There’s nothing worse than dry, cracked, chapped lips. They hurt, they peel, they bleed. I know that excessive sun exposure or lack of humidity isn’t the fault of the lips when they become chapped, but chapped lips have come at the most inopportune times. Have you ever tried to smile and moaned in pain because your lips are as rough as sandpaper—or attempted to take a bite of something spicy and ended up bleeding instead of relishing your meal? I know I’ve been there. Yet unfortunately, chapped lips are something we all experience and not something we can live with forever. There are actions and little known tidbits that can make lips soft, smooth and feeling great all year long.
Thus, here are seven actions/little known tidbits to relieve the issue of chapped lips that you can do for yourself starting today. This is not an in-depth research article; just the little known facts.
Tip 1: Drink Plenty of Water
Lips become chapped from dehydration. This is a good reminder that humans need to drink enough water or else their bodies do not function properly. The lips are one of the first places to be affected. Think about how thin and delicate your lips are—they will show signs of concern before the rest of your body reacts. You know how when you don’t drink water for long stretches, the first thing you notice is tight, uncomfortable, flaky lips?
You should be drinking water all day, every day. Invest in a reusable water bottle that you can take to work, school, or keep at home to ensure you have easy access. Sip whenever you start to feel parched, and especially at meals—you should try to have a glass with every lunch and dinner. If plain water gets boring after a while, a slice of lemon or cucumber adds a refreshing taste. Hydration helps keep the moisture in all essential areas of your body, including your lips from the inside out—and it’s a big, easy hack that does a lot.
You don’t want to wait until your lips are chapped to remind yourself to hydrate. Make it a part of your daily routine and chapped lips will become a thing of the past. It’s the simplest way to have dewy, healthy lips.
Tip 2: Use a Good Lip Balm
You need to keep your lips moisturized to remedy those cracked, dry edges, and nothing does the trick better than lip balm. However, not all lip balms are created equally. Some can irritate your lips even more if the ingredients are harsh. Have you ever put lip balm on and, an hour later, felt even more dry? That’s because some lip balms contain menthol or fragrance that causes more irritation.
You want to find a lip balm with few ingredients, containing natural hydrators like beeswax, shea butter, or coconut oil; these help create a protective barrier that traps little moisture packets. Apply lip balm as much as you can—especially before going outside or even before bed. Keep one lip balm in your pocket, purse, and car so you can constantly reapply once you feel any dryness starting to creep in.
Don’t lick your lips before applying. You’re trapping the moisture on your lips, and eventually, it’ll make them even worse and more chapped. Apply a good amount and let it be. If you have really chapped lips, try slathering on an ointment at night, something like Vaseline, so it has all night to soak in while you sleep. The best defense for your lips is a reliable lip balm applied regularly. Find one you like.
Tip 3: Use Lip Weather Protection
The weather is not kind to your lips; do you ever notice how much worse they feel in the winter or after a day at the beach? Cold air strips moisture, hot air and sunlight dry them out and burn them. Your lips lack oil glands that your skin has, so they feel the effect much more.
Wear a scarf around your face during frigid, windy days to avoid stinging, freezing lips. Again, if you’re going to be outside in the sun, use SPF lip balm to avoid the sun’s harsh rays. Sunburned lips ache and peel just like any other sunburn, so don’t forget this part. Likewise, make sure to use SPF lip balm—even when it’s cloudy—because UV rays penetrate through the clouds. If you plan to be outside for any extended period of time, it’s a requirement.
If you live in a dry climate or if you have a heated home, the air could be sucking moisture out of your lips. A humidifier in your home can reinstate some of that moisture—do this so it runs at night when you aren’t even paying attention to your lips. Ultimately, there is a lot that you can control to prevent lips from chapping, but with this intentionality now, you’ll avoid discomfort later.
Tip 4: Avoid Irritating Foods and Habits
There are certain foods and habits that exacerbate chapped lips. Spicy foods, acidic foods like citrus, and excessive amounts of salty snacks only add to the irritation. Haven’t we all had a bowl of chips or a plate of hot wings and felt our lips tingle afterward? It’s not the heat of the wings; those feelings exist because these foods dehydrate or irritate sensitive lip skin.
Avoid these foods when you have chapped lips—or at least rinse your mouth afterward. You might even want to drink out of a straw, but not for the reasons you think—this keeps oral, irritating substances off of your lips. Similarly, acidic drinks like orange juice and lemonade can chap lips—avoid them until you’re back to normal. Your body is sensitive enough while you have chapped lips and watermelon juice for breakfast won’t do you any favors. Stick to water.
Finally, people think that licking their lips adds moisture but it creates the same cycle of chapped lips. Saliva evaporates, drying the lips out more. Avoid chewing off flaky skin as well because that could lead to bleeding and scabbing, slowing down other restorative processes.
Tip 5: Exfoliate Gently
While it can be tough to resist peeling skin off flaky lips, giving in to temptation will only make things worse. Exfoliation can be a better option if done lightly to remove dead skin and, ideally, allow for smoother lips in the future. There’s no need to break the bank or find specialty items; chances are, you have everything you need at home. Have you ever done this before? It’s easy!
Sugar mixed with honey or coconut oil can create your exfoliating scrub. Use your fingers or a super soft toothbrush to apply for no longer than 30 seconds or so; rinse with warm water. Do not exfoliate too often as lip skin can become sensitive, tender and unnecessarily red; alternatively, use a wet washcloth to gently rub the lips in a circular motion.
This process should be done no more than 1-2 times per week—be sure to top it off with a healthy layer of your go-to lip balm to seal moisture in. Otherwise, over-exfoliating will make the skin painful and begging for more hydration. Of course, once they are smooth, they’ll hold onto anything you put on them better.
Tip 6: Eat a Balanced Diet
What you put into your body affects your lips more than you know. If you’re missing vitamins that your body needs for an extended period of time, your lips are going to dry out and crack that much more. Have you found when you’re not eating properly that your lips are worse? It’s true—your body needs vitamins and healthy fats so that skin is adequately protected.
Make sure you’re eating plenty of vitamins A, C and E, as they promote lip health. Think carrots, greens, oranges, avocados and nuts. Those healthy fats like in salmon, olive oil or eggs will even help avoid dry lips, or should help. If you’re lacking in this department, it will show on your lips before anywhere else.
Not just food intake, we’re talking about fluids, too—although fruits and vegetables rich in water like cucumbers, watermelon or strawberries never hurt. Stay away from junk food and sugary snacks that don’t do anything for skin quality. A proper diet makes your body feel good and prevents your lips from feeling poorly.
Tip 7: Maintain a Routine
Constantly fixing chapped lips is not enough to get it done. Chapped lip restoration is an endeavor in which you need to commit to a routine to eliminate flaking. We all know how easy it can be to start something new, backtrack and forget about it in a fe days. It’s ultimately easy to do, but when it comes to getting rid of chapped lips it has to be done.
Commit to the new lifestyle habits. For example, keep a water bottle at eye level on your desk so you remember to stay hydrated. Keep lip balm in various places whether its the car or bathroom so you always have it on hand. Check the weather every day to see if you’ll need a scarf outside or SPF lip balm. Choose a specific day for exfoliation and keep it, repetition is key. Eating properly should come easily with how great your body feels.
And if you ever mess up? No worries—just get back on track. It’s regularly applying these techniques that will change dry, chapped lips to soft and healthy. Over time, it’ll become second nature and you’ll even forget that your lips are smooth when the seasons change or when you’re busy and forget to pay attention to your lips.
Conclusion
Chapped lips shouldn’t be a way of life. With seven simple suggestions—hydration, good lip balm, weather protection, avoidance of irritating foods, light exfoliation, proper healthful diet and consistency—you can banish chapped lips for good! It’s amazing what small steps can accomplish such big results. There should be no reason to seek expensive spa treatments or extensive time-consuming regimens to have soft and healthy lips. Just a little goes a long way.
Start with one or two today. Keep a lip balm in your pocket or added a glass of water to your dinner routine. Slowly you’ll get acclimated with what works best for you. Your lips will feel better and you’ll feel better when talking, smiling, and enjoying your favorite meals. So what are you waiting for? One simple step today will have lasting results!