How to Treat Chapped Lips

Introduction

Chapped lips can have several causes, including dry weather, overexposure to the sun, lip biting and sucking, riboflavin (vitamin B-2) deficiencies and ill-fitting dentures. Here's what you can do to remedy the problem and keep your lips from drying out.

By: eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

Length: 1:22

Comments: 48

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Difficulty: Easy

Tips & Warnings:

Before applying lipstick, dab on a very small amount of lip balm or petroleum jelly to give your lips a little moisture.
Severely cracked lips can become infected. Use over-the-counter antibiotic ointments to guard against this.
If symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Step1

Apply lip balm or petroleum jelly. You can also try coating your lips with skin moisturizer, vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel. These greasy products help keep your lips properly moisturized.

Step2

Use lip balm that contains sunblock if you are going to be outside.

Step3

Avoid licking your lips, since the saliva will evaporate and leave them dry.

Step4

Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

Step5

Consider moistening the air in your home with a humidifier.

Step6

Keep in mind that cracks at the corners of your mouth can indicate riboflavin deficiencies; you can treat this with vitamin B-2 supplements.

Step7

Have a dentist readjust ill-fitting dentures if you believe they might be the cause of your chapped lips.

Comments

rubyanwar said

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on 5/16/2008 Warning: don't use any old lip balm. Some lip balms are designed to have to be used over and over again. My suggestion, works for me. Use Vaseline, or Aquaphor. Also one absolutely wonderful remedy is this. Slather on vaseline and massage it into your lips before you take a steamy shower. When you come out, your lips will be soft. But make sure you slather some more on after you come out. Always works!

momincharge said

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on 11/11/2007 I have used Aquaphor and had excellent results with it!

Mayasdad said

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on 11/8/2007 vitamin e seems to work the best....very good article.

bjbabick said

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on 11/7/2007 I always seem to lick my chapped lips even though It's bad, have to remember to have like 10 chapsticks all over the place. But don't forget to take them out of your pockets before washing/drying!

savannahsparks said

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on 4/15/2007 i talked to my mom because she's a pharmacist about chapped lips and she said she went to a conference on Carmex and how it's initial use was to treat warts. if you look on the back, it's main ingredient is salicyllic(spelling) acid, which is also used to treat acne (you'll find it in any facial cleanser). the acid is caustic and will eventually corrode your lips down and make them peel off in layers. i didn't believe her because i had used carmex for months before she told me it was harmful, but one morning i woke up and sure enough my lips peeled off in layers. basically carmex sucks so don't use it!!

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