Chapped Lips – Causes, Picture, Symptoms And Treatment

Would you like to know more about chapped lips?  This is the article for you.  It will give you an idea as to what you can do to reduce the risk of having chapped lips in the future.  In addition to this, you will also understand the meaning of chapped lips and what would trigger them.

Chapped Lips Defined

Let us now proceed to the initial details that you need to know.  Chapped lips can be defined as lips that have less moisture than normal.  According to research, this can be caused by a variety of reasons.  These reasons will be discussed as we continue with the article.

Symptoms of Chapped Lips

Here are a few of the known symptoms of chapped lips as follows.  The symptoms will most likely happen because of the thin covering of the lips which causes it to lose moisture more quickly than any other part of the body.

• Dry
• Painful
• Tender lips
• Reddish and coarse lips
• Bleeding
• Loss of lip moisture
• Peeling
• Cracking
• Sensitive lips

The Major Causes

As mentioned earlier, there are a variety of causes for this condition.  Most of these causes has something to do with bodily fluids or lack there of.  These are as follows:

• Elemental causes
• Dehydration
• Frequent usage of soaps and other chemicals
• Sun Exposure
• Medications ( anti-acne drugs)
• Contact dermatitis because of cosmetics and other skin care products
• Vitamin deficiency (particularly A,C, and B)
• Smoking
• Riboflavin
• Vitamin B-2 Deficiencies
• Ill-fitting dentures

More often than not, people would get chapped lips during the winter time. This is mainly because of the low temperature and humidity. It dries up the mouth and everything that surrounds it.  Fortunately, there are certain treatment methods that you can use to help alleviate the condition.  We will be able to discuss this in the following paragraphs.

Treatment Of Chapped Lips

Here are some of the treatments that you can use to help get your lips back to its former condition.  If you can do this, you would be able to enjoy the full use of your lips without it drying out.

• Use of sun block on the mouth whenever in a remote and sunny location
• Apply lip ointment with sunscreen when outside
• Drink a lot of fluids everyday
• Avoid licking the mouth as saliva tends to evaporate quickly, leaving the oral cavity drier than before it was licked by you
• Use humidifiers at home to help prevent drying of lips and skin.
• Use an oil-based cream. As examples: beeswax or petroleum lip balm
• Use a lip balm with sun block
• Always wear apparel that will give oral protection such as jackets and scarves
• Treat chapped oral cavity with Vaseline

By doing these treatments, you will be able to not limit your activities especially with your partner.  In addition to this, drinking lots of water can also help you protect yourself from having chapped lips.  It will provide the necessary moisture for this part of your body so that it can function well enough for you to use.