How to Cope with Extreme Dry Lips
Learning about the particular qualities of the lips helps us to understand how to treat lips well through nutrition, habit changes, and lip balms. Other parts of the face are covered in a thick protective layer of skin that, if we are careful, remains intact and prevents dryness. The layer of skin covering the lips, on the other hand, is exceptionally thin, barely covering the vulnerable membrane underneath. Lips also have minimal sebaceous glands and zero sweat glands. Water loss on the lips is three to ten times higher than on other parts of the body. All of these factors make it easy for lips to get dried out and to cause many people to suffer from extreme dry lips.
Another common cause of extreme dry lips is exposure to windy conditions which cause vital moisture to evaporate from the surface, drying out lips and possibly causing them to peel and bleed. Dehydration also causes parched lips. To prevent dehydration, it is essential to drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquid throughout the day. Eight glasses of water each day is the recommended minimum.
Besides climatic conditions, nutritional deficiencies, such as those of B-complex vitamins and iron, can also play a part in scaling of the lips. Taking a vitamin supplement will help make sure that you are adequately nourished and that your lips receive the vitamins they need. Dry, swollen, or cracked lips can also be caused by allergies, infections, drugs, and a number of medical problems. If over-the-counter remedies fail to solve the problem, see your doctor. Your doctor will likely tell you that overworking, stress, exhaustion and recent infection weaken the immune system which makes minor infections around the mouth and lips more likely. These factors can dry the lips out and often cause sores on the corners of the mouth.
Licking chapped lips can lead to something called lip-licker's dermatitis. When you lick your lips is that you scrape off any oil that might be on them. Pretty soon, you're licking not just the lips, but the area around them as well. Eventually, you end up with a red ring of dermatitis around the mouth.
Another one of the major causes of extreme dry lips is sun damage, which can occur even when it’s cloudy and you're not exposed to bright sunlight. Using a petroleum-based product like Vaseline may temporarily alleviate the dryness, but it won’t solve the problem. Instead, a well formulated emollient lip balm, lip-gloss, or lipstick with SPF protection should be used at all times during the day.
Some of the most effective products for repairing and protecting your lips from extreme dryness come from Lipchic. Use Lipchic’s Lip Exfoliant to gently dissolve away dead skin. Collagen Repair Crème will replenish collagen levels in the skin, deeply moisturizing, tightening and rebuilding your lips’ elasticity for a new youthful look. Lip Renew Crème will give you soft, chap-free, SPF protected lips for 8 or more hours.
With proper care, your lips can look soft, full and lush, giving you a look that a movie star would be envious of!
