When your lips get dry due to very hot or cold temperatures, it is unpleasant but expected and, fortunately, temporary. However, if your lips are constantly dry regardless of temperature and humidity, it may be not a matter of weather after all. Here are top 5 unobvious causes of dry and chapped lips you should be aware of if you want to keep your lips soft, smooth and supple.
The skin of the lips has practically no sebaceous glands and therefore does not have a protective hydro-lipid mantle that protects the skin on the other parts of the face and body. In addition, the skin of the lips is extremely thin and vulnerable, so a lack of moisture in it almost immediately results in flaking, peeling, microcracks and even pain.
Why can your lips get dry? Very hot and cold temperatures, which we have already mentioned above, and low relative humidity are the most common causes of dry lips. Exposure to sea water or chlorinated pool water also can strip your lips of moisture. Finally, dry lips can be the first sign of dehydration. If you drink too little water during the day, your lips will be constantly dry.
In order to solve the problem in one of these cases, you need to eliminate its cause: apply lip balm before spending time outside or swimming in the pool, use an air humidifier in dry rooms, or make sure your water intake during the day is sufficient. However, what to do when none of this works and your lips still are dry and chapped?
In this case, the root of the problem may lie deeper than it seems. Other causes of dry lips include, for example, vitamin deficiencies, smoking, alcohol consumption, or certain health conditions such as gastritis, periodontal disease, or tooth decay. In addition, there are less obvious causes of dry and chapped lips. Let’s take a closer look at five of them.
The habit of licking, biting or touching you lips
As we’ve already said, the skin of the lips is very delicate; it can be easily damaged by mechanical impact. And wetting your lips with saliva, contrary to expectations, does not moisturise them at all. On the contrary, it only makes them dryer.
Constant use of long-lasting lipsticks
Long-lasting lipsticks often contain ingredients that dry out the skin. If you use such lipsticks often, especially matte ones, your lips will become dry. To avoid this, apply any natural lip balm as a lipstick base before applying lipstick.
Wrong toothpaste
The wrong toothpaste is probably one of the most unexpected causes of dry lips. Toothpastes formulated with ingredients designed to prevent the formation of tartar may strip the lips of moisture. If your lips are constantly dry, try switching your toothpaste and seeing what happens.
Stuffy nose
When your nose is congested, you have to breathe through your mouth, which may cause your lips to dry out: moisture from the air you exhale settles on your lips and then evaporates along with the moisture from the skin of your lips. This effect can be especially noticeable during the cold months, when cold temperatures, harsh winds and low humidity exacerbate the situation.
Too hot shower water
If you have a habit of using too hot water in the shower or when washing your face, it can be the cause of constantly dry lips. Hot water washes away the small amount of skin oil that the few sebaceous glands in the lips are able to produce. To prevent dry lips, make sure that the shower is not too hot and apply lip balm right after showering or washing your face.
In our online shop Organic Store, you will find moisturising, nourishing, protective, and healing lip balms that will help you to prevent dry and chapped lips all the year round. They are formulated with natural oils and butters (shea, cocoa, coconut, sweet almond, argan, jojoba), natural beeswax and plant waxes, essential oils (grapefruit, tea tree, peppermint), UV filters, hyaluronic acid, and other active ingredients.
