Signs and Symptoms of Chapped Lips
Chapped Lips are characterized by dry, cracked, flaky and sore lips that can affect people from time to time at any time of the year. Occasionally, Chapped Lips can be can be painful, embarrassing, and uncomfortable because they can interfere with many daily activities, such as smiling, eating and talking. Common signs and symptoms include dryness, redness, tenderness and sensitivity, cracking, splitting, peeling, and pain.
Minor lip dryness can be healed by simply removing the cause of the dryness or using some of the home remedies listed below. However, if dry lips are causing inflammation and bleeding, it is strongly recommended that you consult with your doctor immediately since it can lead to severe infection.
Causes of Chapped Lips
Chapped lips can have several causes, including dry weather, overexposure to extreme temperatures, dehydration, lip biting, riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiencies, and ill-fitting dentures. Dry, swollen, or cracked lips can also be caused by allergies, infections, drugs, winter colds and flus, and a number of other medical problems.
It is a common perception that Chap Sticks are the best cure for chapped and dry lips. However, in reality, the chemicals in a chap stick can infect the lips when you have bits of open skin. Therefore, the following home remedies are wonderful alternative cures that are also sometimes more effective.
Home Remedies and Natural Treatments for Chapped Lips
Chapped Lips Home Remedy Using Honey and Vaseline
The nutritional characteristics of honey make it an amazing healing and anti-bacterial agent. Similarly, Vaseline is considered one of the best skin protectants. When these two items are combined, you have an effective home remedy for chapped lips:
- Put some honey on your lips let it dry for a few seconds.
- Without moving your lips, apply some Vaseline on top of the lips.
- Leave the honey and Vaseline on your lips for 10-15 minutes.
- Finally, dip a Q-tip dip in hot water and use it to remove the honey and Vaseline in two strokes.
- Do this once a day for about 2-5 days to get rid of chapped lips.
Coconut Oil for Chapped Lips
Many people have found that Coconut Oil is a wonderful natural remedy for chapped lips. Simply apply a small amount of oil to the lips several times per day, particularly when the weather is cold and dry.
Natural Remedy for Chapped Lips Using Water Therapy
Since dehydration is the main cause of dry or chapped lips, it is recommended to drink at least 2-3 litres of water daily. Also, on dry winter days, try to use a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist.
Treat Chapped Lips Using Cucumbers
Rub your lips with a slice of cucumber. Many people have found this to be a simple but effective chapped lip remedy.
Using Aloe Vera for Soothing Chapped Lips
The herbal benefits of Aloe Vera make it an amazing healing agent for skin. Therefore, to cure chapped lips, try putting a small amount of Aloe Vera gel on your lips daily.
I’m so tired of my top lip being chapped all year long. Skin is terrible. You can’t wear lipstick because it is so rough looking. Only the top lip has never been smooth.
Cathy, honey does burn, only if your lips are badly chapped but after you wipe it with warm water and apply coconut oil on it, it starts to feel much better and chapped lips heal within days.
I tried the honey and Vaseline remedy. And my mouth went on fire and still is on fire,15 min later.
Carmex stings my lips. The pain is so bad that I had to gently clean it off and dowse my lips with coconut oil and Nivea original lip balm!
Hi all, I don't have excessive dry lips but I just like keeping my lips moist no matter what the weather. I have tried alot of products but the best one on the market in my book is Lip Medex by Blistex, it is in a small round blue contianer. It has a minty cool blast to it. As soon as you put it on you can feel the healing process begin. I was a cancer patient and my lips would get dry from chemo so I would always have this in my pocket and it also helped me through my mouth sores. It works for me and I think it can work for you too. Try it and let me know. I will be waiting to hear from you.
Hemorrhoid cream works great for dry cracked lips, rough elbows and dry cracked feet. It sounds crazy but it works.
I had chapped lips all my life, tried lots of stuff. Started to try kefir for my gut and noticed that it made my top lip red, dry, sore, and swollen, then it healed and to my surprise, haven't had chapped lips since. I eat kefir daily. Blessings, Kay
Oh I would love to try these remedies! Much needed with the cold months approaching!
Tirchia K, Applying fresh Aloe Vera juice from the plant followed by coconut oil or vaseline helps me with cracked and dry lips. Also having a humidifier on during dry weather helps too.
Kay who posted on March 5th, 2015, please do some research on things before you post the "dangers" of Vaseline. Vaseline is derived from petroleum, but so is plastic. I'm pretty sure you interact with petroleum products everyday. Some petroleum products are not safe, but look them up first. Vaseline is safe to use, as well as mineral oil, plastic, synthetic clothing fiber, and the list keeps going. Now the real dangers come from dihydrogen monoxide. That's some scary stuff!