Say Goodbye to Cold-chapped Lips

I recently saw a patient who complained to me that he heard a joke that cracked him up, literally. He laughed so hard his lips literally split…

Just as our skin can get dry and sunburned, so can our lips. So it is important not to ignore them or they will pray the price.

There are fewer oil glands in our lips compared to our skin. As a result, they can dry out more easily. Lips balms are primarily made up of petrolatum and dimethicone, similar to skin moisturizers. However, they are formulated in waxes so they spread on well to the lips and feel smooth. Some also contain sunscreens to protect lips from the sun. Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing in lips balms that is actually addicting except for the feeling of smooth lips from applying them…

Here are some common causes for chapped lips:
- Cold weather and wind
- Allergies, for fragrances or additives in balms, even in those labeled as “natural” - Irritations, for example from chronic lip licking
- Long term sun exposure causing precancerous lip changes that are often dry and cracked

And now some tips to combat your parched pout:
-drink lots of water
-use lip products that contain sunscreen
-try to avoid licking you lips
-be careful shaving so you don’t overly exfoliate skin around your lips!