Chapped Lips:  Simple Tricks to Prevent and Get rid of  Lip Dryness 

The lips are prone to dry out because it does not contain oil glands like the rest of the body and weather is one of the contributing factors to this dryness causing you to have chapped lips. the dryness is more common and noticeable during harmattan when the lips begin to either peel off, crack or bleed making it even difficult to smile. we will be talking about the causes, how to avoid pains or  bleeding arising from a dry lip in this article

Causes of chapped lips

common causes are:

• weather (frequent exposure to the sun or little humidity in the air)
• excessive licking of the lips
• certain medications

Medications/supplement that causes chapped lips

Anyone can get chapped lips especially those with dry skin but some medication also causes your lips to dry up or crack, they include:

• vitamin A
• retinoids (Retin-A, Differin)
• lithium (commonly used to treat bipolar disorder)
• chemotherapy drugs

Symptoms of chapped lips

The following are the symptoms you may experience on or around your lips:

• dryness
• flaking
• scales
• sores
• swelling
• cracks
• bleeding

How to prevent Chapped/dry lips

• Avoid licking your lips this is because saliva dries up quickly and leaves your lips drier than they were before. licking your lips only causes them to be drier.
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, which can cause both the skin and lips to dry.
• Avoid exposure to the sun or better still use a lip balm with sunscreen to protect your lips from sunburn, dryness, and peeling.
• Avoid a flavored lips balm as you might be tempted to lick.
• You might have a sensitive lip that may be irritated when in contact with certain cosmetics. steer clear of such a product.

How to treat chapped lips

The prevention methods above will help your cracked lips not to get worse and the treatment below will help them heal quickly.

Exfoliate

You may gently apply sugar scrub on your lips with a finger. do no take off the skin that is not completely dead as this can cause bleeding.

Moisturize

Often use moisturizer to keep your lips from drying out more. use a product that contains petroleum or beeswax. other good options are coconut oil, cocoa butter, petroleum jelly, or thick body lotions. use them at night also before going to sleep.

Home remedies to get rid of Chapped lips

Honey and Vaseline
honey contains antibacterial properties and healing agent while Vaseline nourishes and prevent the skin form drying.

How to use

• Apply a layer of honey on your lips.
• Apply a layer of Vaseline on top of this.
• Leave these on for 10-15 minutes.
• Use a damp cloth to wipe it off. repeat this process once a day for a week.

Cucumber
Cucumber is a cool vegetable that nourishes the skin and can serve as a hydrating agent for the skin.

How to use

• Rub cucumber slice gently on your lips for one or two minutes
• Leave the juice on your lips for 10 minutes before washing.
• You can also mash 1-2 cucumber slices and apply this as a mask on your lips. do this once or twice daily.

Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera helps to gently remove dead skin, it has a cooling effect on skin and natural cohesive properties that bind flaking cells to give you softer skin.

How to use

• Cut and scoop out the gel of Aloe Vera into a container
• Apply the gel on your lips and leave it on overnight.
• Store the remaining gel in the airtight container and keep it in the fridge.
• apply it regularly before going to bed.

When  you need to see a doctor

Cheilitis
If the dryness and cracking on the lips becomes severe and doesn’t improve with self-care, you should see a dermatologist. This could be Cheilitis a condition marked by cracked skin at the mouth corners and several cracks on your lips. your lips may also:

• become dark pink or red in color
• have a lumpy texture
• develop ulcers
• have white plaques on the surface

Cheilitis is often attributed to infections and inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s disease. your dermatologist is in the best position to determine whether it just dry lips or cheilitis.

Dehydration
Dry lips can also be caused by dehydration. Dehydration causes symptoms including:

• lightheadedness
• constipation
• decreased urine production
• dry mouth
• headache

In severe cases, a person suffering from dehydration may experience low blood pressure, fever, rapid breathing, or a rapid heartbeat.

Malnutrition

Dry lips can be a sign of malnutrition. it shares the same symptoms as dehydration. others include:

• muscle weakness
• decaying teeth
• bloated stomach
• bone fragility

if you suspect any of the aforementioned, you should see your doctor right away.

Conclusion

Chapped lips are a common condition for most people but when they become severe and won’t heal after some home remedy, there may be an underlying condition that should be treated. don’t hesitate to see your doctor.