Chapped Lips
The first thing that catches the attention of people when you meet them is your smile, especially the one that reaches the eyes. Many people place all the attention on beautiful, white teeth setting aside the health of their lips. Sore and cracked lips result in a painful and therefore less engaging smile. The most common causes of chapped lips are as following:
1. Although this factor is often overlooked, toothpaste can contribute to chapped lips. Most toothpastes contain a component called guaiazuline, which may cause a contact allergy.
2. Contact allergy can also be caused by the lipstick and lip care products which contain propyl gallate or phenylsalicylate (salol).
3. Orange juice or any other juice from citrus fruits can irritate your lips.
4. Red dye which is added to many products such as candy, gum, fizzy drinks, mouthwash, etc. also may cause allergies.
5. Too much vitamin A may also provoke peeling lips. no matter if the source of your vitamin A comes from whole foods or supplements, if you are taking in more than 25,000 I.U. per day then you might want to take a closer look at this.
6. In addition to excessive vitamin A, your body may be taking in too much Vitamin B12 supplements. What happens is that you develop an allergy to cobalt from taking your B12 supplements and this results in crusty and swollen lips.
7. Cinnamon flavoring can also cause lip chapping. This flavoring is found in candy, gum, mouthwashes, etc.
8. Eating too many figs can also cause your allergic reaction due to photo-toxicity.
9. And interestingly enough, metal objects like paper clips and pocket change is a very likely cause of chronic chapped lips. An allergic reaction may show itself on your lips.
Preventative measures can be as simple as:
- Applying a small coat of Vaseline or lip balm when using a dry lipstick.
- Using a bit of lip balm to moisturize as you sleep.
- Using a lip balm before going out into harsh weather, especially one with a good SPF factor to protect lips from the sun’s rays.
- Drinking plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated.
- Avoiding the use of lipsticks that can dry out your lips if they have become chapped.
- Resisting the urge to lick your lips (saliva does not moisturize) or nibble at them.
- Using a toothbrush with soft bristles to remove flaky skin from your lips.
Remember that pain is unnecessary, lips that hurt can and should be avoided, and there are many products available to help you.