Harsh, cold weather can lead to chapped and swollen lips. A quick trip to the pharmacy or drugstore for the right product can help you eliminate this uncomfortable dryness and flaking. Chapped lips aren't a medical concern unless symptoms linger, says Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D., a Mayo Clinic dermatologist.
Causes
Chapped lips are usually more problematic during the winter months but can occur any time you're exposed to wind, sun or air that's cold and dry, Gibson states. Other causes of chapped lips include dehydration, mouth-breathing, licking the lips and coming into contact with cosmetic products that contain irritants or allergens.
Preventing Chapped Lips
Preventing chapped lips can mean avoiding inhospitable environments, such as cold, dry weather, as well as staying out of the sun, says the National Institutes of Health. If dry air is the problem, use a humidifier in your home and make sure to stay hydrated, particularly in the winter. Although licking chapped, swollen lips may make them feel better temporarily, Gibson warns that this dries them out even more. The best way to prevent and treat chapped and swollen lips is by using a lip balm.
Simple Fix for Chapped Lips
As dryness is the underlying cause of chapped lips, keeping them moisturized is your key to comfort. In a February 2010 "Sun Sentinel" report, Charles Zugerman, M.D. of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, stated, "The key to keeping lips healthy and moist is simple---you have to care for them every day. A layer of lip balm applied every morning and again when it's needed throughout the day will help form a protective layer between lips and the elements." With a dizzying array of lip balms and treatments available to the consumer market, which one is right for you?
Your Guide to Lip Balm
The NIH advises applying a product that contains either beeswax or petrolatum. Selecting the right balm to treat chapped lips is largely based on your own personal textural preferences. The "Sun Sentinel" states that beeswax products offer a "protective shield" to lips, while creamier balms have soothing, emollient properties. Linda Wells, "Allure" magazine editor-in-chief, told the "Sun Sentinel" that she favors "gooey" petroleum-based balms---or those with shea butter---with a top application of beeswax-based balm.
Wells advises consumers to stay away from lip balms that are scented or flavored, as they can be irritating. Gibson also cautions against flavored balms, as these can encourage you to lick your lips. Kiehl's Lip Balm, which uses olive oil (similar to the skin's natural oils), is a consumer favorite that's both unscented and unflavored, says the "Sun Sentinel." Finally, when selecting a lip balm, make sure it includes a sun protection factor of at least 15.
Other
Before applying lip balm, Zugarman advises pressing a warm, wet washcloth against the lips for five minutes. You may also want to exfoliate your lips occasionally, as well. Simply mix a bit of your favorite lip balm with granulated sugar, rub it on the surface of your lips for a couple of minutes and blot off with a tissue.
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