Everyone suffers from chapped lips from time to time, especially during summer and winter. It can be disturbing as it causes an uncomfortable sensation and may even interfere with many of our daily activities.Symptoms include tenderness, sensitivity, dryness, redness, cracking, peeling, splitting, peeling and pain around the lips area.


One of the most common causes of chapped lips are overexposure to extreme temperatures, dry weather and dehydration. Some cosmetic brands may also lead to chapped lips. The condition may also be due to the habit of licking lips, lack of nutrition, ill-fitted dentures, lip biting, medication, vitamin deficiencies (such as riboflavin-vitamin B2), consumption of citrus fruits, allergy, infections, drugs, flu and more. If your lips manifest one of the signs or symptoms as listed above, then it is time to treat it immediately before it leads to inflammation, bleeding and infection.


Here are some DON'Ts when suffering from this condition:
• Never peel the dead dry skin from the lips.
• Never lick or bite your lips, it will cause more chapping.
• Avoid strong sun exposure. Apply sunscreen before stepping out.
• Avoid dehydration.
• Don’t use a hard toothbrush.


And now, here are some of our wonderful and effective home remedies for chapped lips:

Vaseline & Honey
Vaseline and Honey are considered the best skin protectants. Did you know that honey is a marvelous healing and anti-bacterial agent? Use both of these ingredients in this way:- Put some honey on your lips and let it dry for a few seconds. Then apply some Vaseline on top of the lips. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and remove it only with a hot towel in two strokes. Use it for 2-5 days and you'll see remarkable changes.

Aloe Vera
Try treating your chapped lips with small amount of Aloe Vera gel on your lips daily. Aloe Vera is an amazing herb that is famous for its skin healing benefits.

Coconut Oil
Apply Coconut Oil on your lips several times per day. That will help moisten and protect your lips during high temperature weather. Alternatively, you may also try coconut butter, shea butter, almond oil, jojoba, or beeswax.

Olive oil
This is a good ingredient which helps moisturise and protect the lips against further chapping. It can be directly applied on the lips as a balm, or can be also be drunk; a teaspoonful taken in water will nourish the system from the inside.

Castor Oil
Castor oil is one of the strongest ingredients to heal chapped lips. Castor oil users will notice their lips become more smooth and pink when used regularly.

Cucumber
Many have discovered cucumber as an effective instant remedy by just rubbing the lips with a slice of cucumber.

Papaya
Make a paste of mashed papaya and apply it on the lips and the surrounding area. Allow the papaya to remain for about 10 minutes before washing it off. Papaya is known to contain certain exfoliating enzymes which can help keep the lips soft and moist.

Avocado
This is another potential moisturiser. When ripe and soft, it can be easily spread onto your lips, which not only moisturises, but provides oil, vitamins and nutrients as well to keep your lips healthy.

Rose Petals
To retain the colour and prevent further loss of moisture of your lips, try crushing some rose petals and supplement it with few drops of Glycerin. Apply it on your lips and leave it for the whole night for best results.

Water Therapy
Help your body overcome dehydration by compensating the loss of liquid in the body due to excretion. drink at least 2-3 litres of water daily. During the dry winter season, remember to use a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist.

Zinc
Applying a coat of Zinc Oxide ointment before sleeping from time-to-time is beneficial as it acts as a protective barrier for your lips.

Vitamin E and Glycerin
In order to protect your lips, put on a coat of Glycerin, wheat germ oil and Vitamin E oil. That helps to prevent moisture loss. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which helps protect the essential fatty acids, and also prevents dryness and cracks in lips.

Vitamin A diet
Remember to give your body sufficient quantity of Vitamin A. This vitamin is important for skin growth and repair. Carrots, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables are good sources of Vitamin A.

Other useful remedies:
You can ensure that your body is not lacking any nutrients that may contribute to the condition. For this, it is encouraged that you drink carrot, tomato or spinach juice by adding 1 Tbsp of water cress, 2 Tbsp of wheat germ oil and 1 Tbsp of nutritional yeast. Remember also to consume plenty of whole grains and legumes. The juice of Margosa leaves is also known to be highly effective in healing chapped and dry lips. Also, enrich your diet with Iron and B-Complex Vitamin too. You can see that Mother Nature is so generous. There are plenty of natural solutions for our physical conditions. Just select what suits you most. Remember to also get back to us to let us know how effective the remedies were for you in healing your chapped lips.



You may also be interested in:
Cucumber For A Complete Beauty Package
Be Cleopatra (Milk Beauty) for Your Skin's Sake
Rice Water for Clear Complexion
‘Perfect’ Home-Made Oat-Rice Scrub



Author: Nicoleta Buru 
Edited by Genevieve Tan Shu Thung 

 Copyright © 2012 Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources 
Holistic Living Annex (Volume 1, Issue 4 - MAY 2012 Edn)