Dry and chapped lips: Causes and remedies to moisturize the lips

Dry and chapped lips are a problem many people have in common: it is more frequent in winter. Still, it can also occur during the warm months, and it is possible to prevent and contrast it with effective and economical natural remedies.

Let’s see which ones. Dry lips are characterized by an excessive water loss that causes dehydration, chapping, and sometimes small unsightly and annoying cuts. Dry lips can also appear drier, thinner, and less voluminous, as the lack of water causes a loss of tone and firmness.

In dry and chapped lips, the lip contour is also affected, and in this area, wrinkles and creases can more easily form.

The causes of dry lips can be different and, almost always, are to be found in environmental factors. However, the natural remedies to combat skin dryness are simple, inexpensive, and affordable for everyone. By following our advice, you can have softer lips without skin in a short time.

Let’s see the causes of dry lips and what remedies moisturize the lips and prevent them from cracking.

Dry and chapped lips: The causes

As we have mentioned, dry lips are due to an excessive loss of water, which evaporates from the epidermis leaving it dehydrated and more prone to chapping and becoming fixed.

The main causes of chapped lips are atmospheric agents: too intense cold, the wind, and the sun’s rays can increase water evaporation from the tissues, causing dryness of the lips.

The lips can appear dry and chapped due to vitamin deficiencies or the organism’s important dehydration. Vitamins are essential molecules for our body and must be taken regularly with the everyday diet.

It is important to follow a healthy and balanced diet, rich in fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, ensuring the body the vitamins necessary for well-being and beauty.

Then remember to hydrate by drinking water, tea, and herbal teas, possibly without sugar, and try to avoid smoking, which also causes dehydration.

A last possible cause of dry lips is to be found in taking medications: some drugs used, for example, in the treatment of acne (isotretinoin), cause severe dryness of the skin, mucous membranes, and lips.

Dry and chapped lips: natural remedies and practical advice

1. Hydration and vitamins to the body

Taking water during the day is important to keep the body hydrated, including the skin and lips. The body derives hydration from the water we drink and from tea, herbal teas, and food, especially fruit and vegetables.

To counteract dry lips, we remind you to drink at least a liter and a half of water a day, unsweetened teas and herbal teas, and never to miss seasonal fruit and vegetables on the table. Also, taking seasonal fruits and vegetables helps prevent vitamin deficiencies that can cause dry lips.

In particular, a deficiency of B vitamins and iron can cause dry and chapped lips. Vitamin B can be found in good quantities and fruit and green leafy vegetables and beer yeast and whole grains.

Iron can be found not only in animal origin but also in legumes, dried fruit, and some vegetables. Therefore, we remind you to associate the vegetables with vitamin C (for example, by dressing salads or legumes with lemon juice) to better assimilate the iron content.

Also, it is better to avoid sodas and drinks rich in sugars because they could take water away from the body rather than hydrate it and supply too much glucose and unnecessarily increase the calories ingested during the day.

2. Lip balm: how to prepare it at home

Lip balm is a cosmetic product formulated with lipid substances that, on the skin, avoid the evaporation of water and draw water from the inside. By regularly applying a lip balm, they will remain soft and hydrated, and you will avoid the formation of cuticles and annoying cuts or splits.

Lip balm can also be made at home by mixing Shea butter, mango butter, and coconut oil in equal parts.

To prepare it, melt about 3 grams of these three ingredients in a water bath, combined with one gram of beeswax or vegetable wax (you can use, for example, mimosa wax). When the mixture appears fluid, pour it in a small clean and dry jar or a container for lipsticks.

Eventually, you can add a drop of mandarin essential oil to perfume, give elasticity to the lips, or opt for tea tree essential oil useful to prevent the appearance of herpes.

Let the lip balm cool at room temperature 24 hours before using it, and keep it away from light and heat. Then, eat the lip balm within three months.

3. Applications with Shea butter

If your lips appear very dry and chapped and have small cuts on the sides, intervene by applying a veil of pure Shea butter several times a day.

Shea butter is a natural product with anti-inflammatory and healing properties. It will help the skin to heal quickly, in addition to softening the lips, keeping them hydrated, and preventing them from chapping. Apply Shea butter to your lips even before going to sleep to allow it to act overnight.

4. Do a gentle lip scrub

If the lips have cuticles but do not have signs of irritation or cuts, you can eliminate them with a delicate lip scrub based on brown sugar and olive oil. To prepare it, mix a teaspoon of brown sugar and a teaspoon of olive oil on the spot and gently massage it on the lips for a few minutes.

Then remove the product residues with lukewarm water and apply the lip balm. Repeat the treatment at most twice a month: it is a slightly aggressive remedy for the lips, which is better to use only if you need perfect lips at the last moment, perhaps for an important appointment.

Be careful not to massage the scrub too long or with too much force. Otherwise, you may irritate the lips. If a little product is leftover, you can use it for your face or hands: even, in this case, the skin must be intact and free from irritation and inflammation.

---

How to prevent dry and chapped lips

Let’s see some good habits to prevent lips from drying out and cracking:

• First, remember to often apply a natural lip balm both during the winter months and during the summer, especially outdoors, when the lips are attacked by cold and wind; winter and summer sun.
• If you are taking medications that dry the skin and lips, increase lip balm applications throughout the day.
• Avoid applying cheap, low-quality make-up products as they may interfere with the physiological functions of the skin of the lips and cause dehydration, dryness, and chapping. So choose lip balms, glosses, and lipsticks of good quality and with natural ingredients.
• Do not eat your lips, as you will irritate them and create chapping, which could be difficult to heal, especially if you are subject to dry skin and lips.
• Take care of your diet, eat at least five portions a day of fresh or raw and cooked fruit, and drink at least a liter and a half of water to hydrate the body and provide it with vitamins and minerals essential for the health of the whole body, including that of skin and lips.
• We await your comments on the methods you have found most effective for fighting dry and chapped lips.