Sometimes lip balm just isn’t enough. If you suffer from chapped lips from time to time, you know how quickly your lips can lose moisture and become irritated, or even crack. And chances are, you’ve already tried a few different remedies to try to bring the moisture back into your pucker. But how can you get rid of chapped lips, once and for all?

We’re taking the guesswork out of treating your dry lips and bringing you expert advice on all the remedies that actually work, even when the weather cools down later in the year. Here’s everything you need to know in order to keep your lips soft and supple all-year long, according to dermatologists.

What causes chapped lips?

Before we treat the problem of your chapped lips, it’s helpful to know the source of the dryness.

According to dermatologist Dr Peterson Pierre, here are just some of the reasons behind chapped lips:

  • Anything you're applying to your lips that's irritating
  • Frequent lip licking
  • Sun damage
  • Cold, dry weather
  • Eczema

How can you get rid of chapped lips?

The first thing you should do when you realise that your lips are dry or irritated is to stop using the products that may have caused irritation in the first place, says Dr Pierre.

Next step in your lip-care routine should be to “restore hydration levels with hyaluronic acid and seal in the moisture using [moisturisers] that contain ceramides, shea butter, or petroleum jelly,” says Dr Pierre.

The final step of your lip-care routine should be to protect your lips from sun damage. Dr Pierre recommends using a zinc-based sunscreen for your lips.

There are specific ingredients you should avoid while your lips are chapped, and some that are particularly beneficial for healing.

To help chapped lips heal, stop applying lip products that contain any of the following:

  • Camphor
  • Eucalyptus
  • Flavouring: Cinnamon, citrus, mint, and peppermint flavours can be especially irritating
  • Fragrance
  • Lanolin
  • Menthol
  • Octinoxate or oxybenzone
  • Phenol (or phenyl)
  • Propyl gallate
  • Salicylic acid

When looking for products to use on your lips, dermatologists recommend ones that contain one or more of the following:

  • Castor seed oil
  • Ceramides
  • Dimethicone
  • Hemp seed oil
  • Mineral oil
  • Petrolatum
  • Shea butter
  • Sun-protective ingredients, such as titanium oxide or zinc oxide
  • White petroleum jelly

How can you avoid chapped lips in the future?

To optimise the moisture in your lips for the foreseeable future, here are a few things you can do:

  • Apply a non-irritating lip balm (or lip moisturiser) several times a day and before bed
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Stop licking, biting, and picking at your lips
  • Avoid holding items made of metal with your lips
  • Plug in a humidifier at home
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