Before you begin taking care of your lips, it’s good to know how healthy lips should look and feel. Everyone’s lips are different, and they can be light or dark, thin or thick, and have more or less moisture. But, no matter your lip type, dryness, flakes, bleeding, or cold sores usually mean your lips need some help. On the other hand, if your lips feel soft, smooth, and not dry, they’re probably healthy.
When the weather changes and it gets really windy or dry, our lips can become dry and sore. So, it’s important to look after them to keep them looking nice. Using good lip gels and creams can help a lot because they keep our lips moisturized for a long time. You can also use a lip scrub, lip mask, and lip balm to get the same good result.
If your lips often have problems, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor. They can help figure out why your lips are having issues and suggest ways to make them better.
Causes of Dry Lips:
Dry lips are something that a lot of people experience. It’s a common issue for both kids and grown-ups, no matter if you’re a boy or a girl. Our lips lose moisture because of many things.
Some of the usual reasons are:
- Cold or dry weather
- The sun’s rays
- Licking your lips, a lot
- Smoking
- Not getting enough vitamins
- Having an allergic reaction
- Taking certain medicines
Simple Steps for Healthy Lips
1. Make Your Lips Smooth:
Gently brush your lips with a soft, wet toothbrush or a damp cloth to remove dry, flaky skin. I do this once a week, usually on a relaxed morning when I’m not going out right away because it can make my lips a bit sensitive.
2. Keep Your Lips Hydrated:
Lips can easily become dry and chapped because they don’t have the same oil as the rest of your skin. Drinking lots of water helps keep your lips from drying out. Try not to lick your lips too much (it took me a while to stop doing that!) because it can make them lose moisture.
Read more…..How much water should you drink per day?
3. Keep Your Lips Safe and Soft:
Lips get a lot of sunlight, especially the bottom lip. This can lead to skin problems, even skin cancer. That’s why it’s SUPER IMPORTANT to use a lip product with SPF 15 or higher sunscreen during the day. Even if you’re wearing a mask, you should still protect your lips and skin. At night, switch to a moisturizing product to help with dryness while you sleep.
4. Reapply for Protection:
Remember to put on your sun-protective lip product every two hours, especially after eating or drinking. I think it’s smart to have lip balm with SPF in many spots. You can keep it on your desk, in your bag, by your bed, and in the bathroom. This way, I remember to apply it after brushing my teeth. And a bonus of this is that you can try out different brands and products. Just remember to reapply your sun-protective lip stuff at least every two hours.
5. Take Off Lipstick Before Bed:
When you sleep, your whole body rests and heals. Your lips need a break too, so it’s a good idea to remove your lipstick before going to bed.
6. Keep Your Lips Hydrated Overnight:
It’s easy to tell if your lips are dry when you’re awake. But making sure they stay moisturized while you sleep is harder. To help, use lip masks before bed to keep your lips hydrated and healthy while you sleep.
7. Follow a Night Routine:
Make a routine for taking care of your lips at night. Use three important lip products: lip scrub, lip sleeping mask, and lip balm. These will help your lips stay soft and happy.
8. Carry Your Favorite Lip Balm:
Sometimes your lips suddenly feel dry and not good. That’s why it’s smart to always have your favorite lip balm with you. Lip balm is good to use in all seasons, not just in winter.
9. Avoid Touching and Licking Your Lips:
If you wear nude lipstick, they don’t have their own protection layer. So, if you touch or lick your lips, they might get infected. After your spit goes away, your lips can become even drier. The skin on your lips is very sensitive and can’t handle the stuff in your saliva.
10. Live a Healthy Life:
Having a good diet is great for your skin, and it also helps your lips. Vitamins and good things from food make your skin and lips look better. So, living a healthy life and eating well is important for having nice and beautiful lips.
Lip Care Remedies:
Creating your own lip care stuff can be a fun and good way to keep your lips healthy. Here are home remedies.
Honey Lip Scrub
Honey is a natural thing that helps your lips keep moisture. It also helps take away dead skin and has stuff that fights germs. That’s why it’s great for a lip scrub to make your lips smooth and hydrated.
To make your own honey lip scrub, mix one spoon of honey, one spoon of brown sugar, and half a spoon of olive oil. Mix them well and put the mixture on your lips in circles. Use your fingers to gently rub the mixture on your lips. Wash it off with warm water and dry your lips with a soft cloth.
Honey Overnight Lip Mask
Honey can help make your lips soft and hydrated. It’s really good for a lip mask to put on before bed to help your lips.
To make your own honey overnight lip mask, mix one spoon of honey and one spoon of coconut oil. Mix them together. Put the mixture on your lips before you go to sleep and gently rub it in. When you wake up, clean your lips with warm water.
Using Coconut Oil:
Lips are more sensitive to things like wind, heat, and cold compared to the skin on the rest of your body. Coconut oil is a kind of oil that’s good for your skin. It’s not just about moisturizing – a study shows that it can also protect your skin from things like wind and cold. Coconut oil is also helpful because it can fight inflammation and germs.
Put coconut oil on your chapped lips whenever they feel dry. You can use a clean finger or a cotton swab to put the oil on your lips. Buy pure coconut oil that’s organic online or at the store.
Using Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera is something that people often use for sunburns. It’s good for chapped lips too because it’s soothing and fights inflammation. You can buy aloe vera in a gel form, or you can use fresh aloe vera from an aloe plant. Cut a leaf from the plant, open it up, and get the gel. Keep it in a container and put the gel on your lips with your fingers when needed.
Aloe vera also gently takes away dead skin, so use it only two or three times a day.
When Should You Visit a Skin Doctor?
Usually, taking care of your dry, chapped lips on your own for about 2 to 3 weeks can help. But if it’s not getting better, it’s a good idea to see a special doctor called a dermatologist.
Your lips might be dry and sore because of something other than the weather. Allergies, infections, or even something more serious could be making your lips feel bad. There’s a condition called actinic cheilitis that makes your lips dry and scaly. A dermatologist, who is an expert on skin, can find out what’s causing the problem.
