Be Kiss-Ready 24/7: Here's How You Can Transform Your Dry & Chapped Lips
You may love the winter season, but can your skin say the same? I guess not. You see, when the humidity levels outside drop, the water in your skin has the tendency to evaporate faster. When this happens, your skin starts to feel dry, tight and flaky - don't get me started on chapped lips! They are a subtle sign that your lips need attention ASAP. Unlike other parts of your skin, your lips don't have oil glands, this makes your lips more prone to drying out and getting chapped.
If you're wondering how to get rid of chapped lips, you've come to the right place. By the end of this story, we're going to tell you how you can care for your lips and keep them soft and supple 24/7.
What Are The Symptoms Of Chapped Lips?
How do you know if your lips are chapped? These common symptoms will tell you. Let's explore that first, shall we?
- Flaking
- Cracks
- Scores
- Swelling Lips
- Bleeding
1. Flaking
How To Know If You Have It: When the skin on your lips become dry, its top most surface dies and starts to peel. The skin that comes out is transparent and thick. If you pull it off in one shot, your lips could bleed.
2. Cracks
How To Know If You Have It: You'll spot breaks on the surface of your skin and your lips will hurt and even start to bleed if not given attention. They will burn when you eat any spicy food. Cracked lips can occur due to dehydration, sun exposure, excessive licking and biting your lips.
3. Sores
How To Know If You Have It: If you have sores on your lips, you need to seek medical attention. Sores have rough and hard edges. They're painful and it takes time to get rid of them. Sore lips can also be caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It's like a bump on the lips and this common viral infection is contagious. Anyone who makes direct contact with the sores by touching or kissing can get infected by them. Before trying to treat them at home, show them to your doctor first.
4. Swelling Lips
How To Know If You Have It: When there's a buildup of fluid under your lips, that's when you know that you have swollen lips. It could be caused because of a severe allergic reaction mostly related to food or medication. If you feel the swollen lips are a symptom of an allergic reaction, pop an anti-allergy pill and give the doctor a ring.
5. Bleeding
How To Know If You Have It: If you have dry lips, then the next symptom that's bound to follow is bleeding. Sun exposure, less humidity in the air, habitual licking, dehydration can cause your lips to bleed.
What Causes Chapped Lips
Now that you're aware of the common symptoms, you're probably wondering what causes chapped lips? Keep scrolling.
- The Weather
- Sun Damage
- A Lip Injury
- Dehydration
- Vitamin Deficiencies
1. The Weather
The weather is mostly to blame. It doesn't matter if it's cold, hot or humid outside - your lips are fragile and are prone to get chapped at any time of the year. Unlike most areas of the skin, your lips aren't able to produce moisture or oil to adjust to the weather, hence, they get chapped.
While you can use a moisturising lip balm to take care of your lips, don't forget to show your body some love by spoiling it by using a lovely lotion.
2. Sun Damage
If UV rays damage your skin, it won't spare your lips either? Just how you would invest in a good sunscreen for your lips, find a lip balm that has SPF in it! Mind you that frequent sun exposure can lead to inflammation on the lips.
3. A Lip Injury
Lip injuries are painful and you could get them by getting a blow in the face, falling flat on the floor and biting your lips. Regardless, how you get them, prepare to deal with chapped lips later.
4. Dehydration
One of my friends had told me that one of the quickest ways to deal with dry lips is to drink lots of water. Chapped lips are one of the first signs that tell you that your body is dehydrated. You can get dehydrated by vomiting, sweating, diarrhoea and stress. It's up to you to make sure that you're drinking enough water.
5. Vitamin Deficiencies
If you're not eating foods that are rich in vitamin A, E, B and C, you'll never be able to breathe life to dull skin. Having a deficiency here could make your skin prone to acne, dryness, rashes and patches. Also, consuming food that's rich in iron and zinc help in keeping lips, supple and healthy.
How To Treat Chapped Lips
Before your chapped lips get out of control, here are 5 easy ways to deal with them.
- Drink Lots of Water
- Invest In A Good Quality Lip Balm
- Ever Tried A Lip Oil?
- Exfoliate Like A Pro
- Invest In A Humidifier
1. Drink Lots of Water
This one is cost-free and can easily become a habit. As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons why your lips are dry is because you suffer from dehydration. If you find the taste of water to be bland. Eat soup or have plenty of water-dense vegetables. The key here is to consume foods and juices that have high water content.
2. Invest In A Good Quality Lip Balm
When buying a lip balm, keep an eye out for ingredients like beeswax, coconut butter, shea butter, avocado and olive oil. Oh, and don't forget that it has to be loaded with SPF! Six to eight coats during the day should be more than enough.
POPxo Recommends: COOLA SPF30 Classic Liplux Original (Rs 975)
3. Ever Tried A Lip Oil?
If you haven't tried a lip oil yet then I'd like you to give it a shot. The oil helps to moisturise, soothe and protect your lips from damage. You can use natural coconut oil, almond oil or even good old olive oil. In case if you don't want to DIY, you can pick one from the store too.
POPxo Recommends: Kiehl's Love Oil for Lips - Neon Pink (Rs 1,400)
4. Exfoliate Like A Pro
Exfoliating your lips once or twice a week can help remove dry and flaky skin. The moment the top layer of your skin is removed, the new skin on your lips is bound to look fresh and youthful. Just how you would take care of your lips, don't forget to exfoliate your body as well by using a good body scrub.
5. Invest In A Humidifier
Humidifiers are tiny, but their contribution is HUGE during the winter season! They regulate the moisture levels in the room and prevent lips from getting chapped.
POPxo Recommends: Home Spa Luxury Cool Mist Dolphin Humidifier (Rs 1,499)
9 Easy Home Remedies For Chapped Lips (Get Kiss-Ready!)
Perpetually chapped lips can be painful and quite annoying. Don’t you worry, girl, we feel you! Common causes of chapped lips are usually dehydration, vitamin deficiency, allergic reactions or constant exposure to the sun. If you’re done trying every lip product out there, it’s time to go natural, baby! Here are 9 home remedies for chapped lips that will give them the tender, loving care they rightfully deserve.
- Fresh & Cool Cucumber Juice
- Sugar Makes Everything Nice
- Lemon Juice Is Your Superhero
- Beauty Benefits Of Green Tea Bags
- Coconut Oil Loves Your Lips
- The Goodness Of Aloe Vera Gel
- Castor Oil Steals The Show
- Honey All The Way!
- Rich Desi Ghee To The Rescue
1. Fresh & Cool Cucumber Juice
Cucumber juice acts as a natural moisturizer and will leave behind a cooling sensation on your lips after every application.
Step 1: Dice a raw cucumber into tiny pieces and empty the pieces into a mixer.
Step 2: Once you’re left with the juice, dip a cotton ball until it’s soaked in the juice completely.
Step 3: Dab to your lips and leave it on of for a good 30 minutes.
Step 4: Wash it off with chilled water after that.
No. of times: Every alternate day for a month is the way to go.
2. Sugar Makes Everything Nice
Sugar makes a great exfoliator and does a fab job of removing layers of dead skin cells. It will make your lips soft and supple once again.
Step 1: Add 1 tablespoon of sugar into a container.
Step 2: Drizzle some olive oil over it and blend both ingredients well using a spoon.
Step 3: Gently apply it to your lips and give them a good scrub.
Step 4: Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water afterwards.
No. of times: Twice a week and you’ll have plump, soft lips.
3. Lemon Juice Is Your Superhero
For baby soft lips, give lemon juice a shot! It prevents them from ageing faster and provides deep nourishment too.
Step 1: Pull out 2 ingredients from your fridge - lemon juice and a carton of chilled milk.
Step 2: Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of cold milk.
Step 3: Mix well and apply it to your lips using your fingertips.
Step 4: Massage your lips in a circular motion and leave it on for 15-25 minutes.
Step 5: Wash it off with cold water and pat dry using a hand towel.
No. of times: 5 times a month and your lips will look simply amazing.
4. Beauty Benefits Of Green Tea Bags
Don’t toss that green tea bag away after use. It has beauty benefits! It can moisturize and hydrate your lips to perfection.
Step 1: After relishing your green tea, lift the teabag up and place it on your lips.
Step 2: Let it rest firmly on your lips for a good 5 minutes.
Step 3: Remove the bag and use a ball of cotton to soak off any of the excess liquid.
No. of times: Every day for 2 weeks will make a positive difference.
5. Coconut Oil Loves Your Lips
I’ve used this remedy before and it’s one of the best! No more will you ever have chapped lips once you use coconut oil on them. It will hydrate, moisturize and bring your lips back to life!
Step 1: Pour some coconut oil into a teaspoon.
Step 2: Dip your fingers into the oil and apply it on your lips.
Step 3: Massage and just sit back and relax for 15 minutes.
Step 4: No need to wash it off, just wipe it off using a piece of cloth.
No. of times: Three times a week should be your aim.
6. The Goodness Of Aloe Vera Gel
If by chance you have hurt your lips, you can heal them naturally by simply applying aloe vera gel. It acts as a coolant and contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Step 1: Scoop out the gel of an aloe vera plant and empty it into a bowl.
Step 2: Apply the cool gel on your lips and leave it on till it dries.
Step 3: Wash it off with room temperature water after.
No. of times: Thrice a month and your lips will look so damn fine!
7. Castor Oil Steals The Show
Can you believe that a tiny drop of castor oil can make your lips plump and smooth? Yes! Use it to moisturize your lips and you’ll get the pout-worthy lips in no time.
Step 1: Take a teaspoon of castor oil and apply it to your lips.
Step 2: Massage in a circular motion and allow the oil to seep into the chapped lips.
Step 3: Leave it dry for about 10-15 minutes and wash it off with cold water.
No. of times: Twice every week is more than enough.
8. Honey All The Way!
Packed with antibacterial properties, this baby will protect and pamper your lips so they never feel chapped again!
Step 1: Take a spoon full of gooey honey and empty it into a container.
Step 2: Add a few drops of rose water to it.
Step 3: Use a toothpick to blend both ingredients well.
Step 4: Apply it on your lips and leave to sit for 5-10 minutes max.
Step 5: Wash it off with lukewarm water after.
No. of times: Once in the morning and once in the evening and you’re ready to flaunt those lips!
9. Rich Desi Ghee To The Rescue
Ghee doesn’t just make your food yum, but it also makes your lips pink and soft! It moisturizes them to perfection and is one of the best home remedies to heal perpetually chapped lips.
Step 1: Just before you go to sleep, apply a bit of ghee on your lips.
Step 2: Massage it gently in a circular motion.
Step 3: Leave it on till dawn.
Step 4: Wash it off with lukewarm water in the morning.
No. of times: Every night before you go to bed.
FAQs
1. How to heal chapped lips fast?
Apply lip balm to moisturize your lips and keep drinking lots of water for instant results.
2. How long do chapped lips take to heal?
Depending on how dry and damaged your lips are, it could take about 2-3 weeks.
3. What deficiencies cause chapped lips?
Vitamin B, zinc and iron.
4. Is coconut oil good for chapped lips?
Since coconut oil has moisturising and SPF properties, it's bound to soothe and heal chapped lips. It's considered to be a natural emollient and contains fatty acids that help lock in moisture and prevent lips from cracking.
How to stop lips from peeling?
Avoid licking your lips, biting them and using lip balms that contain eucalyptus, camphor and menthol.
Now that you know everything about chapped lips, make sure that you take super good care of them. All the best!
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