Say goodbye to chapped lips

Whether from winter winds or summer air conditioning, dry air can bring the discomfort of dry, chapped lips. Once the lips begin to crack and peel, the discomfort is hard to ignore. Licking them only makes matters worse.

Luckily, a soft pucker is only a few steps away. Read the guide below for tips on how to prevent lips from chapping in the first place, what to do when they dry and crack, and when it might be best to consult a health care provider.

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What causes chapped lips?

The skin on the lips is thinner and more sensitive than skin on the rest of the body. And because the face is rarely covered, the environment can be extremely punishing as well. Cold weather, dry indoor air, sun and wind all can cause lips to become cracked, dry and scaly.¹

What's more, if the body is dehydrated, lips will be, too. And there are no oil glands on lips to prevent excessive dryness. It may feel tempting to dampen this skin with the tongue, but as saliva evaporates, the lips become even drier.²

The skin can also become irritated with certain lipsticks and balms or if a person holds foreign objects, like pens or jewelry, in their mouth.³

That's a lot of factors to contend with. Here's how to help get those lips soft again.

How to help get rid of chapped lips

If the chapping is already underway, hydration is the first order of business. Bálsamo labial or ointment, applied frequently throughout the day, can help. That said, stay away from balms that contain lip-tingling ingredients such as camphor, eucalyptus or menthol.⁴

“Any form of alcohol, such as menthol or camphor, can be very irritating to lips and cause them to become even more dry after the initial cooling sensation wears off,” says Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.⁵

She also advises against using balms or ointments with chemical exfoliators, like salicylic acid, which are too harsh for delicate skin on lips.

Instead, look for lip balm for chapped lips with ingredients that seal in moisture and begin to repair cracked skin. Some of those include castor or hemp seed oil, ceramides, dimethicone and mineral oil. White petroleum jelly also does a good job of soothing chapped lips. Its thick formulation stays on lips longer than lip balms, and it doesn't contain additives that some people may be allergic to.⁶

Some products that tick these boxes include Burt’s Bees Renewing Lip Treatment with Natural Retinol Alternative and Ceramides, Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick y Vaseline Lip Balm Therapy.

Another option is the lip mask: a product that sits on the lip for an extended period to deliver hydrating ingredients. Lip masks can work for short periods of time, as with the Pop-arazzi Hydrating Hydrogel Lip Mask, which sits on the lip for about 15 minutes. Others, such as the Wet n Wild Perfect Pout - Mascarilla de noche para labios, Lavender, stay on overnight.

Flavored lip balms may be fun to use, but they can actually make chapped lips worse. Products containing cinnamon, citrus, mint and peppermint flavors can be especially irritating to lip skin, and people can be allergic to fragrances and flavorings - you may even find yourself licking off a flavored balm because it tastes good!⁷

"By frequently licking your lips, you are actually dehydrating them," says board-certified dermatologist Edidiong Kaminska, MD, the medical director of Kaminska Dermatology in Chicago. "Using a product without a flavor can help prevent that constant licking."⁸

To help with chapped lips, lip balm or ointment can be applied several times a day and liberally whenever it’s needed. Slicking on some before bedtime can also help prevent lips from becoming extra dry if you sleep with your mouth open. It can also be helpful to use a humidifier in the bedroom at night to add some moisture to the air.⁹

Also, try to avoid picking at the peeling skin, which can cause lips to bleed, further irritating them and prolonging the healing process. And drinking plenty of water helps the whole body, including the lips, stay hydrated.¹⁰

How to help prevent chapped lips

Just because you've healed your lips doesn't mean the job is done. Continued use of lip balm or ointment daily, applying it every few hours, can help. If wearing lipstick or lip gloss, apply the lip balm or ointment first.¹¹

When going outdoors, switch to a lip balm containing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher - even in winter. Reapply every two hours while exposed to the sun, and remember to take additional steps, such as wearing a hat and finding shade when possible.¹²

Anthony Rossi, MD, a dermatologic surgeon with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recommends lip balms with physical sun blockers, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which sit on top of the skin. But these mineral-based products can have a white cast on the lips, which some people may not like. In that case, using a lip balm with a chemical sun blocker, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet light, is sufficient, Dr. Rossi explains.¹³

Some lip products with SPF include Sun Bum - Bálsamo labial con FPS 30, Coconut, Burt’s Bees Beaches and Cream Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm y Aquaphor Lip Repair & Protect - Hidratante para labios, FPS 30, paquete de dos.

Home remedies for treating chapped lips

Aloe vera gel, coconut oil and honey have anti-inflammatory properties that, when applied to the lips, can also soothe and moisturize.¹⁴

Other steps are even easier. Staying hydrated is one way to avoid drying out the skin on your lips. Another is to resist holding metal objects in the mouth.

To keep lips looking smooth and supple, some people like to use scrubs to exfoliate them. If that option sounds appealing, Dr. Rossi recommends doing so gently and infrequently. "Exfoliating makes your lips look good because you are removing the top layer of dead skin cells," he says. "But once every two weeks is enough. If you over-exfoliate, you are creating inflammation," which can lead to irritated, dry lips, he adds.

When to seek medical attention

If someone struggles with chronically dry lips, or if over-the-counter (OTC) products aren't helping, it could be a sign that there is an underlying problem that needs medical attention. "You may be experiencing an allergic reaction, a yeast infection or actinic cheilitis, a precancerous condition that can cause lips to become severely dry and cracked," says Graf. In these cases, it's best to seek help from a dermatologist.¹⁵

Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.