Almost everyone gets chapped lips from time to time. It often occurs in the winter, when the weather turns cold and homes become dry after we turn up the thermostat. But chapped lips also may occur during the summer months, when we spend hours outdoors in the hot sun or get so busy we forget to drink enough fluid to keep our bodies adequate moisturized.
If your lips tend to peel, flake, blister, or dry out, take a few extra precautions to keep them healthy and to prevent the development of lip cancer. Here's what you can do:
1. Drink plenty of fluids. Year-round you should aim for six to eight glasses of water in addition to anything else you might drink during the day, such as coffee, pop, or juice. A cup of caffeinated beverage counts for a half-cup of fluid, since caffeine forces the body to excrete water. When you drink fluids, your body will show it inside and out. The opposite is true, too. Without adequate moisture your lips may dry out, your skin will feel chapped, and even your eyes can appear dull.
2. Use a waxy agent with sunscreen. A lipstick-type applicant of Chap stick or another product will help to protect your lips from the elements of hot sun, cold winds, or dry air. Apply the Chap stick as you would lipstick; in fact, you can wear it beneath other cosmetics like lipstick. Choose one with an SPF, or sun block, of 45 or higher if possible. Lips are susceptible to skin cancer and environmental damage that can make them look lined and old.
3. Don't pick or bite your lips. When dry skin tickles or irritates, apply a fresh coat of Chap stick or lipstick. Be aware, however, that some lipsticks cause lips to dry out and peel to those who are sensitive to certain cosmetic ingredients. Find out which ones, if any, are drying your lips and avoid these. You may want to opt for a more natural line of make-up like that offered by Clinique or Almay.
4. Keep your house at a comfortable temperature. The mid-sixties is a good temperature for sleeping at night, and will help keep the skin in good condition. During the day, an indoor temperature of about seventy is generally acceptable. You may have to adjust this to your personal comfort level. Be sure your furnace filter is changed regularly and open windows occasionally, as weather permits, to exchange stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air. Inside or outside pollutants can damage your lips as well as other parts of your body.
5. Avoid too much sun exposure. As with other body areas, too much sunlight can cause facial skin, including lips, to burn, peel, or dry out, leading to chapped lips and wrinkling. Wear a sun block when you go outdoors, and don't stay out too long at a time. Medical experts suggest avoiding sun exposure altogether between the times of ten a.m. and four p.m.
Your lips are an important part of who you are. They are used for talking, eating, and kissing. Protect them from getting chapped so that you can maintain a fresh, wholesome appearance and preserve their functionality.
