I'm Chapped! Winterize Your Lips Against The Elements

Every winter, you get chapped lips. It's uncomfortable, unattractive, and a general nuisance. However, by the time summer rolls around and fall comes in, you have forgotten what happened to your lips in January. Remember so that you can prepare your lips. Chapping is not completely preventable, but you can certainly go a long way in preventing yourself from going through the bleeding and cracking sourness of winter lips, as well as healing lips that have already suffered winter's spite.

Chapping is really just the dehydration of your lips. Fall is the best time to get started in hydrating. Properly hydrate your lips and you will be able to better fight the elements of winter. For one thing, start using your lip balm in the fall. Wax based lip balms are only effective in the prevention of dry, chapped lips. They do not contain enough moisture to repair lips that have already dried out and chapped. Certainly, they are great for protection but not for fixing the problem once it has happened.

You want to always be hydrating, softening and protecting your lips throughout the fall and winter. Use a moisturizing lip paint or lip stick once or twice a day to look good and protect well. Use at least an SPF 15 to prevent sun damage, and put yourself on the road to great looking lips all year round.

Some lip chapping and dryness may not be caused completely by the elements. Those people on Accutane or who suffer from dry lip problems naturally can make use of the same strategies year round.

In addition to hydration, make sure you are providing your lips proper sun protection. Whether it is lipstick or lip balm, make sure you are using something with an SPF. The preference is for something at a rating of 15 or higher. If you want to wear a lipstick as well, layering is okay. Just make sure you are protecting your lips from those UV rays.

Once winter arrives, there are precautions you should take in addition to the application of lip balm. Think about taking a multivitamin if you don't already. A lack of vitamin B complex or Iron in your system can be to blame for lip problems. Also, stay hydrated as a whole. Drink fluids often to keep your entire body moist. Most importantly, and you have probably heard this before, but do NOT lick your lips. When you lick them, you do apply moisture to them, but as it evaporates it actually leaves your lips even dryer. So, no matter what, avoid licking or wetting your lips.

A good before bed habit to get into as well is the application of zing oxide to your lips. Some people tend to drool and salivate as they sleep and this moisture, like licking your lips, can cause chapping. The zinc oxide acts as a barrier to protect your lips during the night, as you sleep. Then, by keeping your lips dry you can both prevent chapping and help to heal lips that are already damaged.

Perhaps you work outside or are skiing and lose your lip balm. There is still a solution to the problem. Rub your fingers on the side of your nose and face. You will be able to pick up some of the natural oils that your body produces. Take the oil on your finger and apply it to your lips. You will continue to produce oil as the day wears on and the oil is a great natural protector for your lips. It's the perfect home remedy for lip chapping.

If your lips are already severely chapped, consult your dermatologist. He or she may prescribe you something like a 2 ½ % hydrocortisone ointment to help get those lips back to where you want them, healthy. If the damage does not seem too bad, there are things you can do at home. For one, studies have shown that creamy lipsticks used with a sunscreen can help soothe already chapped lips. Also, cracked and chapped lips can become infected fairly easily. To prevent this problem, apply antiseptic ointment every day, twice a day if the damage is getting worse. The more important times are at night and in the morning.