Winter can really do a number on skin, sapping its moisture, increasing sensitivity and making redness and rosacea worse.
While the face and body needs consistent, gentle skincare to address these challenges at this time of year, there’s another affliction that can feel more annoying to deal with.
Dry, chapped lips are an irritation that’s hard to ignore. What’s more, if you find yourself absentmindedly licking them to moisten? It may even make things worse.
“People who have the habit of licking their lips may find it actually dries them more, as saliva contains an enzyme that removes moisture upon drying,” says Marion Kowalski, NZ Education Manager for La Roche-Posay.
Lips are particularly susceptible to irritation and dryness because of their delicate nature, when compared with other areas of the face.
“There are some similarities in terms of structure,” explains Kowalski of the skin on your lips.
“Both the face and lips are composed of the same layers: stratum corneum, epidermis and dermis. However, the difference is that the stratum corneum, which is the protective cover of our epidermis (the top layer of our skin) is far thinner on the lip area than anywhere else on our body and therefore less protective and more fragile.”
She also points out there are no sebaceous glands to keep the lips moisturised.
“Without these oil glands, lips don’t produce any natural oils such as sebum like the rest of the face does. It explains why our lips can easily become dry and chapped quicker than our facial skin and some people need constant rehydration in this area.
“Another difference is lack of melanin. This helps protect our skin from ultraviolet rays [still present when in the wintertime], and isn’t present in the lips therefore increasing the risk of sunburn in this area.“
Therefore, use of a balm with SPF is highly recommended, particularly in times of prolonged sun exposure.
How to Improve Chapped Lips
Improving damaged, sore and chapped lips is a delicate process needing a lip care product to return hydration, as well as provide a barrier to prevent moisture loss and protect from wind or cold.
Here’s how to help them heal:
- Apply plain fragrance-free lip care to help sooth and improve the condition of your lips. Use frequently, especially after eating, before going outside, and before bed.
- Look for lip balms with in ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe vera to help attract and draw water into the lips, while the likes of ceramides, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter and lanolin help with barrier care.
- Avoid trending colourful balms with scented ingredients. These can irritate further or encourage you to lick your lips. Stay well away from plumping or tingly ingredients like menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, peppermint, cinnamon, or strong fragrances until your lips have healed.
- If your lips are very cracked, a thin layer of plain petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline) over your lip balm at night can help lock in moisture.
- Don’t peel or bite flaky skin. If loose skin is bothersome, soften it with balm first rather than pulling it off.
- Avoid licking. Saliva evaporates quickly and can make dryness worse.
- Protect your lips from wind and sun. A lip balm with SPF 30 or higher is useful if you’re outdoors.
If your lips keep becoming chapped despite good care, consider whether something may be triggering them. Certain lipsticks, lip balms, or even toothpaste can cause allergies. Specific medications can also be a cause dryness.
It’s worth seeing a healthcare provider if you lips haven’t improved after 2–3 weeks of regular use of lip care, or you develop painful cracks at the corners of your mouth,
