Chapped Lips: An embarrassing pain

Chapped lips are an annoying problem for both men and women. When involved in verbal communication, it is always important to make sure that your lips look smooth, without the hideous sign of peeling skin. When speaking, the eyes direct themselves to a person’s lips and eyes. If your lips are unsightly, then the person listening will become more attentive to your lips rather than the subject matter. There are many reasons for chapped lips. If you are one of those suffering from this problem then do not worry, because there are many solutions available.

Weather

Cold weather and hot weather both evaporate the moisture from our lips, so most people often feel as though they have to keep reapplying their lip balms or glosses constantly. Because the weather evaporates the moisture from our lips, this loss of moisture causes symptoms such as: red tenderness, peeling and dry feeling lips.

Vitamin deficiency or Increase

Riboflavin deficiency causes cheilosis which is the ulceration and cracking of the corners of your mouth. According to lifesteps.com, an informative family health site, the best sources of riboflavin are meat, dairy products, and dark green vegetables as well as grains.

According to dermadoctor.com, Dr. Audrey Kunin says that “too much vitamin A, whether in oral supplements, prescription medications like Accutane or Soriatane, or too much in your diet may lead to peeling lips. Check the label on your supplement. If you’re taking more than 25,000 IU (international units) a day you may have found your cause.”

Infection

If your lips are severally chapped, then you may be suffering from an infection on your lips that may require antiseptic/antibiotic ointments. According to Tricia Ellis-Christensen, writer for wise-geek.com, “if your chapped lips are very red or swollen, you may be harboring a bacterial infection.” She also says “Sometimes staph infections can occur on the lips or around the mouth and may require oral antibiotics to relieve chapped lips and the infection.”

Before heading out into cold weather, apply a lip balm or petroleum jelly to your lips to guard them against exposure to the wind and cold air.

In warmer temperatures, apply a sunscreen based lip balm, something containing the minimum SPF 15.

Increase your intake of riboflavin (Vitamin B2).

Drink plenty of water.

Avoid licking/sucking on your lips.

If you suspect your lipstick/lipgloss or lip balm is irritating your lips, then discontinue the use of that product.

Make your own lip balm by melting beeswax with a  few drops of honey and olive oil.

Chapped lips can be an annoying problem. Whenever you decide to venture out into the cold or hot,  always make sure you carry a travel lip balm or Vaseline to keep your lips looking smooth; Otherwise, you may put yourself into one chappy embarrassing situation!