Chapped Lips |
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Symptoms of Chapped
Lips
Some of
the primary symptoms of chapped lips
are dryness on the lips and around the
mouth, flakiness, tenderness, and sensitivity.
This is typically followed by cracking,
splitting, or peeling of skin. As the
skin peels off, it exposes raw areas
underneath and may cause bleeding. The
lips become sensitive to hot, salty,
tangy, and spicy foods and beverages.
In some cases, the skin may become infected
and crusts may form with underlying
pus.
| Preventing
Chapped Lips
Preventing
chapped lips can also prevent
a large amount of discomfort and
agony. Here are a few simple suggestions
that may be used to prevent chapped
lips:
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Always
put on lip balm or moisturizer
before exposure to harsh weather
conditions such as excessive
heat or chill. In fact, it
is very beneficial to apply
lip balm even when the weather
outside is seemingly favorable. |
|
Begin using
wax-based lip balms in the
fall to prevent the lips from
chapping in the winter. These
lip balms are hardly restorative
and do not aid in repairing
lips that are already chapped,
so they are ideally used as
a preventive measure. |
|
Ensure that
your lip balm contains sunscreen
with an SPF of at least 15
to protect lips from harmful
UV rays. |
|
Drink plenty
of water. If the body is well-hydrated,
the lips will also be moist
which will prevent cracking
and chapping. |
|
Consider
taking a multivitamin each
day. Lip problems such as
dryness and sores are often
the result of nutrient deficiency,
and in particular, a deficiency
of vitamin B complex and iron. |
|
Avoid licking
or wetting the lips with the
tongue. It may seem like this
action can aid in moisturizing
the lips, but when the saliva
evaporates from the lips,
the lips are drier than they
were before. |
|
Use a humidifier
when you are indoors, especially
during the nighttime. Dry
indoor air can drain the essential
moisture from the lips and
cause them to become dry and
lifeless. |
|
Natural Cures
The delicate skin of
the lips can easily become damaged when
the weather is extreme, such as during
the drying heat of summer or bitter
cold of winter. However, nature has
plenty of remedies to heal chapped lips.
Here are a few such natural cures:
Cocoa
butter
Cocoa butter
is renowned for its excellent emollient,
moisturizing, and antioxidant properties.
It is absorbed very easily into the
skin and is especially beneficial for
softening and protecting dry hands and
chapped lips. Liberally apply lip balms
containing cocoa butter onto dry and
chapped lips.
Honey
Honey has
moisturizing, restorative, and antibacterial
properties. The natural sugar that is
present in honey also works as an effective
exfoliate. Here are a few suggestions
on how to use honey to cure chapped
lips:
 |
Apply a thin layer
of pure honey onto lips before going
to bed at night or apply honey onto
the lips throughout the day. |
|
Mix equal quantities
of honey and glycerin and apply
this mixture onto the lips several
times during the day. |
|
Make a soothing
lip balm at home with the following
ingredients: |
|
¼
cup vegetable oil |
|
¼ ounce
shaved beeswax |
|
1 teaspoon honey |
|
10 drops essential
oil of lemon |
In a saucepan, heat vegetable oil and
add beeswax until it melts. Mix in honey
and essential oil. Pour the balm into
lip balm containers while it is still
warm to touch and allow the balm to
cool.
Olive
Oil
Extra virgin
olive oil is considered to be a fantastic
moisturizer for dry lips. Olive oil
contains polyphenol compounds that act
as antioxidants to repair sun-damaged
skin.
|
Mix
olive oil and melted beeswax in
equal quantities, add in your favorite
essential oil for fragrance, and
apply to heal chapped lips. |
|
Simply coat
your lips with a generous layer
of extra virgin olive oil and leave
it on overnight to obtain smooth
lips. |
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