What Are the Treatments for Severely Chapped Lips?
Chapped lips can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Chapped lips occur regardless of season and sometimes incur more when on medications that dry out the skin. There are natural treatments available to heal and prevent severe chapped lips.
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Causes of Severe Chapped Lips
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Many factors contribute to severe chapped lips. In the winter season, the wind, cold and dry air can cause drying as well as the sun in the summer months. Severely chapped lips also results from breathing through the mouth as that dehydrates lips. Medications to treat acne like Accutane causes severe chapping. Other causes include lip licking, vitamin deficiency and insufficient water consumption.
Natural Treatments to Heal Severely Chapped Lips
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Natural products are available to heal severely dry lips. Some natural emollients include: beeswax, vitamin E, avocado oil, almond oil, shea and cocoa butter.
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Petroleum-Based Products for Chapped Lips
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It is common to apply Vaseline or Chapstick to dry lips, however, petroleum-based products create a rebound effect of chapped lips. The petroleum initially hydrates the lips, but the application inhibits the skin from being able to breathe, creating cell dehydration and increased chapped lips between product usage. This dependency on the petroleum is not an effective treatment.
Prevention
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Sunscreen is not just for bodily usage. Sunscreen protects the lips too from the sun's harmful rays that can dry and burn the lips.
Drink plenty of water.
Use a humidifier to increase moisture in the air.
Stop smoking. Smoking removes natural oils from the lips.
Alternative Medicine
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There are many Ayurvedic remedies for chapped lips.
Apply mustard oil, sesame oil or coconut oil. This will help keep lips supple and moisturized.
Apply clarified butter 2 to 3 times a day to chapped lips.
Vitamins for Chapped Lips
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Severely chapped lips may be a sign of vitamin deficiency. Riboflavin, Vitamin B1 and B6 heal dry, cracked lips. These vitamins help repair tissues needed for healthy lips. Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant provides moisture and lubricant to the skin.
Other supplements include flaxseed oil and fish oil. Essential fatty acids provide nourishment and moisture to the skin.
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