How to Moisturize Cracked Lips

Skiers often apply lip balm before heading out to the hills.

If your lips feel dry and sore, and are peeling, cracking or bleeding, you need to moisturize them. A number of things can cause lips to crack and bleed, including medications, dry air, lip-licking and smoking. Many people suffer from cracked lips during the dry, winter months; others because they don't keep their bodies hydrated. It's possible to repair dry lips, and to prevent them from recurring.

Instructions

1. Drink water. One reason lips dry out is because the body isn't hydrated. When your body doesn't take in enough fluids, your skin and lips become dry. Drinking enough water will prevent your lips from becoming cracked and sore.

2. Use a humidifier. Keep moisture in the air during the winter by using a humidifier, especially at night. Dry air can lead to dry, itchy skin and sore, cracked lips. By restoring moisture into the air, your lips won't dry out as much. If necessary, run a humidifier all winter, or during all months that have dry air.

3. Apply a cream or lip balm to your lips. This is especially important before going outside in cold weather. Oil-based lubricating creams work well; so do lip balms that contain beeswax or petrolatum. Apply this to your lips as often as needed. Lip balms with an SPF also help prevent lips from drying out because they protect them from the sun's harsh rays.

4. Don't lick your lips. Although it seems natural to lick dry lips, the saliva causes them to dry out even more.

5. Apply petroleum jelly on lips before going to bed. Try to fall asleep on your back to avoid rubbing the jelly off. Doing this every night deeply moisturizes your lips, and will keep them soft and crack-free.

References

• Mayo Clinic; Dry Skin; Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.; October 2010
• Beauty Tips: How to Treat and Prevent Dry, Chapped Lips Properly