While dry lips are unpleasant and even unsightly, they are rarely a serious health concern. And, thankfully, there are several treatments that can help deal with the condition and stop it from recurring, but before we get into these treatments, let’s do a little “chit-chat” about what causes dry lips.
(Photo: NATURAL LIPS COURTESY ADOBE STOCK)
What Causes Dry Lips?
Dry lips can manifest in a number of different ways, but common symptoms include:
- Flaky, chapped, or cracked lips
- Redness and inflammation
- Pain and tenderness
- Bleeding and peeling
- Rough texture
These symptoms occur due to many different factors, such as;
Dehydration
Your lips may get dry and cracked if you’re dehydrated.
Cold or dry weather
Exposure to extreme cold and dry air can cause your lips to become chapped and dry.
Consistent licking of the lips
While licking your lips may provide temporary relief, it can actually make your lips more dry and susceptible to chapping. So “mamacita” quit that habit.
Certain medications
Some medications can also cause dryness, including acne medication and certain allergy medications.
Medical conditions
Diabetes, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune diseases can result in dry skin and also dry lips.
Now that you know what causes dry lips, let’s take a look at the best treatments that can help alleviate it.
How To Treat Dry Lips
Aside from drinking plenty of water, using humidifiers, and avoiding irritants to help with dryness, two major treatments are most important to not only help get rid of this condition, but also keep it at bay permanently if you are intentional about it.
And that is to exfoliate and moisturize.
Exfoliate Your Lips
Just as it is important to exfoliate the skin, the lips also need to be exfoliated to help remove dead skin cells and promote healthy, smooth lips.
You can achieve this by using a lip scrub. Most lip scrubs basically come in an oily base or cream base, and contain exfoliants, such as; white sugar, brown sugar and coffee grounds to help buff the lips.
Our recommended lip scrub is the Crème De La Mer’s Lip Polish, it refines, buffs, nourishes and improves the skin of the lips.
(Photo: CREME DE LA MER THE LIP SCRUB)
Moisturize Your Lips
Next is to moisturize the lips – a very good lip balm will come in handy in this case to relieve chapped dry skin. Look out for formulas that contain emollients, such as; cocoa butter or shea butter and also contain glycerin or hyaluronic acid to draw moisture from the air into the skin.
Some of the very good ones include:
Dior Addict Lip Glow
The Dior Addict Lip Glow doubles as both a lip color and a lip balm. Formulated with 97% natural origin ingredients including cherry oil to give round-the-clock hydration and also give instant glow to the lips.
Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm
Infused with different emollients and occlusive ingredients, shea butter, kokum butter, plum kernel— the Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm helps soothe, smooth and nourish dry chapped lips.
Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask
(Photo: TATCHA KISSU LIP MASK IN PLUM SHADE)
With the Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask, your lips get the perfect TLC needed as it coats the lips in the most exquisite thick gel-like mask.
The Kissu Lip Mask is formulated with Japanese peach extract, squalene and Japanese camellia oil, to restore, smoothen, hydrate and nourish dry, flaky and parched lips.
La Bouche Rouge Paris Le Baume Rouge Lip Balm
This lip balm by La Bouche Rouge Paris contains a blend of 95.2% natural origin active ingredients. The Le Bouche Rouge Paris Le Baume Rouge Lip Balm is very hydrating and nourishing. This lip balm is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm
The Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm is a fusion of a gloss, a balm and a lip oil.
As the name suggests “squeaky clean”, it contains all-round natural ingredients, which hydrates and protects lips while providing lightweight luscious nourishment.
On A Final Note
Having dry, patchy, flaky, chapped lips is by no means life threatening, but it can be very uncomfortable and a cause for embarrassment.
By following the simple steps stipulated in this post and choosing either one or two aforementioned products, you are well on your way to always having smooth, soft, supple, and juicy lips.
