Winter season is here, which means many of us will suffer from chapped lips. It seems that no matter how much we bundle up, our lips ...
Winter
season is here, which means many of us will suffer from chapped lips.
It seems that no matter how much we bundle up, our lips constantly
remain exposed to the harsh winter winds. It's important to keep a scarf
wrapped around your mouth as a preventative measure.
Chapped
lips, also referred to as dry lips, occurs when the lips aren't
properly moisturized or due to certain illnesses. There are a number of
external factors that can cause your lips to crack and peel. Here are a
few of the most common causes and symptoms:
Causes:
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Excessive Licking of Lips
- Cheilitis
- Exposure to Sun
- Allergic Reaction
- Smoking
- Kawasaki Disease
1) Honey -
Honey can cure almost anything, including chapped lips. Honey acts as a
natural lip balm, and moisturizes your lips with its powerful
antibacterial properties. Dab a little honey on your lips a couple of
times during the day, and an extra dose before bed to prevent chaffing.
2) Sugar -
Sugar might not be great for your teeth, but it's certainly an
effective treatment for chapped lips! The sugar helps exfoliate dead
cells, while restoring them back their natural state. Here's a quick
recipe on how to prepare a natural sugar lip balm:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 2 teaspoons of sugar.
- Apply the sugary sweet lip balm mixture to the damaged areas and allow it to sit for several minutes.
- Gently rub the mixture around on your lips to loosen the dead skin cells.
- Wash the mixture off with lukewarm water.
- Mix a teaspoon of coconut oil together with a teaspoon of sea salt into a bowl.
- Apply the mixture all over the chapped lips, by gently using your fingers in a small circular motion.
- Continue the circular motion for about a minute, before rinsing with a warm washcloth.
- Mix one teaspoon of castor oil, with a teaspoon of glycerin and a few drops of lemon juice into a small bowl.
- Apply the mixture over your dry lips before going to sleep, and wash it off in the morning with a cotton ball dipped in warm water. -Repeat this treatment daily until your lips are smooth again.
- Take a small cucumber slice and gently rub it on your dry lips.
- Let the cucumber juice sit on your lips for around 15 to 20 minutes, and then wash your lips with lukewarm water.
- Repeat this process a periodically throughout the day to allow your lips to heal quicker.