Five ways to cure and prevent chapped lips
Don’t lick your lips
Chapped lips are common in winter, says Daniel Glass, a consultant dermatologist at the Dermatology Clinic, because of exposure to cold air outside and dry, centrally heated air inside. “Keratin, which forms the top layer of your skin, loses its flexibility and the lips become sore, cracked and scaly,” he says. “Many patients who have chapped lips are lip-lickers. Repeated licking can remove the oily surface film that protects the lips from losing moisture, leading to lips cracking. The digestive enzymes in saliva can also irritate the lips.”
Use lip balm
“You want a lip balm that has emollient properties, smoothing the surface of the skin and acting as an occlusive agent, locking in moisture,” says the cosmetic dermatologist Sam Bunting. “I like lanolin and petroleum, which do both. If you are skiing or hitting the beach this winter, you’ll want the addition of SPF, as lips burn easily.” Reapply lip balm every few hours and before bed, “as many of us with colds will mouth-breathe during sleep, which is very drying”.
Consider supplements
Some medication, such as isotretinoin – better known under the brand name Roaccutane and used for the treatment of acne – can cause dry lips. “A recent paper showed that gamma linoleic acid [an oil found in plants] and evening primrose oil supplements may improve the quality of the skin on the lips while taking isotretinoin,” says Glass, but he adds that it is not clear if these supplements would help people not taking the drug. It may be worth a try.
Watch what else you’re using
“Lip balms can sometimes contain ingredients such as camphor and menthol, which create a pleasant, tingly ‘active’ sensation when applied,” says Bunting. “But they can irritate, leading to lips, paradoxically, getting drier with use, so I don’t recommend them. And if you use actives-based skincare, such as retinol, be sure to barrier off the lips with lip balm before applying it at night to avoid flaky, irritated lips.” Some lipsticks can also be drying.
Exfoliate and moisturise
“Don’t confuse a recurring cold sore with chapped lips. And don’t ignore a non-healing scab – lips are a common site for skin cancer so get your GP to refer you to a dermatologist for further assessment,” recommends Bunting. If your lips do become dry and chapped, Glass explains they “can be effectively treated by gentle exfoliation to ensure you are removing any dry, flaky skin from the surface and regularly moisturising with a good quality lip balm or moisturiser”.
It's Chapped Lip Season—Here's How to Treat Them
Winter is here, and with it has come the perennial emergence of our archnemesis, chapped lips. This might actually be the most annoying skincare woe that can befall anyone's face. The cracked, irritated mess can crop up from seemingly nowhere, causing a painful and utterly unattractive situation we are forced to wear like a scarlet letter painted across our pouts. And if it seems like your lips are more prone to chap during the colder months, you're not imagining things. We consulted two of our favorite dermatologists, Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD, and Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, and they both agreed that the brutally cold winter weather can have just as much of an effect on lip health as anything else.
"Chapped lips occur when the lip barrier becomes compromised and results in dryness, redness, cracks, and irritation," Dendy says. Many of us know this discomfort all too well. So what can we do to treat and prevent chapped lips? Thankfully, there are plenty of options. Our duo of doctors gave us all the tips we'll need to keep our lips smooth, hydrated, and perfectly kissable this winter and beyond. Keep scrolling for the goods.
The Most Common Causes of Chapped Lips
Chapped lips can occur for a number of reasons, but according to both Ciraldo and Engelman, the root causes tend to be pretty specific. "Lips are primed to be chapped because they have a lower density of oil glands, are in daily contact with saliva that contains alpha-amylase (a digestive enzyme that can break down skin), and are always exposed to the elements, so they take a beating from the sun, the cold weather, wind, and heat," Engelman says.
Additionally, Ciraldo adds that a significant amount of water loss in the body can cause dryness in the lips, meaning that on those days when you ingest too much salt or don't drink as much water as you should, you're running the risk of chapped lips on top of the myriad other health issues dehydration can cause. "Start to address chapped lips as soon as they start. If you wait until your lips become uncomfortable, it can be very difficult to resolve," she adds.
The Treatment Plan#1: Stop Licking Your Lips
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment Skin Protectant ($7)
"If you are a lip licker you have to stop! Although this seems to give temporary comfort, it actually makes chapped lips even worse," Ciraldo explains. "It's very helpful to keep your lips coated with Aquaphor Healing Ointment to prevent water loss from lips."
#2: Scan Your Oral Hygiene Products for Possible Irritants
Marvis Amarelli Licorice Toothpaste ($11)
Ciraldo also points out that irritation from some lip and even some oral hygiene products can be the underlying cause of severe chapping. "Lip stains, some matte lipsticks, and mint or cinnamon flavored toothpaste or dental floss [can cause chapped lips], she says.
#3: Take a Break from Longwear Lipsticks
Kosas Kosasport LipFuel in Pulse ($18)
"Traditionally, the longwear formulas tend to be drying, as they’re not formulated for moisture. Stains also don't provide great moisture," Engelman explains. "If a plain balm doesn't excite you, there are tinted lip balms that have great staying power and offer protection from wind burns that can often result in an infection," she adds.
We love this tinted lip balm by Kosas, because it offers a nice flush of color on a variety of skin tones, while also delivering a hydrating dose of hyaluronic acid to the lips.
#4: Apply SPF Protection
Vanicream Lip Protectant Sunscreen SPF 30 ($5)
It should come as no surprise that SPF is just as crucial for your lips as it is for the rest of your face. Especially when your pout is compromised and more sensitive to the elements, our experts agree that coating the lips in sun protection will help you on your healing journey. Ciraldo points out that prolonged outdoor activities in the cold are an especially important time to load up on protectants.
#5: Exfoliate
Too Cool for School Coconut Sugar Scrub Lip Balm ($18)
Engelman says that exfoliating is also a good idea for treating chapped lips. "If your lips are peeling or flakey, try an at-home exfoliation method with sugar and honey, which has healing and soothing benefits," she says. Be gentle, though! And be sure to use a soothing ointment or salve to keep the freshly exfoliated skin moisturized and protected.
Shop more chapped lip treatments:Lip Balms
Glossier Balm Dot Com ($12)
This dense, waxy balm is perfect for sealing moisture into the lips and preventing them from drying out in cold weather.
Meow Meow Tweet Coconut Cacao Vegan Lip Balm ($14)
This jumbo lip balm is packed with moisturizing ingredients like organic coconut oil, organic cocoa butter, candelilla wax, and organic rosemary leaf extract. It feels comfortable on the skin, and we love that the formula is housed in a biodegradable paper tube.
Vermont's Original Bag Balm, 2 Pack ($18)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: This medicated salve is a fix-all product everyone needs to own. Whether you're soothing chapped lips, crispy cuticles, or parched elbows, this stuff gets the job done.
Dr. Paw Paw Tinted Ultimate Red Balm ($9)
This OG Australian salve is beloved for its multipurpose moisturizing capabilities. This tinted version helps add a little flare to soothing chapped lips.
Exfoliators
Frank Body Lip Scrub ($13)
This exquisite combination of coffee grounds, raw sugar, and macadamia oil vigorously exfoliates the skin, leaving behind a light layer of oil and the softest lips you've ever felt.
Burt's Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub ($9)
Engelman mentioned that topical antioxidants like beeswax are great for repairing chapped lips, so this scrub by Burt's Bees offers a double dose of healing.
Ilia Balmy Nights ($26)
Super-fine volcanic stones gently slough away dead skin as organic shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and sesame oil moisturize and rejuvenate the lips. The best part? No hands required!
Sara Happ The Lip Scrub™ ($24)
Rid your lips of dry, flaky skin with this granulated sugar scrub. Jojoba and grapeseed oils deliver intense moisture.
Lip Masks
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($20)
This intensive lip conditioner pushes vitamin C and an antioxidant berry blend into the skin to heal and hydrate them while you sleep.
Innisfree Lip Sleeping Mask with Green Tea ($16)
Spreading this jeju green tea-infused balm onto the lips is like coating them in this molasses. Even after a full night's sleep, you'll wake with product still intact and any inflammation calmed.
HydroPeptide LipLock Hydrator ($42)
"I love this hydrator because it contains natural hydrating oils as well as a proprietary blend of lip plumping peptides," Dendy says.
KNC Beauty All Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask ($5)
In the same way that sheet masks push moisture and nutrients into the skin, this cute pout-shaped gel mask sits on top of the lips to plump and hydrate them with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and rose flower oil.
Lip SPF
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour® Cream Nourishing Lip Balm Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 20 ($24)
Dendy swears by this thick formula to help heal the lips while also protecting them from the sun.
Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Lip Cream ($9)
Ciraldo called out this tinted SPF 15 lip balm because it's fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.
EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 31 ($11)
The cult of EltaMD extends to lip care with this transparent zinc oxide lip balm.
Up next: These will be the biggest beauty trends for 2020.
This article originally appeared on Who What Wear
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