We gloss them, we sometimes paint them red, and we balm them. But sometimes we forget that our lips are part of our skin, and they’re susceptible to the same issues as our knees, elbows, and anywhere else that can get unusually dry and irritated.
The skin on our lips is thinner than elsewhere which allows blood vessels to be visible and the lips to have a pink/red color. Lips have a lesser amount of oil glands and no ability to create the sun-filtering natural melanin which means they have virtually no protection of their own. Dehydration and cold weather can cause lips to become chapped, dry, and cracked. But cold weather isn’t the only season that causes lip trouble. Dry air, sun, and wind will equally dry your lips out.
Think of your lips like a sponge. When exposed to water they absorb moisture and plump up. However, when they are dehydrated, they dry up and shrink. Remember, your lips are always exposed, so they’re prone to endure the most during harsher seasons. In order to keep your lips nice and healthy, you must protect them at all times. Regular use of lip balm offers the fastest remedy for chapped lips. But here are some other tips to avoid lip issues:
Drink enough water
we all know this is important for overall health, but it’s also essential for hydrated lips.
Exfoliate 1-2 times a week
Lip exfoliators can slough off dead skin and encourage skin renewal. But exfoliate with caution. If you already have extremely chapped or cracked lips make sure they heal a bit before starting this step. Also, don’t scrub too hard. Your lips are already very thin, so you don’t need too much pressure when exfoliating.
Kick the licking habit
Your lips already don’t have much of a protective barrier. So when you’re constantly licking your lips, you damage the little protection that has.
Give them protection
Lips are very susceptible to sunburn since they lack melanin. Make sure your lip balms contain a sunscreen. This will not only protect them from moisture loss but also the damaging UV rays.
Make sure to always have great lip balm on hand and to reapply regularly. Your lips are what everyone is looking at when you’re talking, so make sure they look good!
