Chapped lips can be irritating, itchy, and even a bit painful. And they can crop up at any time of the year. From cold winter air that dries them out, to sun exposure on hot summer days, we’re never quite clear of chapped lips. It’s one thing if you’re diligent about keeping your lips hydrated on the daily, but if we had to guess, most people don’t think much about their lip health until they become chapped. If you’re nodding your head, read on to find out the best home remedies for chapped lips, plus ways to prevent them.
7 Causes of Chapped Lips
- Cold air
- Hot or dry weather
- Sun exposure
- Frequently licking your lips
- Dehydration
- Vitamin deficiency (iron, vitamin B)
- Medical conditions (allergies, thyroid disorder, and some autoimmune disorders) or reaction to a medication
5 Ways to Prevent Chapped Lips
1. Apply lip balm throughout the day
The best way to prevent dry lips is to ensure they’re nice and moisturized. Apply a lip balm throughout the day and before you go to bed. Make sure it’s non-irritating, fragrance free, and hypoallergenic. Avoid ingredients such as camphor, menthol, or eucalyptus as these can irritate your lips.
2. Use SPF on your lips outdoors
To prevent your lips from getting sunburned, apply a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher before going outdoors. Even in the winter, it’s important to protect your lips from the sun. If your lips are already dry and chapped, SPF is even more important as the sun can burn them more easily.
3. Don’t lick your lips
If your lips start to feel dry, it can be tempting to wet them by licking your lips, but this can actually worsen the problem. As saliva evaporates, your lips become drier. Picking or biting your lips also irritates them. If you catch yourself licking your lips, apply a non-irritating lip balm instead.
4. Stop using irritating products
Many people mistake discomfort, such as stinging, burning or tingling as a sign that the active ingredients in their lip products are working. In reality, you’re actually irritating your lips, which can result in dry, chapped lips. Stop using any products that irritate your lips in any way.
5. Keep your skin hydrated
It’s important to keep your skin hydrated to prevent your lips from getting dry and cracked. Drink plenty of water and place a humidifier in your bedroom for when you sleep. This will be especially helpful if you sleep with your mouth open.
7 Home Remedies For Chapped Lips
1. Sugar Exfoliation
Before applying a lip chap remedy, do a sugar exfoliation. When dead skin cells build up on your lips, they prevent your lips from getting the moisture they need. Gently exfoliating your lips with a sugar scrub will help remove dead skin cells.
Combine one tablespoon of sugar with one tablespoon of an emollient like coconut oil or honey. Mix thoroughly and apply with a clean finger. Gently rub your lips in a circular motion for one minute and wipe off the excess scrub when finished. Apply one of the remedies below immediately afterwards as failing to moisturize after a lip scrub can worsen chapped lips.
2. Coconut Oil
Your lips have a poor barrier function, meaning they’re more sensitive to the elements than the skin on the other parts of your body. Coconut oil is an emollient that moisturizes the skin, but it also protects the skin by improving its barrier function. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that are beneficial to chapped lips. Apply it as needed throughout the day using a cotton swab or a clean finger.
3. Aloe Vera
You may know that aloe vera is one of the best home remedies for sunburns. Well, the same anti-inflammatory and soothing effects make it an excellent remedy for chapped lips. You can use fresh aloe vera from the leaf of an aloe plant or use it in a gel form. Apply it only two to three times a day as the enzymes in aloe vera have exfoliating properties.
4. Shea Butter
Shea butter has a number of benefits for the lips. First of all, it provides a protective barrier that helps lock in moisture, keeping the lips hydrated. It’s also a natural emollient, which helps soften the skin. The fatty acids in shea butter will nourish and moisturize the skin, leaving your lips soft and supple. The fatty acids also help repair the skin’s natural barrier, which is essential for keeping the lips healthy. You can apply shea butter to your lips as needed throughout the day.
5. White Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)
White petroleum jelly such as Vaseline is non-irritating and can be used throughout the day and before bed. It works particularly well for lips that are very dry and cracked. Ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils. However, if your lips are sunburnt it’s best to find an alternative option as petroleum jelly will seal in the heat from a burn.
6. Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is another wonderful remedy for chapped lips. It’s an emollient that provides a great source of natural antioxidants. It adds a protective hydrating layer to the lips, helping protect them from extreme temperatures and indoor heat that can leave your lips dried out. It helps soften and moisturize the skin and is often found in lip treatment products because of its soothing benefits.
7. Honey
Honey has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties that can help moisturize your lips and protect cracked lips from infection. It also works as a mild exfoliator to help remove dry, dead skin from your lips. Use an organic honey and apply it to your lips throughout the day with clean fingers or a cotton swab.
If you suffer from chapped lips, we hope these remedies and prevention tips help you get smoother, softer lips!
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