Winter may bring relief from hot, humid weather -- but it also brings chapped lips. Chapped lips are a type of cheilitis, or inflammation of the lips. Ultimately, it is a form of irritant contact dermatitis specific to the lips. There’s no quick cure for chapped lips, but there are a variety of treatments that can both speed healing and also prevent the development of chapped lips in the first place.
Avoid Making it Worse
One of the most crucial aspects of getting your chapped lips to heal is leaving them alone. It can be tempting to lick them, trying to reintroduce moisture to parched skin, but it will only cause further irritation. Also, avoid peeling off any cracking or peeling skin -- whether with your fingernails or your teeth. No licking, picking, chewing, or scraping.
Protect
Keep your lips protected from the elements as much as possible. Make sure to keep a layer of lip balm on while you’re outside (different brands work better for different people, but no brand is created equal). If you’re going to be out in the sun, opt for a brand with sunscreen for added protection.
Exfoliate
Like dry skin anywhere else on your body, when a group of skin cells are dried out and dead, they get in the way of new growth. A gentle exfoliation removes those old cells to make room for new, softer skin. Some brands of lip balm come with an exfoliant (such as sugar) included. This allows the old cells to be buffed away while the new skin is moisturized.
Moisturize
Keeping moisture in your chapped lips is one of the best ways to provide healing. Start from the inside out by making sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Additionally, running a humidifier is a great way to increase the moisture in the air. Particularly in winter when heaters are constantly running indoors, the air can get extremely dry. Reintroducing extra water will help your lips (and the rest of your body) from drying out as easily and it can help get moisture back into your skin. If you tend to snore and breathe through your mouth at night, a humidifier is especially helpful.
Use Lip Balm
A good lip balm is your best bet for healing chapped lips. While big names brands like Blistex may seem like a good idea, they are often mentholated, which can further irritate already uncomfortable lips. Many experts recommend oil-based balms. While most of your skin has oil glands to provide hydration, your lips don’t. Petroleum and beeswax are great ingredients to look for in your lip balm. While applying it after your lips are chapped can help hasten healing, using it beforehand helps keep them safe from dry air and chapping conditions.
Another good tip: try to stay away from chapsticks that taste good, as it may encourage you to lick your lips, which not only makes chapped lips worse but gets rid of the balm you just applied. If standard chapsticks don’t cut it for you, try a hydrocortisone ointment (not cream, like you use for bug bites, but ointment) or lanolin, which is often used to prevent chapping in the early weeks of breastfeeding.
