Dry lips can be caused by a variety of factors, including dehydration, sun damage, vitamin deficiencies, eczema, contact dermatitis, skin picking and licking, face masks, and poor quality lip balms. Here are some positive and negative factors that can contribute to dry lips:
Positive factors:
- Drinking enough water to stay hydrated can help prevent dry lips.
- Using a lip balm with a balance of humectants, occlusives, and emollients can help keep lips moisturized.
- Using a humidifier in your bedroom can add moisture to the dry air and help prevent dry lips.
Negative factors:
- Licking your lips can actually make them drier, as saliva evaporates and takes moisture with it.
- Certain ingredients in lip products, such as phenol, menthol, salicylic acid, and fragrances, can actually dry out lips and make the problem worse.
- Exposure to irritants like toothpaste, fragrances, metals, and certain foods like cinnamon can cause contact dermatitis and lead to dry lips.
When choosing a lip balm, its important to look for one with hydrating ingredients and to avoid those with drying ingredients. Its also a good idea to stay hydrated, avoid licking your lips, and protect your lips from the sun with a lip balm that contains SPF 30 or higher.
