Chapped Lips

Chapped Lips

From Parched to Pretty

If your kisser more closely resembles the dry Sahara lake bed featured in National Geographic than the luscious smiles advertising makeup in Glamour, take heart.

Your lips are the first victims of the harsh environment around us, says Lenore S. Kakita, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an adviser to the American Academy of Dermatology. Lips contain none of the pigment imbued to your skin by melanin (which protects against sun damage to some degree), and therefore are ultrasensitive to the sun's damaging rays. They are also in an area that gets drier with the evaporation of water. Aggravating factors are drying winds, icy cold weather and moisture-sapping indoor heat.

HELPING NATURE

Most cracked, rough, reddened chapped lips can be softened up with just a few days of care and attention. If the cracking is severe, see your physician, says Dr. Kakita. You may need a prescription preparation to calm down the condition.

Quit licking and biting. Dr. Kakita says that it's natural--and automatic--to try and moisturize and relieve dry lips by licking. But all too soon, "air evaporates the moisture, making your lips even drier than before," she warns. If you tend to bite your lips--which can happen if they start to peel--you compound the problem. It tears away the protective top layer of skin from your already delicate lips. So concentrate on not licking or biting.

Drink up. Whether the furnace is cranked up at work on a wintry day, or you're hiking on a sun-baked trail over the Fourth of July weekend, you need to drink liquids, says Diana Bihova, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City author of Beauty from the Inside Out.

Humidify. Dry air sucks moisture out of your lips. So Dr. Bihova recommends using a humidifier at home and at the office.

Protect with lipstick. Years and years ago, lipstick tended to dry the lips. No more. Today's lipsticks are an asset--in more ways than one: They moisturize and protect against the drying effects of the sun, says Dr. Kakita. For maximum effect, reapply often. Lip balms are also effective.

Build a barrier. Seriously chapped lips need strong protection in the form of a barrier ointment or cream. Dr. Kakita recommends Vaseline petroleum jelly, Aquaphor or Bag Balm applied often.

Think ahead. Planning on skiing, sailing or spending time outdoors in harsh conditions in any way? Boost your lip protection to a balm with sun protection factor, or SPF, of 30, Dr. Kakita advises. Look for extra-protective lip balms in sporting goods stores.

Say yes to yogurt. If the corners of your mouth have become red, chapped and cracked, your problem may be an overgrowth of yeast (a fungus organism), caused perhaps by antibiotics or stress, says Dr. Kakita. If you have a cold, or if saliva slips into the corners of your mouth when you're asleep, yeast can break down that sensitive skin. Head to the supermarket for liquid acidophilus yogurt, and swish it in your mouth several times a day, Dr. Kakita advises. Conditions such as diabetes may even be the culprit, so if the condition is consistent or severe, see your physician. An antifungus preparation or oral medication may be needed.