10 Ways To Heal Chapped Lips
Ten Ways To Cure, Soothe And Prevent Dry, Peeling, Reddened Lips
The irritation of chapped lips often escalates from a small cosmetic issue into a persistant painful condition, sending one on the endless pursuit of soothing comfort.
The change of seasons, with overnight fluctuations in temperatures and humidity, often ushers in weeks of discomfort for many children and adults.
Primary Causes of Chapped Lips
- Exposure to the seasonal elements - Dry air, wind, sun and/or cold temperatures can wreck havoc on sensitive, unprotected lip tissue.
- Contact dermatitis should be considered and may be stemming from allergies and/or topical irritation.
- Medications could be a factor. Suspect any newly started medications as the potential source of irritation.
Chapped Lip Treatment
After the causal factor has ignited the chapping cycle, ten steps should be utilized for comfort and cure:
- Use lip balms with cocoa butter, petroleum and/or beeswax. Examine lips balm ingredients very carefully as some components of “medicated” lip balms can actually act as irritants (see step 7 below).
- Use a multivitamin supplement daily as chapped lips could indicate a nutritional deficiency.
- Eat foods high in calcium, magnesium and flaxseed oil Calcium rich foods include milk, yogurt, cheese, beans, and salmon. Almonds and tofu are very high as well. Combine calcium intake with magnesium (seek out legumes, nuts, whole grains and vegetables) and flax seed oil (try Uncle Sam's cereal). These three ingredients are proven to aid in the healing of lip surfaces.
- Drink more than the recommended 8 glasses of water a day (experts recommend 100 ounces of more per day for chapped lips), preferably heated. Sipping hot water or decaffeinated tea slowly, throughout the day, dilates the circulatory system and will increase moisture to the tissues.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol which are major tissue dehydrators.
- Avoid flavored lip balms which can cause more frequent lip licking, increasing the degree of chapping.
- Avoid phenol and camphor which are often found in lip balms. Phenol is a mild anesthetic and camphor adds a cooling, tingling sensation which in the short term may bring temporary relief but could irritate already sensitive lip tissues.
- Treat chaffed, chapped and scaling lips overnight with a homemade ointment mixed from 1 tsp glycerine, 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp castor oil. Spread on lips overnight, refrigerating the leftovers for future use.
- Add humidifier(s) to your home. Lips, hair, nails and skin all thrive in humidified air.
- Add a coat, when you wear a coat - Keep lips shielded against the elements with a coat of petroleum jelly, balm (non flavored, without phenol or camphor) or Aquaphor ointment (a celebrity favorite).
Medical attention should be sought if symptoms persist without improvement. Your physician may choose to prescribe antibiotics or may consider prescription treatment for dermatitis.
The return of the lips you long for is imminent.
Source: Mayo Clinic
The copyright of the article 10 Ways To Heal Chapped Lips in Common Patient Ailments is owned by Karla Reed. Permission to republish 10 Ways To Heal Chapped Lips must be granted by the author in writing.
