Chapped Lips: Causes and Home Remedies
Winter has our lips firmly in its grip: the cold makes them brittle and the dry heating air only makes them dry out even more. Fortunately, there are some home remedies you can use to treat chapped lips. Here you can find out the cause of dry lips and what really helps!
Chapped lips: Causes
The lips have only a very thin skin and have hardly any sebaceous glands. Normally fat is released into the skin via the sebaceous glands. This moisture has a refatting effect and protects against dehydration. However, as the lips do not have this protective function, they are particularly sensitive and become dry and brittle, especially in cold weather.
Even a brief moistening with saliva does not help, as it only evaporates and draws further moisture from the skin. This makes the condition of the lips even worse.
Other causes of chapped lips
Not only the winter and dry heating air can be the cause of chapped lips, these factors also encourage your lips to become chapped:
Diseases
Viral infections, fungal infections and colds also make the lips brittle. Especially with a pronounced cold, many people have to struggle extremely with this problem. The lips tighten, hurt and may even crack open. But neurodermatitis or herpes can also promote dry lips.
Missing liquid
In order for our water balance to function properly, we should drink at least two to two and a half litres a day. Pure water or tea (unsweetened) is best. A permanent lack of water has many negative effects on the organism and also causes a decrease in saliva production, which in turn makes mouth and throat drier.
Unbalanced diet
Mineral deficiency or vitamin deficiency can have various consequences, including roughening of the lips or cracking of the corners of the mouth. A balanced, healthy diet is therefore essential for a healthy body.
Stress
Stress has generally negative house effects on our skin and the condition of the lips can also deteriorate due to permanent stress. This is mainly due to the fact that the body shuts down some functions in order to use the energy for the body functions that are important at that moment. This can also reduce the production of saliva. Regular sport and relaxation exercises are the right approach here.
Missing or wrong care
Especially in the winter time we should care for our lips and provide them with additional moisture. Normal moisturizing cream is usually not enough and care products with mineral oils can dry out the skin even more. On the other hand, the lips need to be provided with an extra portion of moisture with high-quality ingredients.
Dry heating air
Heating air pollutes our skin even more. Humidifiers can be a means of combating dry indoor air.
Treat chapped lips: The best home remedies
Honey
Honey (pay attention to organic quality) has slightly anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, its ingredients nourish and give the lips a soft feeling. It is best to apply the household remedy once or twice a day and rinse it off with water after a few minutes. It is best not to lick off the sweet gold, as the saliva will then evaporate again and additionally draw moisture.
A mixture of curd cheese and honey is also suitable as lip care, which develops its calming effect after a few minutes and is then rinsed off again.
Olive oil
Olive oil (organic quality) is also particularly nourishing and soothing when it comes to dry lips. It can also be used as an immediate aid for cracked areas.
Milking Fat
Especially at extreme temperatures milking fat protects the lips extremely well due to its fat layer. Vaseline is also a suitable agent here.
Beeswax
Beeswax has the advantage that its composition nourishes and promotes the regeneration of the skin. Here you can learn how to make lip balm yourself from beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter.
Note: If you have extremely chapped lips, you may need to use ointments. Creams with zinc can promote the healing of wounds. It is best to ask for advice at the pharmacy.
Application:
- Care for your chapped lips during the day with a thin layer of the respective household remedy.
- But also at night a thicker layer of care is not wrong, so that the skin can regenerate.
- Caution: You should not use perfumed and colored cosmetics for lips as long as your lips are chapped.