Chapped lips are a condition that almost everyone has experienced. Not only does it cause discomfort, dry and chapped lips are also prone to bleeding and causing wounds. Well, there are several ways you can do to overcome this condition.
Lips are a unique body part compared to other body parts. This is because the lips do not have oil glands to keep them moist. Therefore, sun exposure can dry out the lips.
Causes and Symptoms of Chapped Lips
Some people think that chapped lips only occur during the summer or dry season. In fact, this condition can be caused by various things, even when the air or cold weather though.
Certain medical conditions can also cause chapped lips, such as malnutrition, irritation, and side effects of medications.
This condition can get worse if the lips are not treated properly. Some of the symptoms of chapped lips that can appear include:
- Lips feel dry, even to the point of peeling
- Scales appear on the lips
- There are wounds
- Swollen
- Bloody
How to Overcome Chapped Lips
You don't need to worry if you experience chapped lips, because there are several easy ways you can do to eliminate and prevent chapped lips, namely:
1. Reduce the habit of licking lips
Many people often lick their lips to moisten and treat dry lips. However, in reality, licking your lips can actually make chapped lips worse.
This is because saliva evaporates faster so it can cause the lips to be drier than before they were wetted with saliva.
2. Gwear lip protector
Use lip balm or lip balm can also prevent chapped lips, especially when active in the sun. You can also try natural lip balms, such as honey, coconut oil, aloe vera, and olive oil, to treat chapped lips.
3. Avoid allergy triggers
Chapped lips can also occur as a result of the body's allergic reaction to a substance. Therefore, as much as possible avoid direct contact with materials that can trigger allergies.
Some people are prone to allergies to perfume products, dyes, cosmetics, or skin care products with certain ingredients.
4. Adequate intake of body fluids
Lack of fluids in the body can also cause chapped lips. Therefore, it is important to always meet the body's fluid needs by drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day.
Not only does it prevent chapped lips, adequate fluid needs can also reduce the risk of getting dehydrated.
5. Pay attention to the use of certain drugs
Some drugs can cause side effects in the form of chapped lips, such as pain relievers, antihistamines, and acne medications. However, consult your doctor to know for sure about the side effects of these drugs. If it is very bothersome, the doctor will consider alternative drugs.
Although chapped lips can heal by itself, but in some people, this condition can get worse. If it's severe, chapped lips can turn into cheilitis or inflammation of the surface of the lips.
Specific sign of cheilitis is the appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips and can be accompanied by infection.
Therefore, if you experience chapped lips that do not heal and are difficult to treat, you should consult a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be carried out.