5 simple yet effective ways to prevent dry lips
Dry lips are also commonly known as cracked or chapped lips. It is a common condition that most people struggle with while some people develop a more serious form of chapped lips called cheilitis. Dry lips can be very painful, and they take time to heal, especially, in the months of winter. Unlike other areas of the skin, lips don’t contain oil glands. This makes lips all the more susceptible to dryness and becoming chapped. Lack of moisture because of neglecting your lips along with harsh weather conditions ruins the situation even further.

Below are five simple yet effective ways to prevent chapped and dry lips.

Hydrate yourself
Hydration is the key for not only healthy and glowing skin but for your lips as well. Dehydration causes your lips to crack and sore. Drinking plenty of water is one of the simplest and easiest ways to prevent dry lips. It is recommended to increase the intake of vegetables and fruits that have high water content. Also, it is important to avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee, soda, etc. as they tend to increase water retention which in turn causes dehydration. If you don’t want your lips to dry and sour out, it is recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water every day.

Protect yourself from the sun
We all know that sun can cause severe damage to our skin, and lips tend to be no exception to this. Being frequently exposed to the sun can damage your lips and make them painfully chapped. One simple way to avoid this damage is whenever you are out in the sun, apply lip products that contain sunscreen. There are various lip balms available that provide sun protection, applying them will help protect your lips from drying and getting burnt.

Reduce vitamin A intake
Consuming too much vitamin A can cause chapped and dry lips. The toxicity of vitamin A occurs in case of overconsumption of vitamin A supplements. One needs to be extremely careful with their intake of vitamin A supplement, as vitamin A is one of those vitamins which should be preferably consumed through diet. If your system contains an excess of vitamin A, your lips and skin can eventually peel and crack. Hence, if you are facing dry lips problems, you need to check your vitamin A supplement intake.

Make the right choice
When it comes to preventing dry lips, lip balms is one of the most essential ways to provide protection to your lips and keep them moisturized. However, not all lip balms are great at preventing dry lips. It is important to choose lip balms that are more organic in nature and contain ingredients like almond oil, shea butter, macadamia oil, etc. that help in moisturizing and soothing the lips. Also, it is important to opt for lip balms that contain SPF to provide protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Apply a lip balm every few hours to help your lips retain the moisture and avoid becoming chapped. It is also advisable to keep away from lip balms that contain fragrances, as they may cause irritation.

Scrub
Exfoliating your skin at least once or twice a week is important. This also applies to the lips. Don’t miss scrubbing your lips, especially, when you are facing problems like lip dryness and/or flakes. Simply mix a tablespoon of brown sugar in honey and rub the scrub on your lips. After rubbing the mixture for one minute, wipe with a damp washcloth, and moisturize your lips with a lip balm. This process ensures that all the dry cells on your lips are exfoliated ensuring your lips stay fresh and healthy.