1
Drink plenty of fluids. Having 8-10 glasses of water
per day is ideal. When your body is dehydrated, it often shows first in
your lips. The more water, the better!
2
Don't lick or pick at your lips. When your lips are
chapped, avoid the temptation to lick them constantly or pick at them.
These two common habits just make the situation worse. Licking your
licks may bring temporary relief, but as the saliva on your lips
evaporates, it dries out your lips. Picking at the skin on your lips may
lead to bleeding, an infection, or a cold sore.
- If you feel the urge to lick or pick at your lips, immediately apply a lip balm instead.
- Reapply lip balm or ointment after drinking or rinsing out your mouth.
3
Exfoliate your lips. Before applying any sort of
ointment, remove the dead skin using an exfoliation method. This will
expose the fresh skin and help your lips start to heal. Don't rub your
lips too harshly - that could make things worse. Gently massage them.
You can exfoliate your lips using the same items you use to exfoliate
other areas on your body. Try one of the following:
- Use a salt or sugar scrub. Apply the scrub to your lips and massage them in a circular motion, rubbing away the dead skin (you can also try using sugar added to a little olive oil as an exfoliant). Your lips should feel soft and renewed.
- Use an exfoliating brush. The easiest brush to use in this case might be your toothbrush! Just make sure it's clean. Any other small, sof-bristle brush will also do. Rub it over your lips in a circular motion to remove dead skin.
- Don't use a soap-based exfoliant. Face wash with scrubbing beads and other soap-based exfoliants will dry out your lips further.
4
Apply an ointment. Be careful which over-the-counter
ointment or lip balm (e.g. Chapstick) you use to heal your cracked lips.
Many contain ingredients (e.g. camphor or petroleum jelly) that make
lips feel better temporarily, but which may actually dry out your lips
even more, forcing you to reapply them again and again.
- Look for a lip balm that contains beeswax, shea butter, coconut butter, almond oil, or other natural moisturizers - and not much else. Don't choose a lip balm with an extra-long list of ingredients you can't pronounce.
- A vitamin E or glycerin-based ointment containing other natural ingredients could also be helpful.[1]
- Avoid using lipstick to moisturize your lips. Lipstick can be drying - you need a protective ointment underneath.
5
Apply oils. For an ultra-moisturizing lip treatment,
rub a little oil on your lips. It will sooth and moisturize your lips
while also protecting them from further damage. Use natural moisturizers
made from nut oils and seed butters. Here are some examples:
- Coconut oil
- Almond oil
- Olive oil
- Cocoa or shea butter
6
Soothe your lips if they're painful. If your lips are
so cracked that it hurts to smile, try soothing them with a home remedy
that will make them feel better. Here are a few suggestions:
- Rubbing a cucumber slice on your lips daily for about 10 minutes is also known to be effective.
- Rubbing some aloe vera gel on your lips can be soothing.
- Rubbing a little honey on your lips will moisturize them and make them feel better.
7
Avoid excessive use of commercial skin treatments. These include cosmetics and heavily flavored lip balms. They can dry out your skin.
8
Try using fluoride-free toothpaste. Some people have
an allergy to fluoride that not only affects their lips but can also
cause other irritations in the mouth. Switch up your toothpaste and see
if you notice a difference.
9
Use a humidifier in your home or office. Heating
indoor spaces in the winter causes the air to dry out. Try installing a
humidifier. This moistens up air in a room and ultimately moistens up
your lips...hmmm humidifer, i have not used it before ..Lol but i can give it a try ....culled from wikihow
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