Content

• Steps

Dry chapped lips can be upsetting. Dry, flaky, and wrinkled lips not only hurt, but also make your lips look mummified. You would normally default to dry lips with regard to the harsh winter weather but dry lips can happen at any time of the year.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Lip Care Methods

1. 

   Provides moisture to the lips. The fastest way to soften your lips is to apply a lip balm that contains moisturizing ingredients like grease (found in Vaseline). Besides that, other moisturizing ingredients include beeswax and shea butter.
   • Avoid long-lasting matte lipsticks as these will dry out your lips.

2. 

   
   
   Protect your lips from the sun. The lip balm or ointment you use should have a sun protection factor of at least 30. Remember to take special care of your lower lip as it will experience more sun exposure than your upper lip.

3. 

   Watch for allergens. If you feel that lipsticks or creams are not improving chapped lips, check the ingredients in the product. You may be allergic to a sunscreen ingredient like avobenzone.
   • Fragrances and dyes can cause allergies. Be sure to choose a lip balm that has no gloss and odorless grease in the ingredients.
   • Some common allergenic ingredients in lip balms include menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor.
   • Be aware that using lip gloss can cause acute or chronic cheilitis. This is most likely related to dermatitis or atopic dermatitis. Using too much lip gloss can lead to this.

4. 

   
   
   Exfoliate your lips. If your lips are very flaky, exfoliating with a toothbrush or a lip scrub will remove dead skin and return beautiful, smooth lips. You can buy an exfoliating product at most cosmetic stores, but you can also make this simple recipe yourself.
   • Mix 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon honey, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in a small bowl. Apply the mixture and rub gently to let it seep into your lips. After wiping the mixture with a clean towel, apply lip balm with grease immediately to soften lips.
   • Remember not to exfoliate too many times; once or twice a week is what you need.
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Part 2 of 3: Prevent Chapped Lips

1. 

   
   
   Limit your exposure to dry air. Since lips release only a little bit of moisture, they are very sensitive to changes in the humidity in the air. Cold air is the most common cause, but dry air from a heater or air conditioner can also hurt your lips.

2. 

   Increase the humidity of the air. Although you cannot control the outdoor air, you can use a humidifier indoors. It is best to use an air humidifier during sleep and when your lips are left unattended for a long time.

3. 

   Hydration for the body. You can keep your lips plump and moisturized by drinking 8-12 glasses of water a day.

4. 

   Protect the lips from the effects of the environment. In addition to wearing a lip balm with sun protection (try a product with SPF 30), you should also use a shawl to cover your lips especially when going out in the cold. Remember to always apply lip balm before going out on low temperatures.

5. 

   Breathe through your nose. If you normally breathe through your mouth, this can dry out your lips. So take a deep breath through your nose to prevent your lips from drying out.

6. 

   Stop licking your lips. One of the main causes of dry chapped lips is licking your lips. Saliva helps digest food, it has an acidic enzyme that corrodes the top layer of the lips.
   • While it may feel like licking your lips temporarily softens your lips, it will actually cause a lot of damage to your lips.
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Part 3 of 3: Understanding the Causes of Dry Lips

1. 

   Be aware of how thin your lips are. Lip skin is the thinnest skin layer on the body. Worse still, the environment is often exposed to environmental agents. Therefore, the lips are susceptible to damage because of its texture and position on the face.
   • Lips also have fewer natural oil glands that help retain moisture. That means you'll need to stay hydrated when your lips lose moisture.

2. 

   Avoid the sun. Often when it comes to sunburn, lips are rarely thought of but lips can also get sunburned and dry due to the effects of UVA / UVB rays.
   • Skin cancer can also occur in the lips.

3. 

   Check out the vitamins you are taking. Sometimes dry lips are caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B2; If you have tried several treatments for dry lips that have not been effective, you should see your doctor to check for vitamin deficiency.

4. 

   Note some medications. Medicines like Accutane are often used to treat acne that can cause dry, flaky lips. If you are taking this medication, you should take regular care of your lips.

5. 

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