The lips of anyone, at any age, can get chapped.1 Some of the major causes are:
When the weather is hot or dry
When you get sunburns
When the weather is cold
If you have a habit of frequently licking your lips
If you have a vitamin B or iron deficiency
If you are dehydrated
If you have certain medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders, allergies and thyroid disorders
Symptoms of Dry Lips:
You can recognise if you have chapped or dry lips by making a note of the following symptoms:
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You may have slight pain in your lips
You might see drying or scaling of your lips
You might feel an itch
You might notice peeling of skin on your lips
You might see cracking of skin on your lips
Your lips and mouth might feel sore
Suggested Home Remedies for Dry Lips:
To protect our lips from severe environmental conditions, we usually apply formulations known as lip balms. They help in keeping the lips moist, preventing further drying. Unfortunately, most lip balms available on the market are made up of chemical substances.2 As an alternative, several natural substances can be used as home remedies for cracked lips. They can be used throughout the day and can also be used for more intense treatment at night.
1. Virgin Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil has several properties which makes it ideal for use as a lip balm. It moisturises the skin of lips, preventing dryness and giving them a healthy look. It may even help in keeping lips free of germs, preventing infection, owing to its potential of disinfecting and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, its properties of easy spreading, smoothness and stability at room temperature make it easy to use.3 We can use it by gently dabbing it onto our lips in the morning and at night as many times as needed.
2. Shea Butter
Shea butter is the fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. It is off-white or ivory in colour and is a common ingredient in many moisturisers. It acts as a rich softener and moisturiser for the skin, hair and scalp due to its semi-solid properties and buttery consistency. It also shows sun-screening activity, thus protecting against sunburns.4 Therefore, shea butter can be a great addition for your lip care routine in winters. It can be used directly or by mixing with other oils for application over the lips.
3. Kokum Butter
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Kokum seeds are used for obtaining kokum butter. It is a hard butter and is a stable solid. Kokum butter is used in the manufacture of soaps, moisturisers and cosmetics. It is a natural moisturiser and helps keep the skin smooth, supple and silky. Thus it’s a common favourite to treat severely dry skin, fissures of lips and lip ulcerations.5 We can use it to make lip balms at home by mixing other ingredients, or we can directly apply it to dry or cracked lips.
4. Cocoa Butter
The beans of cocoa are the source from which cocoa butter is obtained. Apart from chocolate that we all love, cocoa beans provide butter that is fat-rich and provides a creamy softness. It provides intense nourishment to our lips, moisturises them and helps them heal when they are dry and chapped. In addition, it contains antioxidants (free radical neutralising compounds).2 Cocoa butter is commercially used in making lip balms and lotions. It can also be used to make homemade lip balms for application over dry lips. We can simply use it by mixing it with another oil as well.
5. Olive Oil
Olive oil has been in use for skin problem for ages in various parts of the world. Animal studies have shown that olive oil has properties such as reduction of oxidative stress (antioxidant), alleviation of inflammation (anti-inflammatory) and promotion of skin regeneration, which are beneficial for the healing of the skin.6 Therefore, olive oil can also be used to heal the cracked skin of lips. We can directly apply it over cracked lips. Consuming olive oil by utilising it for cooking has also been suggested.
6. Sunflower Seed Oil
Sunflower seed oil contains high amounts of a fatty acid known as linoleic acid. This makes it suitable for use in various skincare products, as linoleic acid has numerous properties beneficial for the skin. Studies have shown that sunflower seed oil provides hydration to the skin and helps in the maintenance of skin cell structure.6 Thus, sunflower seed oil can be used as a home remedy for dry lips. It can be used by either direct application or in cooking.
7. Beeswax
As the name suggests, it is the wax produced by bees. Waxes of various kinds are used for skincare products; among them, beeswax is very common. It is extremely helpful to help heal dry and chapped lips, as it contains natural compounds (fats) which help in moisture retention. In addition, it also protects the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.7 These protective effects of beeswax on the skin, especially on the tender skin of lips, make it a hit with lip balm manufacturers. We can apply beeswax on our lips after diluting it in a preferred oil. You can obtain natural beeswax and use it without any additives too. Be careful, you might want to skip beeswax if you are vegan.
8. Honey
Honey is another product of a bee’s labour which is known for its innumerable uses in medicine. Honey has been used for a long time in the treatment of various skin-related diseases. It is used to treat cuts and wounds, as it promotes skin cell repair and activity against various microorganisms (antimicrobial activity). The use of honey in skincare products is extensive.8 Honey can be used to heal the dry, chapped skin of lips by its application on the surface due to its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
When to Seek Medical Help?
It is advised that you should seek medical attention and consult a doctor:
If you treat your dry lips for a few weeks and they do not improve.
If your lips bleed frequently and do not get treated by self-care. 1
Conclusion:
With increasing awareness, almost all of us make sure to follow a skincare routine, as we should be doing, but we often neglect our lips. We can protect our lips from dryness and prevent their chapping by following simple home remedies using natural products like shea butter, virgin coconut oil, honey, etc. So take care of your skin, and do not forget your lips.
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