Your lips don’t have oil glands like the rest of your body, so they’re more prone to dryness than other areas of your skin. The skin on the lips is among the most sensitive areas on the body and the most exposed to the environment, explains Joshua Zeichner, dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. The lips do not have the same concentration of oil glands as regular skin and are constantly exposed to environmental factors, like lip licking, cosmetics, and cold weather. “All of these factors can dry out the skin barrier, leading to irritation, inflammation, and flaking,” he says.
This is something that I have struggled with for years. It seems like no matter what I do, I cannot prevent my lips from getting dry and flaky. It makes it next to impossible to wear lipstick which is a total bummer. I have tried a few things that have helped, but it seems to be a recurring problem. They clear up temporarily and then the dryness returns.
Causes of dry or chapped lips may include irritated skin, allergies, frequent sun exposure, infection, and autoimmune conditions. Lip dryness, redness, cracking, and itching are common symptoms.
The following are some of the ways you can support healthy lips year round.
Stay Hydrated
One of the biggest causes of dry lips is not drinking enough water. It is super important to stay hydrated, not just for your lips, but for your entire body. You should aim for 8 glasses of water a day minimum, which equals 64oz. However, some doctors even recommend drinking half your body weight in water each day for optimal hydration. For more information on the importance of hydration, click here. This is a foundational remedy and may even prevent you from experiencing dry lips in the first place. If you struggle with drinking enough water because it has no flavor, or your water has a funny taste, or whatever the reason is, an awesome and healthy way to add flavor is to put a couple of drops of doTERRA essential oil in the glass. My favorite is lemon essential oil, it tastes great, the smell is uplifting, it helps cleanse your liver and kidneys and best of all, it is affordable. A 15ml bottle of oil has 250 drops so it can easily last 1.5-2 months.
Lip Scrub
This delicious, natural, exfoliating lip scrub, found on the doTERRA blog, will leave your lips feeling smooth and rejuvenated, and can be customized with any of your favorite essential oils. For extra soft lips, apply lip balm after the scrub. The key here is gentle exfoliation. You don’t want to irritate problem lips any more than they already are, so go easy on them.
Ingredients
4 teaspoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons virgin coconut oil
3 teaspoons honey
2 drops Peppermint oil
2 drops Wild Orange oil
Note: This recipe makes a little less than ¼ cup. Either portion out the mixture into several air-tight containers, or adjust the recipe to fit the container you have.
Instructions
- Mix brown sugar, coconut oil, and honey in small bowl.
- Add desired essential oils.
- Stir until ingredients are combined.
- Put contents into container(s) of your choice.
- Dip a cotton swab into the scrub.
- Apply the scrub to your lips in a circular motion using gentle pressure.
- Wipe off using a damp washcloth.
- Apply as needed.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant and a natural conditioner, even possessing some protective properties like those of a mild sunscreen. It’s also known for offering intense hydration and speeding up the wound healing process. If you have vitamin E capsules, you can simply cut one open and apply the product right to your lips. Vitamin E boosts circulation and may help generate new skin cells, making your lips softer. If you don’t have vitamin E capsules laying around, you can always use a vitamin E lip balm, like this one, though the oil found in the capsule offers much stronger healing properties.
Use a Humidifier
Sleeping with a humidifier is a classic dermatologist suggestion for adding moisture to the air and helping skin stay supple through the cold, dry winter months. It works just as well to keep your lips hydrated. Low humidity levels can dry out your skin and mucous membranes. If your home has low humidity, you will notice things like chapped lips, dry and itchy skin, and a dry sore throat when you wake up in the morning. To help support your health while raising the humidity levels in your home, a humidifier emits water vapor into the space to get the job done.
Maybe your grandmother used to boil water on the stove or hang wet towels near a heater vent to try to increase humidity. Fortunately for us, it’s as easy as going online and having a humidifier delivered to our door.
There are several different types of humidifiers; here are two of my favorites. I am in love with doTERRA’s Dawn Aroma Diffuser. I get the benefits of a humidifier and a diffuser all in one. We have this one in our family room. This time of year, I enjoy adding 20 drops of On Guard (Immunity Blend) essential oil to the Dawn Humidifier. It smells like fall and offers incredible health benefits. The Cool Mist Humidifier is great for a bedroom. It has a built in night light and various setting options. (as of 11/12/20 there is a $15 coupon)
Make Your Own Lip Balm
Not all lip balms are created equally. Have you tried lip balms in the past and noticed your lips did not improve…and maybe even got worse?
“Lip balms with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin make lips worse,” says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD. “These ingredients pull moisture out of the skin, especially in a dry environment, and then the water evaporates away.”
It is important to stick to natural ingredients in your lip balm if possible. Making your own can be an easy alternative and it makes a great gift.
Try to steer clear of chemicals, artificial fragrances, and salicylic acid which can actually irritate lips and cause dryness. Go natural with this DIY lip balm full of health benefits and great flavor.
Ingredients
½ ounce beeswax
½ ounce coconut oil
¼ ounce shea butter
¼ ounce cocoa butter
30 drops Wild Orange oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place everything, but Wild Orange oil and vanilla extract into glass measuring cup or bowl.
- Fill large saucepan with one to one and a half inches of water. Bring to boil.
- Once boiling, place glass measuring cup in center of saucepan.
- Stir every few minutes until ingredients have melted and are combined.
- Once all wax is melted, remove from heat and let sit three minutes.
- Add vanilla extract and Wild Orange oil.
- Pour mixture into lip balm containers and let cool.
Eat a Healthy Diet
According to Abreva, you can eat your way to healthier lips by focusing on the above food chart.
The Omega 3 fats in Walnuts and Fish can help you regenerate healthy skin cells, helping remove the dryness from your lips, replacing it with new healthy skin cells.
Vitamin A is necessary for skin maintenance and repair, and you should be able to get enough of it in your day-to-day diet. Regular servings of vitamin A could lead to a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and prevent dry skin. You can find vitamin A in eggs, milk, carrots, spinach and fruits such as apricots [source: WebMD: Vitamin A].
Vitamin C helps tissue to repair itself, which means it can help your lips recover from sun damage. It is found in citrus fruits and many vegetables [source: WebMD: Vitamin C].
Vitamin E also fights the effects of free radicals, aiding in keeping skin smooth and fighting fine lines and wrinkles. This vitamin is more commonly used as a topical treatment, but you can also get it in your diet through meats, leafy vegetables, eggs and nuts [source: WebMD: Vitamin E].
Stop Smoking
Tobacco smoke can irritate the sensitive skin around the lips, causing them to dry out and become more likely to crack. This includes cigarettes, chew and smoking a pipe. Weed smokers also complain about dry lips. It’s safe to say that smoke in general, causes the lips to dry out. There is also an increased chance of lip infections for those who do smoke.
People may notice that chapped lips clear up shortly after they stop smoking, as the skin begins to heal.
If you have any lip healing products that you love please drop them in the comments. I love trying new things!