Chapped lips are one of the many woes that come with winter weather, but they don’t have to be. If you want to keep your pout plump and well moisturized, check out our tips to stay kissable this winter.
What are Chapped Lips?
Your lips are considered skin as well. So, when your lips are dry or exposed to harsh elements such as dry, cold air, they can become chapped. Your lips can also become chapped when wet and then exposed to a cold environment.
There are various symptoms of chapped lips. The most common are:
- Cracked lips
- Burning sensation on the lips
- Redness around the lips
- Dry, irritated lips
- Sores on or around the lips
- Scaley or flaky lips
- Peeling of the lip skin
Usually, chapped lips can be resolved with proper moisturizer, lip balm, and adequate lip protection. If chapped lips are more serious, you may develop Cheilitis. An infection may cause this condition with cracked skin at the corners of your lips.
If you habitually lick your lips in the colder months, you may cause your lips to chap. This is called Cheilitis Simplex. When you lick your lips too much, you can strip the lip skin of oil that locks in moisture. Plus, enzymes and bacteria from your tongue can irritate your lips and cause problems.
The level of damage to your chapped lips will determine how long it will take for your lips to heal and what measures you will need to take to treat your chapped lips in winter.
Common Risk Factors for Chapped Lips
If you are wondering what risk factors exist for chapped lips, look no further. The reality is everyone can get chapped lips. This ailment is prevalent. However, you are more susceptible to chapped lips if you are on certain medications or supplements such as Vitamin A, lithium, chemotherapy drugs, or retinoids.
Certain cosmetics can cause an allergic reaction and limit your lips’ defense mechanisms. This can cause the protective layer of natural oil to break down, making your lips more susceptible to infection. Irritating lipsticks and balms should be avoided once you start showing symptoms to prevent further damage. Avoid balms that can dry your lips out quickly. These balms have ingredients such as menthol, phenol, and or camphor. Scented products for lips can also dry them out quickly due to the chemicals induced to produce the scents.
Quick Fixes for Chapped Lips
You can try numerous fixes to combat the discomfort and unsightly appearance of chapped lips.
Get a Hydrating, UV Protecting Lip Shine – Plain lip balm is effective but can also be a tad boring. Keep your look bold with ColorScience Lipshine with UV Protection. This hydrating shine offers a touch of color while locking in moisture and protecting your delicate lips from the sun’s harmful UV rays. This powerful pout enhancer even contains hyaluronic acid. When our skin is not adequately hydrated, it causes wrinkles, fine lines, loose skin, and a translucent appearance due to thinning tissues. Hydrated skin is firm, plump, and vibrant. That’s where the special hyaluronic acid comes into play.
Exfoliate, Softly – Exfoliators can be abrasive and harsh on your skin, but the benefits include getting rid of dead or damaged skin and improving circulation. Remember, your lips are skin too! Consider using a gentle but effective lip exfoliator to scrub dead or damaged skin away and make way for new, healthier lip skin. A sugar scrub is an excellent place to start because it is natural and less coarse than other exfoliators.
Choose the Right Lip Balm – We discussed what to avoid when it comes to lip balms, but what should you look for to prevent chapped lips in winter? Lip Balms that contain moisturizing ingredients like beeswax, petroleum, lanolin, and ceramides are excellent (and primarily natural) choices.
Smooth Wrinkles to Accentuate Your Smile – Marionette lines at the corners of your mouth can draw attention to chapped lips. To combat this, consider a neuromodulator such as Botox®. Botox® for chapped lips? You may be wondering about the correlation. Botox® can be used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles above your lips. This would take attention from your chapped lips until they heal while promoting a youthful, radiant appearance.
Protect Your Lips Outside – If you want to prevent chapped lips in winter, make sure you protect your lips before heading out in the cold and dry air. While this does mean liberally applying lip balm, it also means covering your lips with a scarf and keeping them safe from the elements. You can wear a ski mask or a buff to provide a barrier between the harsh weather and your delicate lips.
Hydrate from the Inside – Your lips lose moisture quickly due to a lack of humidity and a breakdown of natural oils. If you want to support your lip health naturally, drink more water! Your skin requires water to stay healthy. Dehydration is another risk factor for chapped lips.
Avoid Licking Your Lips – Whether it is a compulsion or your body’s attempt to bring moisture to your dry lips, try your best to avoid licking them. You will only make your chapped lips worse. The key is being mindful when you do it, so you can remind yourself to stop. A lot of times, we lick our lips without even realizing it. A lip balm or hydrating lip stain may help you kick the lip-kicking habit.
Boost Hydration and Accentuate a Youthful Appearance – As you wait for your lips to heal naturally, you can amplify other youthful features of your beautiful face. Dermal fillers are a long-lasting but non-permanent synthetic form of hyaluronic acid. They are injected under the skin using tiny needles, instantly plump and smooth your skin. You can get dermal fillers to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers like Juvéderm® can be used to plump and fill your lips! (Yes, just like lip fillers with a side of much-needed hydration). Results are visible within 2-5 days after treatment.
Purchase a Humidifier – When you’re inside during the winter months, your home may be nice and toasty and warm. Even though you’re not exposed to the cold air from outside, you are exposed to increasingly dry air inside. This will dry out your lips and set you up for chapped lips when you leave the house. A humidifier can add much-needed moisture to the air. Place one in your bedroom at night or the room you spend the most time.
When to See an Expert
You may need to see your healthcare practitioner if you experience chapped lips for long periods and no treatment seems to help fix the cracking or irritation. A prescription could be needed to treat your lips, or your practitioner may need to determine an underlying issue.
But if you’re ready to try dermal fillers and Botox® or are curious about highly effective lip products tailored to your individual and specific needs, consider booking a consultation at First Impressions Rejuvenation Clinic. The expert team at First Impressions welcomes any and all questions regarding skincare and lip care. They can help you find the right products to get your pout through the cold, harsh winter. The team can also recommend treatments to make you look and feel like your best and most authentic self. Invest in you and visit First Impressions today.
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You’ve committed to protecting your pout. Now let’s get you the youthful, well-rested-looking skin you desire. Ready to diminish those fine lines and wrinkles? Give your skin a refreshing pick-me-up that achieves professional and, in some cases, dramatic results with Botox® injections. Learn more when you download our FREE ebook, 10 Truth Bombs about Botox® and Fillers You’ll Be Relieved to Know.