of the cleanser.
Step 4. Apply sunscreen
Put on a sunscreen or choose a lip balm that has at least an SPF of 15. It's important to protect your lips from sunburn too, as it could make them even more chapped.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing What to Avoid
Step 1. Avoid moistening your lips
It is probably an automatic gesture for you too to run your tongue over your lips when they feel dry. However, doing so only makes the situation worse, because the saliva actually dehydrates them even more.
Step 2. Do not apply artificial products
When buying lip balm, don't choose it from those that contain artificial colors and flavors. Natural fats, such as shea butter and coconut oil, are more effective for moisturizing the lips.
Step 3. Don't eat citrus fruits
The acid contained in these fruits can help make lips even more chapped, so try to avoid them, especially when the lips are particularly painful.
Step 4. Stop eating spicy foods
Like citrus fruits, spices in spicy foods can also irritate the lips, especially if the foods also contain acidic substances, such as spicy chicken wings. Avoid eating this type of food for some time if you have dry lips problems.
Step 5. Do not use exfoliating products containing salicylic acid
These types of products can actually exacerbate your problem.
Step 6. Check the medications you are taking
If you chronically suffer from chapped and dry lips, the responsibility could be attributed to one of the medications you are taking. For example, those for hypertension can cause this problem. Even if you don't have to completely stop taking the medicine because of chapped lips, your doctor can still prescribe a different medication that doesn't cause this side effect.
Step 7. Change the toothpaste
Some dental pastes, especially those with artificial ingredients, can irritate the lips and, consequently, the irritation can dry out the lips over time.
Advice
- Don't lick your lips or the surrounding area.
- You can use coconut oil to take care of your lips.
- Petroleum jelly is also a very effective lip balm.
- If chapped lips are a constant problem, see your doctor, as the cracking could indicate a yeast infection around the mouth or an allergic reaction to a product.
