Red, chapped lips are inevitable when you don't protect them from the elements. Exposure to cold, dry air, wind and sun can lead to dehydration and ultimately unattractive cracking, flaking and redness. Audrey Kunin, M.D., points out that consistently protecting your lips against weather that's unfriendly to the skin by putting on lip balm is key to preventing chapping. Reducing redness from chapped lips involves taking a few minutes out of your day to gently exfoliate and moisturize.
Step 1
Exfoliate. "Cosmopolitan" magazine advises using a warm, damp washcloth and a moisturizing cleanser to get rid of flaking skin on your lips and around the corners of your mouth.
Step 2
Moisturize. If redness and chapping have extended to the corners of your mouth, apply a heavy moisturizer to the area.
Step 3
Heal. Dr. Kunin states that beeswax-based balms may be more appropriate for lips that aren't yet chapped. A moisturizing lip balm or cream is more appropriate for lips that already flaky and dry. Kunin suggests choosing emollients; Vaseline is one example.
Step 4
Persist. Religious reapplication of lip balm or cream is the key to reducing red, chapped lips, Kunin says. The more times you reach for your tube of lip balm, the faster your lips will heal.
Tips and Warnings
- To help heal chapped lips, Mayo Clinic experts also suggest drinking a lot of fluids and using a humidifier. If your lips are persistently chapped, they may be treated with prescription hydrocortisone ointment, Dr. Kunin says.
- Licking your lips when they're already chapped makes them redder and dryer; Mayo Clinic experts advise staying away from flavored lip balms that entice you to "taste."
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- Moisturizing facial cleanser
- Heavy-duty moisturizer
- Lip balm or cream (beeswax-, oil- or petroleum-based)
- Humidifier (optional)
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