This Winter, Prevent Dry Chapped Lips...

It is always better to prevent than to cure. Chapped lips can be caused by a number of factors, and many of them, such as being for a long time in a dry and cold environment, eating very salty dishes, or kissing outside in a windy weather ;) , can be avoided or at least minimized.

Other causes of getting chapped lips may be due to the thyroid hormone imbalances or B vitamins deficiency, which can be cured by a long-term adherence to a healthy, natural diet.

Chapped lips can also be triggered by your hypersensitivity to a new lipstick, in which case throw it into the garbage and never buy any product of the same brand again. No matter what the cause is, if you have already developed chapped lips, use the following tips to cure them as quickly as possible:

1. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, and moisten the air in your home with a humidifier.
   
2. Avoid licking your lips. Saliva evaporates quickly, leaving lips drier than before you licked them. If you tend to lick your lips, avoid flavored lip balm — which may tempt you to lick your lips even more.
   
3. Protect your lips. Use an oil-based lubricating cream or lip balm containing petrolatum or beeswax. Before going out in cold, dry weather, apply lip cream or balm that contains sunscreen — and then cover your lips with a scarf. Reapply often while outdoors.
   
4. Ensure your body is not deficient in B vitamins, iron or essential fatty acids. These deficiencies can cause scaling of lips and cracking of lip corners. Take a multivitamin/mineral supplement after consultation with your physician.
   
5. If in spite of water intake your lips seem dehydrated, apply cool wet cloth to hydrate lips. Also try to seal in the moisture with a lip balm. Apply lip balm every hour or two to treat dry lips and to keep them healthy. Use balm with spf of at least 15 to save your lips from sun damage.
   
6. Use a soft toothbrush to softly buff your lips to remove the deposit of dead cells that will cause more drying and flaking.
   
7. Creamy lipsticks can act like balms and prevent your lips from chapping. Avoid using lipsticks that can dry out your lips.
8. Ordinary Vaseline works wonders. It prevents sun blisters as well if applied before venturing into the sun.