30 Home Remedies for Chapped Lips

Cracked or chapped lips mainly occur when the lips are dry. The condition is caused by environmental and some health factors and medication. Cracked lips mostly occur in dry and low humid weather condition. Nonetheless, some people are prone to it and even reaches a more severe stage known as cheilitis.

Cheilitis, which normally happens in the corners of the lips results from infections. Some symptoms of cracked lips include scares, sores, bleeding, swelling, flaking, and cracks. This is a very embarrassing situation becomes the lips cannot be hidden.

Causes

Unlike other parts of the body, the lips do not contain oil glands. This is why the lips become vulnerable to dry and winter weather conditions with low humidity. With this lack of moisture in the body makes the situation even worse.

In addition, some prescribed medications can lead to the condition as it causes dryness. Habitual licking and saliva from the tongue reduce moisture on the lips.

Other causes include exposure to the sun, less lip care, mouth breathing, smoking, and the use of some cosmetic products. However, several home remedies can be used to salvage you from the discomfort of cracked lips.

Home Remedies for Chapped Lips

1. Hydration

Hydrating the body is the best way of preventing dryness and lubricating the lips. It is necessary to drink eight cups of water a day to avoid dehydration. You need to drink two cups of water in the morning before eating and a cup of water when retiring to bed.

During the afternoon and very hot weather conditions, you need to increase your intake accordingly. Adequate water intake also flushes out all toxins from the body and keeps the body fresh. There are fruits like watermelon and citrus foods with a high fluid content you can rely on. These fruits aside from hydrating the body can also boost your immune system.

2. Rose Petals

Chapped lips can be salvaged by rose petals, as it moisturizes the lips and even adds a pink color to it. To use rose petals in treating lip cracks, wash some of the petals in the water and soak it in milk for some hours. )However, if you are allergic to dairy products, soak it in glycerine.) Crush the rose into a paste form and now it is ready to be used. Apply it to the lips anytime possible throughout the day. Repeat this for about a week and the cracks will be gone and the rose petals will give you pinky lips.

 

3. Milk

Milk contains fat and that makes it a great moisturizer in dealing with the dryness that causes crack lips. It also contains vitamin A and biotin that rejuvenates dry skin and prevent further cracks. The lactic acid and vitamin D also help to remove dead skin cells. All you need is to apply the milk on your lips and leave it for about ten minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water afterward. Apply this frequently to prevent any recurrence.

 

4. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil contains several properties including antioxidant and anti-fungal. Aside from that, coconut oil is a great moisturizer eliminates the dryness of cracked lips and enhances the healing process. Just apply the oil to your lips and there you go. Repeat this several times in the day and cracked lips will be gone.

 

5. Olive Oil

Olive oil has a soothing effect and thus reduces the pains that come with cracked lips. Aside from that, it is a great moisturizer that deals with the dryness and treats cracked lips within a short time. Apply it on the lips whenever necessary.

 

6. Castor Oil

Castor oil is also a great moisturizer and has a soothing effect that treats cracked lips. You can just apply the oil on your lips as many times as you can. Alternatively, add the castor oil to glycerine or drops of lemon juice. Mix it very well and apply to the lips when retiring to bed. Wash this off in the morning with lukewarm water. Repeat this every night for best results.

 

7. Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter and shea butter contains essential fatty acids that moisturize and nourish your lips. The fat of cocoa butter and shea butter treat and prevent dryness of the skin. Just apply a cocoa butter or shea butter on the cracked lips overnight. This will keep the lips nourished in the morning.

8. Sugar

Sugar is a great exfoliator and removes dead cells from cracked lips. It is able to restore the skin to its natural state. Just mix a teaspoon of sugar with a ½ teaspoon of honey. Apply the mixture to your lips and leave it for about ten minutes. Wash it off later with lukewarm water and repeat it when possible.

 

9. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has great healing qualities, especially when it comes to skin care. It is therefore not surprising that aloe vera is been used in several beauty products. It can treat you of your cracked lips by just applying the gel on your lips with its anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe vera gel also releases you from the pain that comes with cracked lips. Aloe vera has an unpleasant smell and can irritate sometimes, but works very effectively. Just get yourself some fresh aloe vera gel from its plant and apply on your cracked lips. Repeats this process as many as possible for effective results.

 

10. Honey

Honey contains several medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidants. With these properties, it is able to exfoliate the cracked skin, nourish the area, and subsequently treat the condition. Just apply honey on the cracked lips several times in the day. You can alternatively add glycerin to the honey and apply to the lips before retiring to bed. This will heal the lips and makes it softer.

 

11. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is a great moisturizer and prevents crack lips. The oil content in it nourish the lips and prevent dryness that aggravates the condition. All you need is to rub the petroleum jelly on your lips throughout the day during dry and low humid weather conditions. You can also apply it to the already cracked lips to quick restoration.

Honey and petroleum jelly can be used simultaneously by first coating the lips with the honey and top it up with the petroleum jelly.  Leave it for about ten minutes and wipe it off with lukewarm water.

 

12. Cucumber

Cucumber contains healing and soothing properties and reduces pain. When you have cracked lips, slice some cucumber and rub the juice on the lips. Wait until twenty minutes, then wash it off. Repeat the process several times during the day.

13. Glycerine

Glycerine is a great lubricator and moisturizer. Applying it to the cracked lips will prevent feather cracks and heal the condition. All you need is to apply glycerine on your lips and wipe off after twenty minutes. You can also mix the glycerin with rose petals or honey and apply. Wash it off after fifteen minutes. The inclusion of rose petal can give you pink lips.

 

14. Mustard Oil

Mustard oil has moisturizing, lubricating, and pain-relieving properties. While lubricating the lips, it also deals with the pains associated with the cracked lips. Just apply the oil on the lips and there you go. Reapply when convenient.

 

15. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is effective in treating cracked lips due to its astringent properties and bleaching agent. It is also an exfoliator, which removes dead skin from the cracked lips. All you need is a teaspoon of lemon juice, honey, and castor oil. Mix them well and apply on the lips. Leave it for ten minutes and rinse off. Doing this for a week or two will cure your chapped lips.

 

16. Lukewarm Ghee

Ghee just like other fat base remedies can be used in moisturizing the lips and prevent dryness that results in cracked lips. A continuous use of it will cure the condition. Just apply ghee on the lips by heating it a little to melt. Use it as many times as possible.

 

17. Humidifier

Most cracked lips are a result of low humidity, therefore, humidifying your atmosphere can prevent crack lips. You can humidify your atmosphere especially while going to bed at night. This will increase the moisture in the atmosphere to prevent dryness.

 

18. Lip Balm

The use of lip balm is another way of preventing cracked lips. Some of the balms contain vitamin E, shea butter, and macadamia oil that nourishes as well are prevent any form of cracks. You can apply balm during the day and while going to bed.

Note: You should not use a lip balm with flavors when treating cracked lips. Some artificial flavors can aggravate the condition.

 

19. Used Tea Bags

Most tea bags, especially green tea, contains tannins and antioxidant properties, which can help relieve you of the pains of cracked lips and replenish the dry lips. All you need is to put one tea bag in hot water for about three minutes. Remove the tea bag from the water and place it on the cracked lips. Leave it for between five to ten minutes. Doing this every day will cure the cracked lips.

20. Vanilla Extract Mix

Combining vanilla extract, baking soda, sugar, and olive oil can be very effective in treating cracked lips. The sugar and baking soda are exfoliators that remove dead skin. The olive oil nourishes the skin and the vanilla extract, add some flavor to it.

All you need are two teaspoons of sugar, one teaspoon of baking soda, two teaspoons of olive oil and vanilla extract. Mix the remedies very well and apply on the cracked lips. Leave it for about five minutes and wash off.

 

21. Quit Smoking

Cracked lips can result from some lifestyle and activities. The habit of smoking can be detrimental when you are battling cracked lips. The smoke contains chemicals that can cause dryness and aggravate the condition. It is therefore important to quit or at least smoke smoking when treating cracked lips.

 

22. Exfoliate the Skin

It is best to exfoliate the skin when you have cracked lips. Through exfoliation, dead skin cells are removed and new once develop. You can rely on numerous remedies to exfoliate your cracked lips including honey, sugar, rose petal and lemon among several others. So whenever you have cracked lips, employ the method of exfoliation.

 

23. Stop Licking the Lips

Licking the lips while battling cracked lips can aggravate the condition. When you try to moisturize the lips with saliva, it dries quickly and causes even more dryness. This is because, saliva contains acid and even though it is good is breaking down food, it is not useful for the lips in such conditions. So make sure you stop licking the lips, no matter how tempting it becomes.

 

24. Breath through the Nose

We sometimes breathe through the mouth, which is normal. However, when you are battling cracked lips, please stop breathing through the mouth since it causes dryness of the lips.

 

25. Unsalted Butter

The use of unsalted butter is recommended since butter is a natural moisturizer. The effect of unsalted butter is likened to the effect of milk. Since salt is an astringent, it is avoided by using unsalted butter.  This can be rubbed on the lips in the mornings and at night before bed.

 

26. Papaya

The healing properties of papaya are renowned and that points to its recurring use in many cosmetics. It exfoliates naturally and has proven effective in remedying chapped lips.
To use this home remedy, grate the papaya and rub it on the lips. Leave it on for the next fifteen minutes. Rinse off thereafter.

 

27. Avoid Certain Essential Oils

There are extreme oils and remedies that might suit your skin but harsh on the lips. Menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor oils are no good for the lips as they dry off the moisture easily. Watch out and avoid extreme oils if you have dry skin.

 

28. Mango Butter

Mango butter can be used as a moisturizer. The components include stearic fatty acids and oleic acids. The effect of these components is akin to the natural skin oils. Rub mango butter on your lips as often as needed to treat your chapped lips.

 

29. Beeswax

The wax of bees is an emollient and can shield your lips from moisture loss. It is also abuzz with healing properties that boost lip health. It also seals in moisture each time you rub on the lips. Use this like you would use chapstick.

 

30. Turmeric

Turmeric is rich in antioxidants, antibacterial, and anti-inflammation properties. It is one of the remedies that are reputed globally as a homeopathic pick for healthy living.

To use this home remedy, mix equal parts turmeric and water/milk to make a paste. Rub this paste on your lips and let it sit for three minutes. When the time is up, wash off the paste. Use this as often as needed.

Dryness of the body is the main cause of cracked lips. It is therefore important to hydrate the body always to prevent the condition. A healthy lifestyle and good habit can also deal with the condition along with avoiding direct sunshine. But, in the case, the condition still occurs, apply any of the above remedies to save the situation. Which of these home remedies are you most likely to use? Comment with your answer below!

To learn even more about how to cure chapped lips, check out this article by our friends at Groom and Style.

References

http://stylecaster.com/beauty/chapped-lips-cure/

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https://homeremedyshop.com/15-best-home-remedies-for-dry-lips/

https://www.healthline.com/symptom/chapped-lips

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/simple-homemade-tips-to-get-rid-of-chapped-lips/#gref

https://www.rd.com/health/beauty/homemade-remedies-chapped-lips/

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Painful-Cracked-Lips

https://www.enkiverywell.com/home-remedies-for-dry-lips.html