Reasons for dry, chapped lips even after taking water.

Chapped lip refers to one of the most common forms of cheilitis that comes with cracking, fissuring and scaling of both lips, but it is more common with the lower lip. Chronic cases can lead to crusting, hemorrhage and blister formation. Our lips has one of the thinnest layers of the skin on our bodies, making them fairly prone to dry out. They are also packed with nerve endings that help us sense the outside world, including temperature, taste and more. When our lips dry it means they have become too dry or irritated for one reason or the other. Most times chapped lips are not caused as a result of something serious, they are commonly caused by exposure to dry chilly air but there may be other reasons that you might be experiencing a chapped lip.  

Causes of dry, chapped lip

• Dry, chilly air or weather
• Spicy food
• Licking your lips too often
• Exposure to too much sunlight
• Some medications and supplements
• Infection
• Allergic reaction to a product
• Certain underlying health conditions
• Lack of taking enough water
• Retinol
• Tobacco smoke

Ways to prevent dry, chapped lip

1. Drink a lot water: When you are not taking a lot of water these can make your lip become dry. Make sure to always to always stay hydrated  to prevent chapped lip. You can add lip lemon juice to your water to help take enough.
2. Avoid licking your lips always: Running your tongue over your lips might feel like a perfect idea especially when your lips feel dry, but it might not help your lips and these can lead to lip drying. When the saliva dries it takes more moisture from the skin, instead use a lip balm to moisturize your lips.
3. Avoid using metal items to hold your lips: jewelry, paperclip and other everyday products made of metal can cause irritation to your sensitive lip.
4. Apply non-irritating lip balm: During the winter it is important to protect our lips from the sun. Sun can dry, chapped lips more easily which could trigger cold sores. To protect your dry, chapped lip from the sun, use lip balm that contains ingredients like titanium oxide and zinc oxide when outdoors. Apply at a least every 2 hours.
5. Use humidifier: humidifiers help to add moisture to the air. These moisture keeps the keratin on your lips soft and healthy. They can also protect the rest of your skin and hair from drying out.

Home remedies for dry, chapped lips

• Green tea has many health benefits and one of it, is it helps humidify our lips. Using a steeped green tea bag to rub your dry lips help to reduce dryness. Just dab a green tea bag on your lips when the bags are cooled.
• Cucumber contains a lot of vitamins and hydrating agents; it provides minerals that helps to remove dryness in your cracked lips. It is an effective remedy to treat dry lips. You can either massage your lips with a slice of cucumber or extract the juice and gently apply it to your lips. These help to hydrate your lips.
• Aloe vera gel can be use to treat dental problems like canker sore and it contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that is effective for treating chapped lip. Aloe vera gel contains exfoliating properties that helps to peel off dead cell when you apply it to the lip and it also moisturize your dry lips.
• Honey contains antibacterial and antiseptic properties, it has been used for many years as natural remedy to for skin problems and also prevents infections. Because it can serve as a mild exfoliator as well as moisturizes the lips. Use your finger or a cotton wool to dab honey onto your lips.
• Coconut oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, mineral and vitamins that provide your skin resilience to fight against infection. Coconut oil is a good moisturizing agent as well as boosting the barrier functionalities of your skin. Apply a pure coconut oil to your lip throughout the day.

Ingredients to avoid when you have dry chapped lips

• Camphor
• Eucalyptus
• Lanolin
• Menthol
• Phenol
• Fragrance
• Salicylic acid
• Propyl gallate
• Flavoring like mint or peppermint flavors can cause dry chapped lips.

Ingredients to help you heal from dry chapped lip

• White petroleum jelly
• Hemp seed oil
• Ceramides
• Shea butter
• Mineral oil
• Castor seed oil

Bottom line

Chapped lip refers to one of the most common forms of cheilitis that comes with cracking, fissuring and scaling of both lips, but more it is common with the lower lip. Most times dry, chapped lips are not caused as a result of something serious. They are commonly caused by exposure to dry chilly air.