Ways to Manage Chapped Lips

Chapped lips or cheilitis is a common painful problem, but there are easy remedies that can prevent and relieve them.

Most people suffer from chapped lips not only during the cold seasons but even during spring and summer. Chapped lips are very annoying and painful and, in worst cases, can also bleed. However, there are some things you can do to prevent and heal uncomfortable cheilitis.

Unlike the rest of the skin, the lips are thinner and do not have oil glands, making them more prone to drying out. So to prevent chapped lips, you need to avoid dryness, and here are ways to do it:

1. Wear a face mask when outdoors.

Taking ginseng supplements daily and wearing a face mask when going outside protects you from catching the virus. But did you know that a face mask can protect your lips too? Face masks not only keeps you protected from getting the common cold and cough but can also protect your lips from the cold and the sun, both of which can dry your lips.

2. Apply a moisturizing lip balm.

Lip balms are made to moisturize lips, and they are readily available in drugstores and beauty shops. However, make sure to get the non-flavored ones. The sweet taste of flavored lip balms makes you lick your lips more frequently, and constant licking can lead to dryness and even cracked lips.

3. Don’t lick your lips.

As mentioned earlier, try to avoid licking your lips because saliva evaporates fast, making your lips dry out even more. On the same note, breathe through your nose and not through your mouth.

4. Don’t use products that can cause allergic reactions.

Those with sensitive lips tend to get chapped lips more frequently, especially when they come in contact with fragrances and dyes. So keep products that are not hypoallergenic away from your lips. Always go with organic ones or those products that are sulfate- and paraben-free.

5. Stay hydrated.

By hydrated, we mean both inside and out. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your body, and use a humidifier at home to hydrate your skin. Cold air has less moisture, and these humidifiers can help keep the air in your home moist. 

If prevention isn’t enough and you still get chapped lips, you can heal them quickly in various ways:

1. Gently exfoliate your lips.

Resist temptation, and do not take off the peeling skin! Doing so could lead to bleeding and won’t do much help to your lips. Exfoliate instead with gentle and natural exfoliators that you can get from the drugstore, or create your own with sugar and honey.

2. Moisturize with a good, high-quality lip balm.

After exfoliation, moisturize! Don’t just use a regular lip balm, use a good one with restorative properties, like the Donginbi Red Ginseng Essential Care Lip Balm. It contains the best Korean red ginseng that can regenerate and moisturize the lips. It also contains sweet almond oil and beeswax that gives the lips a protective film that can lock in the moisture. This lip balm is also safe to re-apply as needed.

3. Soothe with other natural remedies.

If you prefer natural products, you can use remedies found in your kitchen or garden. Honey, coconut oil, and aloe vera have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help prevent infection after scrubbing and moisturizing the lips. Honey is very moisturizing, coconut oil soothes the lips, and aloe vera rehydrates them.