Stop Making Your Chapped Lips Worse

Do you use lip balm but still find your lips chapped? Your habits could be the culprit. Apart from the fact that the skin on your lips is thin, sensitive, and doesn’t have oil glands, some of the things you mindlessly do can make your pout drier than it initially was. Here we share the habits that can worsen your chapped lips.

Licking your lips 

Many of us do it in an attempt to combat or moisten dry lips. The sad news is licking your lips can actually make things worse. This is because saliva, which is meant for digesting food, evaporates quickly. This, in return, makes your lips drier than before. It is best to use a lip balm whenever you’re tempted to lick your lips. 

Using products with certain actives or drying ingredients

As previously mentioned, the skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive than other areas of the body. This is why you need to be careful in applying certain actives or ingredients that can irritate and dry out your lips. Some of the ingredients you may want to avoid, especially if you’re susceptible to dryness and irritation, include: 

• Alcohol
• Menthol, camphor, and phenol
• Artificial colors and fragrances
• Salicylic acid 
• Retinol
• Vitamin E (some can have allergic reactions to topical vitamin E)

Picking at your lips 

Peeling, picking, or biting chapped lips can only prolong/prevent healing. As the skin on your lips is thin and delicate, picking at it can lead to further dryness and irritation. This can also result in bleeding or trigger a cold sore. This will not just make your lips look unhealthy and unattractive, but also potentially lead to infections. 

Using a lip plumper

Many lip plumpers use certain ingredients or irritants (menthol, camphor, cinnamon/peppermint oil) that induce or cause a side effect of temporary swelling. While this can make the lips more pronounced, it can cause dryness and irritation, particularly for those with sensitive skin. Using the product regularly can also cause the same effect. 

Not using sunscreen

Sun exposure is harsh on lips, especially those that are already dry and chapped. UV rays can damage the lips or cause sunburn, which can then contribute to cracking and dryness. It is best to apply sunscreen on your lips or use a lip balm with SPF in it. Make sure to reapply when you’re outdoors, after eating, or if you can’t help licking your lips. 

Using long-wear lipsticks or lip products

Many matte and long-wear lipsticks contain less oil and more wax that can tend to dry out lips. This can also make the lipstick more likely to settle in crevices (or cracks) of your lips. This is why if you’re prone to having chapped lips, stick with lip conditioners (or use them as a base for lipsticks), which smooth and hydrate the lips, as well as lock in moisture.

Other tips for relieving or treating chapped lips

It is all about adding moisture to your pout, as well as practicing other lip care habits. These include:

• Use a good lip balm free of drying ingredients, fragrances, and flavors. 
• Drink lots of water throughout the day and limit caffeinated beverages.
• Gently exfoliate your lips; use lip scrubs with nourishing/hydrating ingredients. 
• Use an overnight lip treatment like a lip mask or a moisturizing lip balm.
• Use natural remedies such as honey, coconut oil, aloe vera, or avocado butter.
• Consider using a humidifier, especially if you live in a place with dry air. 
• Avoid or stop smoking; this habit causes dryness, wrinkles, and bad breath, as well as damages nearly every organ in your body. 

Should you consider using lip fillers?

If you’re looking to add more volume to your lips or make them look defined and youthful, lip fillers can help. At Cutis, we have dermal fillers made with hyaluronic acid, which is a substance that helps the tissues retain water and keep the skin hydrated. You can turn to lip fillers to:

• Get fuller lips 
• Define the lips or Cupid’s bow (the double curve in the upper lip)
• Fix lip asymmetry
• Refine or improve lip shape
• Smooth lip lines
• Make the lips appear glossier

For further reading: Lip Fillers: Not Just for Thin Lips

The results with lip fillers are almost immediate, but it takes at least two weeks for the filler material to settle and fully blend in with the surrounding tissues. The results can last between six and 12 months; HA fillers are metabolized by your own body and gradually disappear over time. 

Another great thing about HA-based fillers is that they can be dissolved if you’re not happy with the results. This is done by injecting an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which breaks down the hyaluronic acid. This is not possible with other types of filler materials; you have to wait several months to a year for the filler to be completely broken down. 

Take note: When getting lip fillers or any other injectables, make sure that you only see an experienced or qualified injector. Moreover, have the procedure in a clinic setting and not in a spa, beauty salon, or somebody else’s home. Also, be wary of those who provide cheap or bargain injections. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  

Take better care of your lips by avoiding the habits mentioned above. Don’t hesitate to contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore to learn more about lip fillers and our clinic’s non-surgical anti-aging procedures or schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.