eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Treat Chapped Lips Using Home Remedies

Contributor
By Marissa Wilson
eHow Contributing Writer
(4 Ratings)
Treat Your Chapped Lips by Using Home Remedies
Treat Your Chapped Lips by Using Home Remedies
miamiamia from stock.xchnge-http://www.sxc.hu/profile/miamiamia

Chapped lips hurt when smiling, eating, drinking and just about anything to do with moving your lips. Chapped lips are more common in the winter months because of the low humidity. Our lips lack the natural oil our skin makes to protect against dry skin. Just by trying to grin or smile when your lips are chapped can crack and hurt lips.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Lip balm with sunscreen
  • Lipstick or lip gloss
  • Zinc oxide
  • Bag balm used for cow udders
  • Olive oil
  • Tomato
  • Half a lemon
  • Glycerin
  • Sugar
  • 100% pure orange juice
  • Cucumber slice
  • Aloe Vera
  1. Step 1

    Use a lip balm with sunscreen in it. The sun can dry out our lips as well as our skin so using a lip balm with sunscreen will help treat chapped lips and prevent chapped lips from occurring.

  2. Step 2

    Wear a creamy lipstick or lip gloss every day. The creamy lipstick or lip gloss helps soothe the lips when they are chapped. Lipstick or lip gloss can also prevent chapped lips because it is opaque and helps filter out harsh light.

  3. Step 3

    Drink plenty of fluids every day to moisturize your lips from the inside out. Drinking several ounces of water every few hours can soothe chapped lips and prevent chapped lips in the first place.

  4. Step 4

    Apply zinc oxide to your lips every night before bed. Many people tend to drool in their sleep which can irritate chapped lips and cause chapped lips. Zinc oxide acts as a barrier and protects the lips from chapping from drool.

  5. Step 5

    Apply bag balm to your lips that is normally used by farmers to soothe the udders of a cow. Apply it to your lips for 1 to 2 days and it should help soothe chapped lips. Bag balm can be found at farm supply stores, vet supply stores, some pharmacies and health food stores.

  6. Step 6

    Take a little bit of olive oil, enough to fill a shot glass, and apply it to your lips every day until the chapped lips are healed. You can keep using it as long as you want to prevent chapped lips from returning. You can also rub the fleshy side of a tomato on your lips if they are really chapped. This may sting a little so use it with caution.

  7. Step 7

    Put a little bit of sugar on a half of a lemon and rub it on your lips. Apply glycerin after doing this to keep lips moisturized. This is a simple yet effective remedy.

Tips & Warnings
  • You can also rub a little bit of 100 percent orange juice on your lips every day. This can burn capped lips a little at first but is very effective in treating chapped lips. The orange juice should relieve the chapped lips within 24 hours, if not then repeat the process until your lips are better.
  • A small slice of a cucumber rubbed on your lips can also help soothe sore, chapped lips. The cucumber should help soothe your lips immediately.
  • Apply Aloe Vera to your chapped lips and it should soothe them immediately. Keep applying the Aloe Vera until your lips are healed.
  • Chapped lips can become infected. To prevent infection, apply an antibiotic ointment that can be found over-the-counter at your local pharmacy.
  • Be careful of a vitamin deficiency. If you do not get enough Vitamin B and Iron, it can cause chapped lips. The best thing to do is take a multivitamin daily.
  • Do not lick your lips. When you lick your lips you apply a moisture but the air quickly dries the moisture, and dries the lips, therefore causing chapped lips.
  • Watch out for toothpaste, mouthwash, and candy because the flavoring agent can cause chapped lips.
Subscribe

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Related Ads

  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This
Tags
Get Free Health Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

Live Strong Partner
Livestrong_eHow Health