Holistic Remedy For Seriously Chapped Lips

Chapped lips is a term used to describe lips that hurt due to dryness and cracking. Although winter weather and indoor heating are big culprits, intense exposure to the sun in the summer can also cause chapping. Chapped lips are not a serious condition, but they can cause difficulties with the everyday tasks of eating, drinking and talking. Fortunately, there are good nondrug remedies available both to treat and to prevent chapped lips.

Causes

Although extremes in the weather are a big cause of chapping, there are other reasons why lips get chapped. Some acne medications drying to pimples can also dry your lips out if they are applied nearby. Allergies to the environment and skin care products can factor in as well. If you have been sick and gotten dehydrated from lack of fluids, you can get dry, cracking lips. Smoking, excessive drinking and dental disease are causes, as well as underlying health conditions such as anemia, diabetes or immune deficiencies. Having preexisting eczema is another factor.

Hydration

Chapped lips are actually caused by a lack of moisture. Exposure to the elements of cold, sun, wind or dry air can use up the natural oils in the lips. Even though it might seem like the right thing to do, licking your lips only makes the problem worse. Saliva evaporates quickly, making the lips even drier. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of good quality water every few hours. Use a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the atmosphere. Refrain from smoking, which will cause the natural oils in your lips to evaporate. Breathe through your nose and not your mouth. Breathing through your mouth can cause your lips to dry out.

Protecting Your Lips

Before going out into cold, dry weather, apply an oil-based lubricating cream or a lip balm that contains petrolatum or beeswax to your lips. Reapply regularly while you are outdoors. Try shielding your lips with a scarf to limit cold exposure. Cream or lip balm containing aloe vera can soothe the dryness and give some relief from the pain and aloe vera juice can be taken internally to help with dryness. Raw honey applied directly to the lips provides moisture and is antibacterial. Extra virgin olive oil applied to the lips or mixed with beeswax to create your own lip balm is a good moisturizer, as is shea butter. To exfoliate the lips from dry, dead skin, first take half a lemon and add 1/2 tsp. sugar to it. Rub the mixture onto your lips, then wash with warm water and dry before adding glycerin to remoisturize.

Make Your Own Lip Balm

Shatoiya de la Tour, herbalist and founder of the Dry Creek Herb Farm and Learning Center in California, has a formula for herbal lip balm you can make in half an hour. You need a teaspoon, either olive oil or almond oil or a mixture, small saucepan, beeswax, measuring cups and small jars with tight lids, such as pimento jars. Chill the teaspoon in the freezer, then slowly warm a cup of oil in a saucepan over very low heat. Put 1 1/4 oz. beeswax in a glass measuring cup and melt in the oven on low heat. Pour beeswax into the oil. Dip the frozen spoon into the mixture, then return to freezer for 30 seconds. Remove and rub your finger in the balm. It should be soft but not runny. If too runny, add beeswax. If too hard, add oil. Add essential oils or other ingredients to customize. Spoon into clean jars and apply the lids after it has hardened.