What to do if your lips are chapped in winter? Here is a guide to lip care

In winter, when your lips feel dry, some people will lick their lips or moisten them with saliva, but this will only make the lips worse day by day. So, what should you do if your lips are chapped?

Chapped lips? Find the cause

There are many reasons for chapped lips. Check them out and see which one applies to you.

1. Secondary to other skin diseases, such as seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.

2. Bad living habits: staying up late, excessive mental stress, anxiety, habitual licking of lips, smoking and drinking.

3. Physical and chemical stimulation: Long-term sunlight exposure, stimulation from certain substances in lipstick, toothpaste, and mouthwash, and some dyes in lipstick can cause allergic reactions.

4. Infection. For example, bacterial infection, herpes virus infection, and candida infection can cause cheilitis.

5. Dry climate. The air is dry in winter, which will accelerate the dehydration of the lips. If you don’t moisturize them in time, it will be bad.

6. Drugs. Some topical or oral drugs, especially retinoic acid preparations, can cause obvious peeling of the lips.

Can chapped lips heal on their own?

Only a small number of people have chapped lips due to lack of water. Moreover, chapped lips only occur when the lack of water is very serious, such as long-term outdoor work. I believe that most people do not lack water to this extent, and drinking a lot of water will not allow more water to enter the skin of the lips and mouth.

If you just feel your lips are dry, you can cure it by applying lipstick and other daily care. However, once the skin peels or even cracks, and there is blood dripping, it is a typical cheilitis. Cheilitis is a skin disease, and drinking a lot of water will not help.

Will cheilitis heal on its own if it is not treated? This varies from person to person, but the probability of self-healing is very low. Most cases that are not treated and controlled in time will cause repeated peeling and cracking, which is very painful. Therefore, if you have cheilitis, do not expect it to heal on its own, and be sure to go to a regular medical institution for treatment.

Please keep the "Lip Care Guide"

To save your "desert lips", please keep the following lip care guide.

First of all, please remember that proper prevention and care can achieve twice the result with half the effort! If there is a trigger, please actively find and remove it. For example, if it is caused by medication, adjust the medication. If there is a primary disease, treat the disease first.

1. Don't lick. Licking may feel okay at first, but the pain of dryness and cracking is waiting for you later! The evaporation of water will take away the moisture that is already tight on the lips, not to mention that saliva also contains amylase, which may cause infection in severe cases.

2. Don't peel. Can't stand the peeling of your lips? Do you subconsciously peel off a large piece? You must control yourself! This will only make things worse. The correct way is to apply a hot towel for 3 to 5 minutes, and then use a soft and clean makeup brush to gently brush off the dead skin, and then apply lip balm.

3. Moisturizing. Lip balm is not lipstick, and you should choose a mild and non-irritating lip balm. For friends with cheilitis, try to choose one without fragrances and spices, less preservatives, and no heavy metals; do not choose one containing salicylic acid, fruit acid, or vitamin A. In addition to moisturizing ingredients, pay attention to if it also contains repairing ingredients such as ceramide and vitamin E - choose it!

4. Sun protection. Lips are also skin, so sun protection is essential. Many lip balms now have sun protection factors. If you are not used to applying lip balm, you can wear a mask. It can prevent viruses and protect your lips and cheeks.

5. Eat less or no spicy food. In addition to making you get angry, spicy food can also irritate the lip mucosa and aggravate chapped lips.

6. Keep a regular work and rest schedule and learn to relax yourself. Don’t be in a state of tension and anxiety for a long time. Pleasure and relaxation are the basis for treating all diseases.

Tips: Three tips for maintaining your lips

The method of lip care in winter is very simple. Remember the following three tips to keep your lips beautiful and rosy this winter:

1. Eat more fruits (such as lemon, kiwi, fresh dates, grapefruit, tomato, strawberry) and vegetables (purple cabbage, cucumber, tomato, spinach) rich in vitamin C and E, and use oral methods to supplement the nutrients needed by the skin and moisturize the skin from the inside.

2. Use long-lasting moisturizing lip balm or lip mask to moisturize the skin from the outside.

3. Pay attention to daily maintenance. When your lips are dry, try not to apply lipstick, or you can apply a moisturizing lip balm as a base, and then apply lip gloss after applying lipstick to make your lips more firm. People with dry lips or flaky lips should not eat spicy, fried, barbecued and other foods.