How To Treat Chapped Lips

Dry, chapped lips are not only uncomfortable and unsightly, but they can also invite infection. Restoring the moisture and softness to chapped, peeling lips is a simple procedure:

1. 1. Apply a thin coating of petroleum jelly to chapped lips several times each day.
   2. At night, gently exfoliate chapped lips by rubbing them softly with a dry toothbrush or washcloth. If you prefer, you can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to lips before exfoliating. Follow with a thick coating of petroleum jelly before going to bed. After just a few nights, you should see a marked improvement.

Since chapped, peeling lips can be painful, it is wise to take steps to protect your lips from becoming chapped in the first place. There are a number of steps you can take to minimize the chances of getting chapped lips.

1. 1. One of the most common causes of chapped lips is exposure to cold and wind. Try to develop a habit of applying lip balm before going outdoors, especially in inclement weather.
   2. Protect your lips from sun exposure. Be sure that your lip balm offers sufficient SPF protection.
   3. If you wear lipstick, apply a moisturizing lip balm under your lip color. Some people find that their lips are sensitive to ingredients in lipsticks, so providing a barrier layer will help keep lips soft without sacrificing beauty!
   4. Don't smoke. Smoking dries the skin, especially around the mouth, increasing the incidence of chapped, peeling lips.
   5. Stay hydrated. Even mild dehydration can affect the moisture level of your lips.
   6. Consider the use of a humidifier in your home or office. Dry air contributes to dry skin and lips.
   7. Eat a healthy diet. Dry, cracked lips can be a symptom of a riboflavin (vitamin B-2) deficiency. Foods rich in riboflavin include red meats, dairy products, green leafy vegetables and riboflavin-enriched breads and cereals.
   8. Change your toothpaste. Tartar-control toothpastes can cause irritation and peeling lips in people sensitive to them. If you have a recurrent problem with chapped lips and you use a tarter-control toothpaste, try switching to a regular toothpaste to see if there is an improvement.
   9. One night each week, give your lips a moisture-restoring treatment. Before retiring for the evening, exfoliate your lips as above, then apply a coating of one of the following moisturizers: petroleum jelly, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel. You may want to increase the treatments to several times a week in the winter months.
   10. Check with your doctor. Although chapped, peeling lips are seldom a cause for concern, they can, in rare instances, be a symptom of an underlying illness. If you suffer from recurring bouts of chapped lips, or they become more severe, it may signal a need for medical attention.