A Natural Approach To Health

Living With Chapped Lips

I had a question the other day about chapped lips.

Chapped lips are usually a sign of weather, specifically winter.

You bundle up in extra layers during the winter months, but your lips are still exposed to the sun, wind, cold, and dry air.

Your lips only have thin surface layers of skin, so they’re more likely than the rest of your face to dry out.

You lose up to 10 times more moisture through your lips than you do on the rest of your face or body.

Dry winter air, cold blasts of wind, and the low humidity indoors can dehydrate your lips.

That can make your lips so fragile they develop tiny splits and cracks.

The instinct to lick your lips makes the chapping worse.

As saliva evaporates, it dehydrates your skin further.

Saliva also contains acids to help break down food.

Those acids can irritate chapped lip skin.

Another common mistake is scrubbing, peeling, or biting off skin flakes.

Picking at the already thin skin of your lips can lead to bleeding and severe discomfort.

This slows the healing process and irritates your skin further.

That could lead to an infection or a cold sore.

Your lips need a shield to stay in shape.

A balm provides a buffer between your delicate skin and the weather or indoor heating, so never let your lips go nude.

Skin heals better when it’s kept moist, so you should wear an emollient balm or ointment rather than a waxy stick treatment.

The goal is to seal in moisture and get extra hydration with beneficial oils.

That barrier will also help seal deep cracks and splits from infection and irritation.

Look for an SPF 15 so your lips stay protected against the sun.

Some lip treatments do more harm than good.

Many ingredients can cause dryness and irritation, including eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor.

Acne-prone people may want to look for a petroleum-free product.

Some people may find the ingredient clogs pores and causes blackheads or acne.

Avoid the products in little jars because dipping your finger in a jar isn’t as sanitary as a tube applicator.

The key to avoiding cracked, flaky lips is to balm early and often.

Applying a treatment at bedtime means you’ll be less likely to wake up with chapped lips.

Whatever product you use, keep it handy.

Stash one in the car, one near the bed, and one at your desk so they’re convenient.

Using a humidifier in your home, especially at night, will help replenish your skin’s moisture levels.

Drinking plenty of water will also help fight dehydration, another cause of chapped lips.

To deal with chapped lips it’s beneficial to:

*Drink 6-8 cups of purified water daily.

*Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies daily.

*Increase your raw food consumption.

*Choose organic whenever possible.

*Increase essential fats (Omega-3, Flax oil, fish oil).

*Use Lip Treatment SPF 15.

*Decrease or eliminate toxic dental care products, like whiteners, mouthwash, etc.

*Decrease or eliminate sugars, hard or sticky candy, etc.

*Don’t smoke.

*Decrease or eliminate acid-forming foods and drinks (coffee, soda pop, dairy, red meat, sugar, processed foods, white flour products).

*Decrease exposure to toxic products (cleaners, laundry, personal care, etc.)

If you’re dealing with chapped lips, try these (100% money-back guarantee):

It’s essential to use:  Vita-Lea, Protein, OmegaGuard, GLA, B-Complex, Optiflora, CarotoMax, FlavoMax.

It’s important to use:  Alfalfa, Vitamin C, Vitamin E.

It’s beneficial to use:  DTX, Herb-Lax.

Please comment below, like, retweet, and share with your friends!

email:  lenay@dickandlenay.com

PS:  If you have any questions about chapped lips, and would like to know how supplements can help, give us a call at 715-431-0657.  We’re here to help.