Your lips are naked, exposed to the world and susceptible to damage from the sun and wind. Containing no oil glands, the skin on your lips don't produce sebum and are prone to dryness and chapping. Left untreated, dry, scaly lips can become cracked and painful. At-home care is usually effective at relieving dryness. Get soft, supple, kissable lips in about a week.
Step 1
Exfoliate your lips by rubbing them gently with a wet toothbrush to remove dead skin.
Step 2
Wear a lip balm that contains sunscreen whenever you are outdoors. The American Academy of Dermatology recommend using a lip balm "that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher." Reapply the lip balm whenever it wears off, especially after eating or drinking. If the lip balm increases dryness you may be sensitive to one of the ingredients; switch to a different brand to resolve the problem.
Step 3
Wrap a scarf around your mouth when outside in windy weather conditions to protect your lips from drying out.
Step 4
Apply olive oil or vitamin E to your lips at bedtime to moisturize your lips while you sleep.
Step 5
Refrain from licking your lips. Licking your lips can cause "lip lickers dermatitis," a condition described as chapped, inflamed or irritated lips caused by lip licking, according to Department of Dermatology St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Victoria. The act of lip licking is often an ingrained habit a person does without even thinking about it. Coat your lips with a thick layer of petroleum jelly to prevent subconscious lip licking. A lick of petroleum jelly serves as a quick reminder to keep your tongue off your lips and in your mouth.
Step 6
Drink plenty of fluids--particularly water--to keep your skin hydrated. Look at the color of your urine to find if you are consuming enough liquids. Your urine should be either clear or a pale yellow; if it is darker, you need to drink more.
Step 7
Run a humidifier in your house to keep the air moist, recommends MayoClinic.com. It is easier to keep your skin hydrated when there is moisture in the air.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid eating spicy, acidic or salty foods, which can irritate chapped lips.
- Seek treatment from a licensed medical care provider if home care does fails to relieve chapped lips. Chapped lips can be caused by certain medications, bacterial infections and other medical conditions.
Things You'll Need
- Toothbrush
- Lip balm with SPF 15 or higher sunscreen
- Scarf
- Olive oil or vitamin E
- Petroleum jelly
- Humidifier
References
- American Academy of Dermatology: Lip and Mouth Care
- Department of Dermatology, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Victoria: Lip Lickers Dermatitis
- MayoClinic.com: Dry Skin
- Dermatology of the Lips; Crispian Scully, Drore Eisen; Informa Healthcare; 1 Edition; October 1, 2000
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