Rub your lips together. Does it hurt? Do you feel bits of skin? Guess what. If you can feel it, so can anyone you’re smooching.
Luckily, lip care is cheap and easy. First of all, why do our lips get dry and chapped? Blame it on the sunburn, the cold, hot, or dry weather, or perhaps the audacious act of licking your lips like you're auditioning for a lip-licking contest. Medical conditions join the lineup, including allergies, thyroid disorders, autoimmune disorders, and even the unexpected inflammatory bowel disease. And let's not forget the medications and those pesky vitamin deficiencies – they all can affect your smackers!
Fear not, brave souls! Chapped lips can usually be tamed without sending out an SOS. It's time to unleash the DIY Lip Rescue Plan:
- Apply lip balm throughout the day, especially just before bed, turning your lips into VIP members of the moisture club. Especially if you’re going to be outdoors, use a formula with SPF 30 or higher…because UV rays have no business sunburning your mouth.
- Hydrate like you're training for a lip marathon; drink more water and let those lips sip in style.
- Bring out the humidifier, the unsung hero of cozy homes, because even lips need a spa day.
For extra points, or to handle more stubborn dry skin, you may want to exfoliate once or twice a week. It’s so easy you can do it with your eyes shut! Simply apply a small amount of lip scrub to your lips. Using a clean finger, gently massage your top and bottom lips, and rub your lips together. When you’re finished, rinse off any excess. This will help remove dry skin, making lips soft and smooth, and keeping them moist. This can prevent dehydration of the lips which may cause swelling, bleeding, or dryness. Oh, my!
If these basics aren’t beneficial, consult a doctor because you may need a special set of medications for relief.
Oh, and there’s no reason to hide your lip balm use. Wave those tubes proudly!