How to treat and prevent dry, chapped lips?
We've all experienced that unpleasant sensation: dry, tight, sometimes even painful lips. These symptoms can quickly develop into chapping if not treated in time. There are simple, effective solutions to prevent and treat dry lips.
Causes of Dry and Chapped Lips
Environmental Factors and Lifestyle
Lips are particularly vulnerable to external aggression due to their unique composition. Unlike other parts of the body, they lack sebaceous glands, making them incapable of producing the hydrolipidic film that normally protects the skin. Extreme weather conditions, such as cold winds, dry air and prolonged exposure to the sun, can therefore rapidly lead to severe lip dryness.
In addition, certain lifestyle habits aggravate the situation. For example, the smokingThe lips can also be considerably dried out by breathing through the mouth, especially at night. Likewise, frequent moistening of the lips with the tongue, while providing temporary relief, ends up aggravating the problem due to the digestive enzymes present in the saliva, which further dehydrate the skin.
Medical Causes and Allergies
In addition to environmental factors, certain medical conditions and allergies can cause lips. dry and chapped lips. For example, diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or lupus can affect the skin on the lips. In addition, certain medications, notably those used to treatacne or allergies, are known to cause intense dryness of the lips.
Allergic reactions to certain cosmetics, toothpastes or foods can also lead to irritated, dry lips.
How to treat Dry and Chapped Lips ?
Adopt Good Daily Reflexes
Prevention is the key to avoiding dry, chapped lips. Here are a few essential practices to incorporate into your daily routine:
- Hydration Drink enough water throughout the day. Good internal hydration is crucial to maintaining the health of your lips.
- Using Lip Balms Apply a moisturizing lip balm several times a day, especially before going out or exposing yourself to extreme weather conditions. Balms containing ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil and jojoba oil are particularly effective.
- Avoid Nervous Tics Do not bite your lips or moisten them with your tongue. These actions aggravate chapping and delay healing.
Specific Care and Recommended Products
In addition to good daily practices, specific care can help treat and prevent dry lips:
- Scrub Sweet Once a week, gently exfoliate your lips with a fine-grain scrub to remove dead skin cells. This allows the balms to penetrate better and moisturize the skin in depth.
- Moisturizing Mask Once a week, apply a nourishing lip mask. These masks are particularly useful after exfoliation, as they help restore lost moisture.
- Lip Balms with UV Protection If you spend a lot of time outdoors, choose a lip balm with an index of sun protection to prevent damage caused by UV rays.
What to do if your lips are very chapped or bleeding?
If your lips are already severely chapped or cracked, it's essential to act quickly to prevent infection or complications. Use healing ointments to soothe lips and promote healing. Products containing ingredients such as vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and beeswax are particularly effective.
If symptoms persist despite regular application of lip balm, it's advisable to consult a healthcare professional, as this could indicate an underlying condition requiring medical treatment.
How to prevent long-term dry lips
Preventive Care and Healthy Living
Taking care of your lips requires a holistic approach that combines external care with a healthy lifestyle.
- Balanced diet : A power supply rich in vitamins, especially A and B, contributes to healthy skin, including that of the lips. Green vegetables, nuts and whole grains are particularly beneficial.
- Protection against the elements In winter, protect your lips from the cold by using scarves and applying moisturizing, protective lip balms. In summer, protect them from the sun with products containing sunscreen.
- Avoid Aggressive Products Choose lipsticks and lip cosmetics formulated to moisturize rather than dry. Avoid products containing parabens, perfumes or silicones, which can be irritating.
Taking care of your lips is not just a question of aesthetics, it's also a necessity to prevent discomfort and complications. By adopting the right reflexes and using the right products, you can keep your lips soft, moisturized and healthy all year round.
