Chapped lips

Chapped lips are dry and tender. They are caused due to lack of moisture in the lips. Once lips are chapped, their ability to retain moisture is further reduced thereby leading to a worsening chronic condition. It is essential to take adequate care of the sensitive skin of the lips.

Causes

1. Living in a dry place can make your skin parched and craving for hydration. It is essential to get enough water to keep your skin and lips adequately hydrated.

2. The sun and wind also have a drying effect on your skin and lips. Sunburn can also rob the lips of moisture and cause chapping.

3. Deficiences of riboflavin or other Vitamin B group or iron can lead to chapped lips.

4. Lip licking - This is a habit that can lead to chapping of lips on account of the loss of natural oils. The chemicals in saliva work on the sensitive skin on the lips and causes them to chap.

5. Smoking - The natural oil from the lips is lost.

6. Other causes - Allergic reaction to cosmetics such as lipstick or lip gloss. Ill-fitting dentures and lip biting can lead to chapping of lips. A diet lacking in essential fatty acids can also lead to dry and chapped lips.

Treatments

1. Regular use of sunblock on the lips before going out into the sunny outdoors. A sunscreen with SPF 15 or more can keep the effects of the sun's UV rays at bay.

2. Use a base of petroleum jelly or lip balm on your lips before you apply lipstick.

3. Use cool saltwater compress on chapped lips to keep them cool and moist. This can be done at bedtime. This can be followed up with a rich coat of lip balm containing lanolin or petroleum jelly. You can go in for medicated lip balm containing menthol, camphor and phenol.

4. If you notice any allergic reaction to lipstick, change your brand or avoid using lip cosmetics till the problem of chapped lips is addressed. Go in for moisture-enhanced lipsticks rather than dry matte lipsticks.

5. Use of a skin exfoliator on the lips regularly goes a long way in sloughing off dead cells and keeping the lips soft and smooth. A simple lip exfoliation routine would be to use your toothbrush to gently brush the lips.

6. Avoid licking your lips, since the saliva will evaporate and leave them dry.

7. Keep in mind that cracks at the corners of your mouth can indicate riboflavin deficiencies; you can treat this with vitamin B-2 supplements.

8. Have a dentist readjust ill-fitting dentures if you believe they might be the cause of your chapped lips.

9. In the winter, especially on windy days, make sure your child has a scarf or hat with a mask. One of the best ways to make sure chapped lips don't happen due to wind is to keep the wind off lips all together.

10. Make sure that your child washes her face after eating or drinking and reapply lip balm. It's a good idea to make sure your child care provider is aware of the issue and has balm on hand as well.

11. Apply an unflavored lip balm with sunscreen whenever you go out. Wear scarves or jackets that block the wind from getting to your lips. Use a humidifier to moisturize the air in your home, helping to prevent both dry lips and skin. For women, wear glossy lipstick, as matte lipstick may dry out the lips.

12. This is simple and is best it gives lips a rose colorthe lemon lightenes the lipsrub the lemon with the sugar on your lips to exfoliate dead skin and then rinse it with water apply the glycerine wich is to moisturise it.