Alongside the trend of colder weather and winter colds, one of the common occurrences almost everyone experiences at least once during the season is dry lips.
Lips are the most sensitive organ on our face, and because of this, they are more vulnerable in winter compared to other facial areas. Lips have a very thin stratum corneum which does not contain sebaceous or sweat glands, and as a result, they tend to dry out quickly.
In simple cases, we experience mild dryness, which disappears after applying a product. In less pleasant cases, we experience cracks, tears, and even bleeding, which can cause unnecessary pain. Here are five important tips that can help deal with dryness, cracks, and tears on the lips:
Keep your tongue away
One common mistake most of us make when our lips are dry is licking them with the tongue to give them some moisture from saliva. This may provide a few seconds of relief, but it actually worsens the situation. When the tongue passes over the lips, it damages the thin skin covering them. This creates a cycle that cannot be stopped when saliva remains on the lips – dryness increases, leading to cracked, injured, and painful lips.
Drink plenty of water
Drinking plenty of water helps many body functions, including combating dry lips. Automatically, when the body loses fluids, the skin dries out. Therefore, general dehydration is the first cause of lip dryness. Make sure to drink plenty of water when your lips are dry to prevent worsening the condition.
Maintain a proper diet
Our skin and lips are directly influenced by the daily diet we consume. Maintain a proper diet containing many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B and vitamin E, found in fruits and vegetables, which help preserve lips and support skin renewal.
Home remedy
At home, ingredients can help keep lips healthy and, in case of dryness, provide moisture to prevent unnecessary pain. Mix olive oil and honey, apply to the lips at least twice a day, and wait a few minutes before rinsing. Olive oil and honey contain vitamins and minerals that accelerate the healing process of dry lips and provide moisture to the skin.
Use a dedicated product
There are many ointments and lip balms available in pharmacies that can help combat lip dryness. When purchasing a product, make sure it can be applied frequently. In addition, ensure the product contains urea. Urea helps skin renewal and soothes the skin. Some products also contain menthol and camphor, which calm irritation on the lips and provide an immediate cooling effect.
Although winter has just begun, it is possible and recommended to prepare for it in advance. Our skin, and especially lips, is sensitive and reacts easily to weather changes. Therefore, just before experiencing symptoms of dry lips that cause discomfort from cracks and wounds, drink plenty of water, maintain a proper diet, and find a product that will help if needed.