No one is safe from cracked, chapped, and dry lips. You should not always blame the weather alone when your lips get dry. The constant flaking and bleeding of the lips are caused by lots of things: dehydration, weather, and allergic reactions.
To figure out the real culprit on why you get dry lips, read the list below to see if you can relate and banish flaky lips once and for all.
The Causes of Dry and Chapped Lips
The weather is more often than not, the one to blame. Just like how some people have naturally dry skin, others have naturally dry lips. Chapped lips tend to get worse in the dry winter air and it is due to our body's reaction to lack of humidity in the environment.
2. Too much sun exposure
We often forget that lips are skin too. And just like the skin, your lips could also be damaged when exposed to harmful UV rays. If you have been hitting the beach during summer, you may experience peeling because it got a little sunburnt as well. So if you can help it, stay out of the sun!
3. You are dehydrated
Getting dry lips is one of your body’s ways of telling you that you need to drink more water. Lack of hydration or not drinking enough water can cause dryness—not just to skin, but to all parts of the body including the lips.
Frequently licking your lips may seem moisturizing but it only actually does so for a brief moment. It will leave your lips vulnerable to dry air, making it feel parched until it breaks open and bleeds because the natural moisture on your lips usually evaporates with your saliva.
Another mannerism that can worsen your dry lips is removing the flakes on your lips, whether by fingers or teeth. By doing so, the force that you make can lead to cracking, bleeding, and sometimes, even infections.
5. You have colds or flu
This is more like a side effect, probably because your nose is so stuffed and you have been breathing out of your mouth more which causes the dryness.
6. More on health
Having a proper, balanced, and healthy diet is very important. You know the saying: whatever you eat, reflects on the outside. Thus, if you have internal problems such as vitamin deficiencies, they could cause your skin to look wrinkled and dry—including your lips.
Getting flaky-dry lips can be just as distracting as having itchy dry skin. Here are basic care tips you can do to help nourish your lips, keep them moisturized, and flake-free.
How to Treat Dry, Cracked, and Chapped Lips?
1. Drink your water
Stay hydrated. This is by far the simplest, easiest, and most important tip since dehydration is usually what causes your lips to dry out. Always carry a water bottle with you and increase your water intake to notice a difference!
2. Scrub your lips rather than picking on the dry skin
Exfoliation is key to smooth lips. When there is a buildup of dead skin cells on the lips, chapping usually happens. Scrub off the dry skin with your go-to exfoliator or DIY if you want to go natural. But if you do not have a lip scrub with you, simply brush off extra skin with a clean damp toothbrush and no one will be able to tell the difference!
3. Carry a lip balm on your pocket everywhere you go
The same way we put on moisturizer to prevent dryness on our face, frequent application of lip balm seals in hydration and prevents moisture loss. Finding the right lip balm for your needs should be one of your top beauty priorities.
When it comes to lip care, the ingredients list does not have to be so complicated. Stick to non-chemical ingredients that will not irritate your lips even more if they are already chapped.
BodyBees Bee Smooth is a naturally caring lip balm with beeswax and olive oil that nourish, soothe, and give your lips the moisture it needs.
This refreshing lip balm is available in three different scents: grapefruit, lavender, and mint. It has 100% natural ingredients and is free from parabens. It conditions the lips and also treats different issues like burns and dryness. It's a versatile product that is worth having for any type of skin emergency.
4. Never ever skip SPF
Especially that summer is just around the corner, it is important to always keep your sunscreen ready to prevent sun damage on both your skin and lips. Protect your lips in the most convenient way by using a balm or lippie with SPF, or dab some of your sunscreens on them for added protection.
If you want to bring your lips back to its healthy state, know the cause and try the basic care tips mentioned above. Form the habit of moisturizing your lips frequently and your pout would thank you.