If you can’t get rid of chapped lips, no matter how much lip balm or Aquaphor you put on your lips, it could be due to a number of reasons. Did you know that the amount of water you drink plays a leading role in your ability to avoid dry lips?
Many of us suffer from chapped lips. And sometimes, it remains cracked, making you feel miserable. There are a number of reasons for chapped lips: not enough liquid intake, sun exposure, strong wind, dry air, poor cosmetic products, and even health problems.
But one reason most of us overlook is dehydration. If you’ve tried all the tips and tricks for treating chapped lips and still aren’t seeing positive results, it’s time to take a look at your water intake. Find out how to get rid of cracked lips easily.
Why are my Lips so Dry Even When I Drink Water
If you find that your skin and lips are dry even after the recommended 11 cups or more fluids intake a day for women or 15 cups or more for men, you need more fluids. The reason for this could be because you stay in a very dry environment, have an active lifestyle, or have some health condition.
But not taking at least 11 for women or 15 for men glasses of fluids is not the only way to know if you are dehydrated. Pay closer attention to the area you live in. The dry air is probably contributing to your chapped lip problems. Also, most people in North America and Europe use heaters and fans to heat the house in the winter.
But these heaters also cause a lot of dryness, making the skin, especially the lips, very dry and chapped. So the solution is to invest in a humidifier or use oil heating in the winter to avoid dryness.
Keeping moisture in the air and drinking plenty of water can help you get rid of ugly, chapped lips.
Cracked Lips: A Sign of Dehydration
Image Credit: Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of chapped lips. The skin on your lips is thinner than on the rest of your body. And that’s exactly why a lack of hydration in the body shows up on the outside, namely on the lips.
You need at least 11 glasses of fluids a day, even in winter. When we say fluids, it’s typically 80% from liquids and 20% from meals. And while water can be replaced by other beverages such as coffee and tea, these do not fall into the same category as filtered water or mineral water.
In fact, regular coffee and tea may cause more dehydration due to the caffeine content. So, limiting your coffee and tea consumption to one cup a day is better until the chapped lips are healed.
You need to make sure that you drink enough fluids throughout the day to keep your lips moisturized from the inside. All those expensive lip balms you invest in won’t help if your body is dehydrated.
This is because when our body is dehydrated, all skin cells, including those of the lips, become dry. This leads to chapped lips that become painful and embarrassing.
However, there is clear guidance by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on how much water is enough to stay adequately hydrated.
According to their guidance, the adequate daily fluid intake is:
- About 11.5 cups of fluids for women
- About 15.5 cups of fluids for men
These figures include fluids from water, other beverages, and meals. About 20% of daily fluid intake usually comes from meals and the rest from drinks.
Health experts recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water; the rest of the daily fluid intake will come from other beverages and food.
How to Avoid Dry Lips
We’ve already talked about how dehydration can be the main reason for chapped lips, but to make your lips soft and kissable, you can do more than just drink plenty of water and other fluids.
1. Avoid Excess Sun and UV Radiation
Stay away from direct sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm in the summer. During this period is, UV radiation the strongest.
2. Check the Humidity
Whether at work or home, dry air is a leading cause of chapped lips.
3. Don’t Smoke
Cigarettes may cause excessive dehydration and make your chapped lips worse.
4. Use Moisturizing Lip Balm with SPF Protection
Try to use moisturizing lipsticks that do not contain alcohol but aloe or other moisturizing substances. Ideally, your lip balm contains vitamins and antioxidants that promote cell regeneration and heal chapped skin.
5. Exfoliate your Lips
Use a toothbrush right after bathing to exfoliate the skin on your lips. You need a toothbrush and wet lips. Use the toothbrush in circular motions for about 20 to 30 seconds. This will remove all the dead skin cells and make your lips softer and plumper.
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