When lips are parched and under attack, by cracking or chapping, they become inflamed, scaly and in bad cases, begin to bleed. The temptation is to keep them moist by licking, but this makes the problem worse. Saliva evaporates quickly, leaving lips drier than before.
Lips dry out easily because they have a very thin layer of outer skin. With lip skin having almost no melanin, our body’s natural sunscreen, lips are always under attack from the environment, such as wind and sun.
Chapped lips and cracked lips are uncomfortable and unsightly, but are avoidable. If you feel damage occurring, act quickly. The sooner you apply a soothing, protective balm, the faster your lips will re-hydrate and your lip vitality will be restored.
top tips for avoiding chapped and cracked lips
- Prevention is better than cure. To avoid chapped lips or cracked lips always wear a lip balm and reapply often, especially after eating or drinking.
- Avoid hot, spicy and salty foods.
- Drink lots of fluids to keep your body’s hydration levels high, even in winter.
- When walking in the cold or wind wrap a scarf around the lower part of your face for extra protection.
- Avoid repetitive lip biting or sucking.