Regardless of the season, it’s one of our continual beauty complaints: chapped lips. Not only does dryness make even the prettiest lip color look patchy and sad, but peely, swollen, cracking lips? They also hurt very much and ruins your makeup too.
So what causes chapped lips? It turns out there are about a million factors conspiring to sap your lips of moisture. We’ve rounded up seven of the biggest chapped lip culprits as well as our proven ways to beat them. You’ll thank us the next time you’re making out; we promise.
1. Licking and biting your lips.
These habits are responsible for a vicious cycle of lip chapping: you lick your lips to moisten them when they’re dry, the saliva evaporates and dries out the delicate skin of your lips, which causes them to peel, which causes you to bite at the loose skin, which starts the entire process over again. Stop the madness!
The cure: Unfortunately, the only way to break this habit is to…well, break the habit. Stopping licking and nibbling at your mouth is hard, but inspire yourself to greatness by thinking of all those amazing lipsticks you’ll be able to wear afterwards. And avoid any lip balms that are scented or flavored they’ll just tempt you to nibble more.
2. The weather.
We’re killing our lips year-round. In cold weather, you’re swaddled in layers of clothing, but your poor lips are still exposed to the cold elements. And in hot seasons, while you slather the rest of your body in sun protection creams, too often you forget to protect your mouth from the sun.
The cure: An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure, so make sure you’re getting really liberal with your lip balm. But you also have to be sure you’re being smart about that balm, making sure it has ingredients that heal and nurture, rather than just coat with wax
3. Allergies.
The worst! Not only do they make you feel miserable, they also mess up your beauty game. And nasal allergies you know, the kind that leave you breathing through your mouth have the horrible, accidental side-effect of drying out your lips.
The cure: First, you need to talk to your doctor. Allergies are serious business, and addressing the underlying problem is critical to dealing with beauty issues. In the meantime, your best bet is a two-pronged approach: protect at night and exfoliate during the day. Keeping a nourishing lip balm next to your bed, so that you’re sure to apply it before going to sleep (and during the night, if you wake up). And when you wash your face morning and night, please use a cotton washcloth and warm water to gently exfoliate away any chapped skin on your lips. Stick to this routine, see your allergist and your chapped lips will look better in short order!
4. Dehydration.
Here’s where we tell you to DRINK MORE WATER! If you’re drying out internally, one of the first places you’ll notice an external change is your lips, because the skin is so thin.
The cure: Drink more water! How much should you be drinking per day? 8 ounce glasses of water daily.
5. Medications.
Like so many things in modern life, the things that cure one of our problems can also create others. Medications like accutane, prescription-intensity Vitamin A and retinoids like Isotretinoin can all cause or exacerbate your chapped lip situation.
The cure: Talking to your doctor. Chapped lips (often called “cheilitis” in prescription information booklets, so look out for that) are sometimes such a rare side-effect that it isn’t listed or isn’t listed prominently. Your prescribing health professional will be able to help you out, and possibly point you in the direction of medical-grade lanolin, which is aces for healing even the most severe chapped lips.
6. Nickel.
If you’re allergic to this common metal, believe it or not, you may first see it on your lips. People often put common items like earrings, keys or paper clips in their mouths, which can cause a skin-peeling allergic reaction on (or around) the lips. Crazy, right?
The cure: Get tested for a nickel allergy, and quit putting stuff that isn’t food in your mouth. Okay? Sure you heard.
7. Office air.
Even the most awesome offices in the world suffer from terrible air situations. The crazy heat and air conditioning situations common to many workplaces play very well with our skin which means our lips too.
The cure: Always have your lip balm handy, let in air sometimes if you can and remember to always take a break.
Found these tips healthful? Sure you did, keep reading my blog for more beauty and health tips…
No comments:
Post a Comment