Chapped lips are a year-round problem. Be it winter, spring, summer or fall, those uncomfortable, unsightly flakes seem impossible to get rid of. Fortunately, dry, cracked lips can be helped. Learn how to heal chapped lips, what causes them, and what you can do to get that silky-smooth pout.
WHAT CAUSES CHAPPED LIPS?
1. Skin irritants
Choose your lip care products carefully. Many cosmetic lines contain ingredients that are likely to irritate your lips. Common examples include menthol and camphor. Watch out for these ingredients in waxy lip balms and petroleum-based products. Many popular formulas favor petroleum because it’s cheap and acts as an effective barrier against weather elements, but it doesn’t actually contain any hydrating properties and its refined properties could be hurting you. Instead, read labels to look for natural, emollient ingredients such as shea butter, beeswax, and almond oil.
2. Licking your lips
Licking your lips leads to a vicious chapped cycle. You instinctively lick your lips because they feel dry, leaving behind a soothing layer of lubricating saliva. This saliva evaporates quickly and ultimately leaves your lips dryer than before. Moreover, saliva acts like a lens to intensify sun exposure.
3. Allergies
You might be allergic to an ingredient in your favorite lip product without being aware of it. Certain ingredients and fragrances in cosmetics or even toothpaste can cause cracked, flakey lips. If you notice a flare-up after using a particular product, try eliminating it from your routine and avoid the same allergen in other products to see if it makes any difference in the condition of your lips.
4. Sun damage
Prevent chapped lips by protecting against sun damage and use products containing at least SPF 15. Even a general sunscreen can be applied to the lips, whose compounds will help skin regenerate and hydrate. Look for creams rich in Vitamin E, as these are the most effective in healing sun-damaged lips.
5. Smoking and drinking
If you’ve tried the above methods and still don’t know how to heal dry lips, consider your lifestyle choices. We’ve established chapped lips can be caused by dryness in the atmosphere, but dehydration can also come from what you consume. Alcohol is a dehydrating compound that will have a drying effect when it comes into contact with the skin. Likewise, caffeine is known to cause dehydration, and should be avoided by those suffering from severe chapping. Your lips don’t produce any oils that act as protective barriers, so avoid smoking to prevent chemicals from sucking out the moisture you need.
By Colorescience