Temperatures are dropping, leaves are falling, and there’s less moisture in the air. Hello autumn! We all know what this means: dry, cracked lips. Everyone knows that chapped lips are annoying and ruin your look. Dry, peeling lips are no fun, and wearing lipstick only makes them look worse. You can reach for your lip care, but there’s a lot more you can do to fix your cracked lips. The only thing you have to do is to get to the root of the cause. Sounds easy, right?! Well, there is a lot more to it. It’s time to find out why your lips get chapped and what you can do to get rid of it.
What are chapped lips?
Chapped lips are irritated, dry and peeling and the result of damage to the skin barrier and inflammation. This is often caused by changes in air humidity or exposure to wind, sun, and irritants. The skin of your lips dries out, and you’re left with painfully chapped lips.
Why do lips get chapped?
Chapped lips, or cheilitis, can be a problem any time of the year, and most people are familiar with the tight, burning sensation that comes with dry lips. We all know that chapped lips are caused by dryness, with wind and excessive licking being the prime culprits. But there are other triggers! A little biology 101: Lips don’t have oil glands like most parts of your skin, so they are more prone to drying out and becoming cracked. While the weather plays a major role, it’s just one common cause of chapped lips. The products that you use on your lips and your lifestyle habits can also be to blame. When there’s irritation from a product or an allergy, your lips can get cracked. These irritations or allergies are most commonly due to pigments in lipstick and flavouring agents in food. But your daily skincare products can also be irritating. You often inadvertently get some product lips, and you end up with a parched mouth.
Chapped lips can also be associated with medical conditions, such as thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, or Crohn’s disease. If you don’t have any underlying medical conditions, personal habits likely cause the cracking of the lips.
How to prevent chapped lips
It may seem impossible, but keeping your pout from drying out is a lot easier than you think. Here are 5 ways to prevent chapped lips
- Stop licking your lips. It’s easier said than done, but licking your lips to get rid of the chapped feeling doesn’t help. Saliva actually worsens the situation.
- Skip eating spicy foods. As tasty as a good curry is, spices can irritate the lips. Especially when you have sensitive skin.
- Protect your pout. Sun, wind, heat and cold weather all cause chapped lips. Before heading outdoors, protect your lips with a lip balm that contains SPF.
- Give your lips some TLC. Your lips are the most sensitive part of your body, and they need tender, love, and care. Apply lip balm as soon as your lips start to feel itchy or dry.
- Lips need moisture. Your lips love moisture! Incorporating a lip balm in your night-time routine is a great way to prevent chapped lips. You can also put a humidifier in your bedroom to restore the moisture in the air.
- It’s all about hydration! Drinking lots of fluids help you stay hydrated. Lips are one of the first places to show dryness when you’re dehydrated. Keeping up on your water intake will do wonders for your hydration level.
Prevent chapped lips and pay less for lip balm
How to get rid of chapped lips: 5 DIY tips to fix chapped lips
Lip balms certainly help, but there are other ways you can turn to for relief. Here are 5 DIY fixing tips to get rid of chapped lips.
#1 Exfoliate
Dry and chapped lips are painful. To get smooth lips again, gently exfoliate your lips. This will remove dead skin cells that can prevent your lip balm from moisturising the new skin under the flaky area. You can easily make your own lip scrub with ingredients you already have at home. What you need:
- 1 tbsp of sugar or sea salt
- 1 tbsp honey or oil
- A small bowl or a mug
- A cotton swab
- A damp cloth
Put the sugar or salt and the honey or oil and a bowl and mix it. Now dip a cotton swab into the mixture and gently scrub your lips. Use a damp cloth to wipe off the scrub et voila, your lips will be smooth again.
#2 Coconut oil
Yes, we’re talking about the coconut oil that you can find in most grocery stores! Not only is it a perfect moisturiser, but it also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Apply as much coconut oil to your chapped pout as needed throughout the day.
#3 Honey
Honey has been used for centuries as a DIY remedy for skincare. The golden substance not only sweetens your food, but it also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties. Perfect for fixing chapped lips! Apply as much honey as needed, but beware: honey is a safe product to use, but please avoid it when you have a pollen or bee venom allergy.
#4 Avocado butter
Avocado has several fatty acids and antioxidants that benefit your skin, plus it’s easy to absorb. You can make your own avocado butter by throwing an avocado in your food processor. Simply use your fingers to apply the homemade butter and eat the rest of it.
#5 Wear lip balm
Lip balm is a quick saviour for instant relief. It’s okay to use it once you have chapped lips, but please don’t overdo it. A lip balm addiction is developed quickly and is tricky to beat.
