Why do lips dry and crack?
Let's figure out why cracks appear on the lips, how to prevent it and what to do with dryness that has already appeared? The causes of dry lips are not only romantic kisses in the cold!
Dehydration
Any peeling is very often a consequence of dehydration of the body, and since the skin on the lips is especially delicate and thin, this is where the lack of fluid manifests itself first.
The main thing is to remember to drink enough water throughout the day, especially if you play sports. The recommended norm is 30 ml of water per 1 kg of weight. Also, you should give up caffeine-containing drinks, salty and fried foods.
Frost and sun
Frost, as well as wind and scorching sun rays, causes moisture to evaporate from the skin of the lips (and not only), which causes its elasticity to decrease and peeling to appear. Low air humidity also leads to this - i.e. lower than 50-60%.
Central heating and air conditioning sometimes dry out the air so much that, if you do not use special humidifiers, this figure drops even to 10-20%. Instinct pushes us to somehow increase the elasticity of the skin, and we lick our lips - but at the same time we remove the natural protective barrier from the lips, moisture evaporates even more, and as a result we only dry out the skin more. The evaporation of liquid and, as a result, peeling of the skin is greatly facilitated by breathing through the mouth, since with each inhalation and exhalation, the passing air takes away precious moisture from our lips.
What to do? Firstly, do not lick or bite your lips, breathe only through your nose and in the cold try to cover your lips with a scarf and temporarily give up long-lasting lipsticks. Secondly, for both treatment and prevention of dry lips, you cannot do without balms, creams and hygienic lipsticks. These products contain oils and often vitamin complexes to heal the skin and increase elasticity.
14
14 Reviews Lip balm “Active” Speick
660 rub.
4.5 g
Not available
Notify about arrival
For example, Speick balm contains not only oils that help moisturize and protect the skin, but linolenic acid (a member of Omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids) and vitamin E, the main antioxidant - it increases the elasticity of the lips, moisturizes them, helps heal cracks, and moreover It also prevents the appearance of wrinkles.
Decorative cosmetics
Some decorative cosmetics can also significantly worsen the situation: long-lasting lipsticks and liquid lip glosses. The latter will increase the evaporation of moisture from the lips, and long-lasting lipsticks will make the skin even more vulnerable to cold, wind and sun, since the pigments in this case penetrate deeper layers of the skin than when using conventional lipsticks, and violate the protective barriers of the skin, and with them breathing and water balance.
If you want to highlight the beauty of your lips, it is better to use tinted balms or natural lipsticks.
9
9 Reviews Lipstick “Color 08 purple-red” PuroBio
RUB 1,020
3.5 g
Add to cart
+20 points to the account
Avitaminosis
Very often, the cause of peeling lips lies not only in weather disasters, but also in a lack of vitamins. If we are talking specifically about the condition of the skin of the lips, then this is primarily vitamin E, A and C.
- Vitamin E is a real skin savior thanks to its antioxidant properties. Moisturizing, strengthening the skin, giving elasticity - we all have vitamin E to thank for this.
- Vitamin A, namely retinol as its component, is responsible for skin regeneration, the formation of healthy epithelium and the normal functioning of any tissue.
- Vitamin C, in addition to helping you get rid of colds, will help to quickly heal existing wounds and increase skin elasticity, since it is involved in the production of collagen.
In winter, it would be a good idea to take a course of these vitamins, although it is better to avoid taking vitamins on a regular basis: it is much healthier for the whole body to eat right than to take synthetic vitamins, which, moreover, in their pure form are also absorbed worse than those obtained from natural ones. products.
The most famous source of vitamin A is carrots, but it is also found in other yellow-orange vegetables, fruits and berries: yellow, orange and red bell peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, apricots, sea buckthorn - and also not at all in yellow spinach, parsley and celery.
Animal products containing retinol include liver, cottage cheese, cheese, and egg yolk. But we must remember that this is a fat-soluble vitamin, so for better absorption it is necessary to add a little oil to the listed products.
Foods such as peas, soybeans, eggs, almonds, spinach, broccoli, hazelnuts will help compensate for the lack of vitamin E in the body.
Well, most fruits, berries and vegetables can provide the body with vitamin C: citrus fruits, strawberries, sea buckthorn, cranberries, rose hips, broccoli, bell peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and many others. Also, this vitamin is found in almonds.
This point should especially be paid attention to those who suffer from cracks in the corners of the lips: this is how vitamin deficiency most often manifests itself.
Iron deficiency
Another possible cause of peeling lips is iron deficiency. Depending on how severe the iron deficiency is, dry lips can be associated with both low hemoglobin and thyroid dysfunction, which is accompanied by excessive removal of fluid from the body and, as a result, dehydration. In this case, cracks in the corners of the mouth and peeling on the skin of the lips often form.
Legumes, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ and lentils will help correct the situation, and among animal products you should pay attention to beef and pork liver.
Other diseases
Among other things, dry lips can also indicate more serious health problems that only a doctor can solve. Allergies, herpes and fungal diseases, diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases. If you drink enough water, eat right and take care of your lips, but the problem of peeling lips remains, we strongly recommend visiting a doctor to rule out the possibility of these diseases.
What remedies will help heal lips and prevent their peeling?
Whatever the reasons for dry lips, the main solution is to find the right moisturizer.
How to cure dry skin?
After finding out the causes of peeling and cracked lips, you must immediately move on to eliminating the problem. However, it is important to follow a number of recommendations:
- Do not lick the skin of your lips under any circumstances, so as not to further worsen its condition.
- Drink enough drinking water daily (at least 1.5 liters per day).
- Before going outside, regardless of the time of year, apply a protective balm or cream to your lips.
- Try to quit smoking if you suffer from this bad habit.
- Change your diet. Include healthy vegetables and fruits.
- Take enough vitamins.
- Take good care of your lip skin. Periodically perform massages, masks and cleansing procedures.
- At night, apply products containing vitamins E and A to the surface of your lips.
- Be sure to cleanse your face of decorative cosmetics in the evening.
Following all these rules will allow you to get rid of unwanted dryness as soon as possible and prevent its occurrence in the future.
If they constantly crack and peel
Today, dry lips that regularly crack and peel can be cured in many ways, the most common are the following:
- Peeling (cleansing) of the skin of the lips. It is recommended to perform about 2 times a week. This procedure helps restore and rejuvenate the dermis of the lips. This is done using special scrubs, after which you must apply Vaseline or a rich cream.
- Hydration. It is produced using creams based on honey or aloe juice, which are high in vitamin A. Cosmetologists also recommend using cosmetic ice.
- Nutrition. Use nourishing lip creams to saturate the skin with the missing microelements and vitamins.
- Massage. Periodically massage your lips using some plant-based balm or oil. Perform the procedure using your fingertips using massage movements. This will improve blood circulation in the lip area.
- Protection. Use hygienic lipsticks and balms regularly.
- Decorative cosmetics. Give preference to cosmetics that do not cause allergic reactions.
Homemade lip masks and treatment with special medications are considered quite effective.
Drug treatment
For dry and flaky lips, both women and men are recommended to use a number of pharmaceutical drugs that will solve the problem no less effectively:
- Antiseptics. Used in preparing lotions for cracked lips.
- Antibacterial agents. Necessary for the destruction of the pathogenic environment on the skin of the lips.
- Antimicrobial agents. Thanks to the content of antibiotics, they fight dangerous microbes in the lip area.
- Cauterizing agents. Used to treat wounds caused by severe cracks in the lips.
- Antifungal agents.
If the condition of the skin of the lips does not improve after treatment with folk remedies and pharmaceuticals, then you need to consult a dermatologist who will prescribe the necessary course of treatment.
At home
Masks
There are a considerable number of recipes for masks for dry lips. The most interesting and effective:
- Nutritious. Combine cottage cheese (ten grams) with milk or cream 15% fat (ten milliliters). Apply the resulting mass in a thick layer onto the surface of your lips and leave it on for a quarter of an hour. Remove the mixture with warm water, then apply a protective balm to your lips.
- Nourishing and moisturizing. Soak a cotton pad with aloe juice purchased at the pharmacy and apply to the dermis of the lips for 15 minutes. If desired, the juice can be replaced with aloe pulp. It is recommended to perform this procedure three times a week.
- Moisturizing. Prepare fruit puree based on banana, kiwi and apple. Press the finished mixture onto the skin of your lips using a paper napkin. Leave the mask on for about 15 minutes.
- Honey. Combine melted honey and butter in equal proportions (one teaspoon each). Leave the resulting emulsion on your lips for 20 minutes, then rinse with water and treat your skin with a special lip cream.
- Anti-flaking. Boil chopped apple slices in milk and then grind them in a blender. Cool the mixture and add medicinal oil of your choice (five milliliters). The mask should be applied in a thick layer to the dermis of the lips and covered with a napkin for half an hour.
- Mix melted honey, aloe juice and chicken egg (twenty milliliters each) in equal proportions. Apply the emulsion to the skin of your lips in several layers, then leave it for 20 minutes. It is recommended to apply 2-3 times a day.
