Dry or scaly lips, also known as chapped lips or cheilitis, is a common concern that can occur in any season. However, it is most prevalent during winter, when cold air and low humidity intensify the problem. This condition often leads to discomfort, peeling, and sensitivity, which makes prevention and proper treatment essential for maintaining healthy lips.
The fundamental reason behind chapped lips lies in the unique nature of lip skin, which is thin, lacks oil glands, and remains constantly exposed to external factors. This sensitivity makes lips prone to dryness when faced with harsh weather conditions such as extreme cold or heat, as well as prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Environmental elements like dust or polluted air can further aggravate the problem. Moreover, certain habits—such as licking, biting, or using products with strong chemicals—can worsen dryness and accelerate peeling.
In this piece of content, we will comprehend the root causes of chapped lips, their symptoms, and preventive measures. Moreover, we will explore natural and synthetic products for chapped lips treatment.
What Causes Chapped Lips?
Multiple factors, including environment, personal habits, and certain health issues, cause chapped lips. Here is how these factors affect your lip’s skin.
Environmental Factors
Chapped lips can happen in both cold and hot weather. In winter, dry and cold air causes dehydration, while hot sunlight and UV rays also leave your lips dry, leading to flaky skin.
Personal Habits
Personal habits like licking or biting your skin can be a reason behind dry lips. During this, you leave a layer of saliva on your lips that evaporates, leaving your lips dry and scaly.
Health Issues
Some specific health issues include thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies (Vitamin B and iron), and Crohn’s disease, which can cause persistent chapped lips. Besides this, using products with allergens like lip cosmetics, fragrances, or flavoring agents can also trigger dryness.
Symptoms of Chapped Lips
Here are some of the prominent signs that show you have chapped lips.
- Dryness and peeling skin.
- Sores or blisters in severe cases.
- Redness or swelling around the lips.
- Cracks that may bleed or feel painful.
- Tingling or stinging sensations.
Types of Chapped Lips or Chilitis
Different types of chilitis and their root cause are given in the table below.
|
Chilitis Type |
Reason |
|
Actinic cheilitis |
Caused by too much sun exposure |
|
Angular cheilitis |
A fungal infection that affects the corners of your mouth |
|
Contact cheilitis |
Triggered by an allergic reaction |
|
Drug-induced cheilitis |
A side effect of medications like retinoids |
|
Exfoliative cheilitis |
Personal habits like frequent lip-licking. |
|
Eczematous cheilitis |
Linked to eczema flare-ups. |
|
Infective cheilitis |
Results from viral or bacterial infections |
|
Glandular cheilitis |
Involves thickening of salivary glands |
|
Granulomatous cheilitis |
This leads to long-lasting, painless swelling of the lips |
Exploring the Best Treatments for Chapped Lips
Chapped lips can be treated with home remedies and over-the-counter products. Here are some valuable remedies and treatments for chapped lips.
5 Home Remedies to Use for Chapped Lips
If you are looking for the best-chapped lips treatment, natural anti-oxidants and vitamin-rich natural products can treat your lips and provide lasting prevention against dryness. Some effective remedies for chapped lips are given below.
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Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is rich in vitamins and antioxidants that hydrate skin and help prevent flack.
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Honey
Honey is full of antibacterial properties and not only moisturizes but also helps to prevent infection in cracked lips.
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Green Tea Bags
Green tea bags act as the best home remedy after soaking in water. Rubbing your skin with this can help to exfoliate and hydrate your lip’s skin.
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Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is highly recommended for sensitive skin and is a natural moisturizer. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits for scaly lips.
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Cucumber Slice
Cucumber slices are a famous natural solution for cooling and hydrating sensitive skin of the lips and below the eyes.
3 Best Over-the-Counter Chap Lip Treatments
If you suffer from severe lip dryness, natural remedies can be insufficient. In this situation, lip balm can be a quick option for extremely chapped lips treatment.
Balms are helpful to restore moisture, hydrate your lips, and lock the moisture to prevent further damage. Let us explore the best choices to get soft, healthy lips.
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Healing Lip Balm
Lip balms are available in pharmacies, cosmetic places, and online. Lips balms with ceramides, shea butter, and petrolatum are good options. However, avoiding products containing methanol, camphor, and eucalyptus is recommended, as they can be harmful to sensitive skin.
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Try Lip Balms with SPF Protection
If you have an outdoor routine and your lips are exposed to extreme sunlight, lip balm with SPF 30 or higher can be a good option. This is because it protects your lips from the UV rays of the sun.
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Natural Lip Balm with Honey
Lip balm with honey is available in multiple stores and has moisturizing effects and antibacterial properties. It contains hydrating ingredients like beeswax and shea butter that keep your lips hydrated and protect you from future problems.
Quick Treatments for Severe Chapped Lips
If you suffer from extremely chapped lips that start peeling off and become painful, here are the best-suited products.
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A thick layer of white petroleum jelly provides a barrier to natural moisture and locks it for an extended duration.
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Use balms that contain a rich quantity of hemp seed oil and dimethicone that provide extra hydration and healing properties.
Bonus Tips to Keep Your Lips Soft and Hydrated
- Drink Enough Water: Drinking plenty of water (6-8 glasses) of average daily water keeps you hydrated and prevents dry lips.
- Protect from the Sun: Apply lip balm with SPF while going outside to prevent the harmful effects of the sun.
- Use a Humidifier: Humidifiers add moisture to the air in your home or office and help to prevent scaly lips.
- Use lips Balms: Use products like lip balms in your daily routine to prevent dry lips. Apply them overnight to get the best results.
- Choose Gentle Products: Lip care products without fragrance and other allergic chemicals are good choices to avoid chapped lips.
When to See the Doctor?
If over-the-counter products are not giving good results, it is a sign that you should consult a doctor.
Temporary dryness can be treated with moisturizers, but these ointments cannot treat underlying issues like fungus or any other disease.
For instance, if you are suffering from angular or actinic cheilitis, it becomes essential to consult a dermatologist who understands the root cause and treats your problem accordingly.
Final Words
Conclusively, it is essential to understand the root cause of dried lips before using any treatment option.
If you have temporary dryness due to weather conditions or reactive cosmetics, you may try the natural remedies discussed above. Furthermore, synthetic products also work well for peeling off skin and painful cracks.
Essentially, applying lip balm overnight and during the day is a good option if your lips become irritated.
If all these remedies do nothing for you, you must visit the dermatologist to find out the reason behind your scaly lips and get a prescription.