The Midweek Sun

TREATING DRY OUR OUR PEOPLE PEOPLE & CHAFFED LIPS

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Chapped lips, also known as cheilitis, is a common and uncomforta­ble issue. Home remedies can help get rid of chapped lips without drying them out further.

The skin on the lips is much thinner and more delicate than that on other parts of the body. The lips are also exposed to the elements, including the sun and cold, dry air, making them prone to dryness, cracking, flaking, and peeling.

The lips lack oil glands and so cannot produce their own moisture, but natural moisturise­rs can help.

1.Use a good quality lip balm

-Some lip balms are better than others, and popular brands may contain ingredient­s that dry the lips out.

For example, many lip balms contain menthol or another mint flavoring. This can provide a cooling sensation, but mint is very drying and can leave the lips more chapped than before.

Common drying ingredient­s in lip balms include: menthol, camphor and phenol.

Avoid scented and flavored lip products, as these ingredient­s can also dry out the lips.

Look instead for lip balms that contain soothing and moisturizi­ng ingredient­s, such as:

Petroleum. These are available to buy in pharmacies and health stores.

Lanolin. These are available to buy in pharmacies and health stores.

Beeswax. These are available to buy in pharmacies and health stores.

Ceramides. These are available to buy in pharmacies and health stores.

2. Try natural lip remedies

-There are several effective natural remedies for chapped lips. A person may even have some in their kitchen.

To soothe and moisturize chapped lips, apply the following directly to the lips:

-Aloe vera: This gel forms inside the leaves of aloe vera plants. It contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidan­ts, and anti-inflammato­ries that soothe and rehydrate damaged skin.

Coconut oil: Made from the flesh of coconuts, this oil combats inflammati­on and is an emollient, which means that it can soothe and soften the skin.

-Honey: It is highly moisturizi­ng, which makes it a good treatment for dry lips.

Honey also contains antioxidan­ts and antibacter­ial properties, which help prevent infections from developing in extremely dry or cracked lips.

-Cucumber: It can gently moisturize the lips and may contain vitamins and minerals that could improve the lips’ appearance.

-Green tea: Rich in antioxidan­ts and minerals, green tea also contains polyphenol­s, which reduce inflammati­on. Soak a bag of green tea in warm water and gently rub it over the lips to soften and remove excess dry skin. This technique is more gentle than traditiona­l exfoliatio­n.

3. Exfoliate the lips

Chapped lips are covered in a layer of dry skin that can prevent healing ingredient­s in lip balms from reaching the right area. People can use lip scrubs that contain sugar or baking soda to gently exfoliate away this dry skin. When shopping for a lip scrub, look for products that contain ingredient­s that will soothe and moisten the lips. People can buy these lip scrubs in drug stores or find a range of natural options.

4. Drink Water

Dehydratio­n is a major culprit when it comes to chapped lips. People may not notice when they are slightly dehydrated, so it is a good idea to make a habit of drinking water throughout the day. Dehydratio­n occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. When the body is dehydrated, it pulls water from certain areas to ensure that the cells stay hydrated. This can cause dryness in the skin, including that of the lips.

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