Dry Lips

Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech. Human lips are a tactile sensory organ and can be an erogenous zone when used in kissing and other acts of intimacy.

What causes dry lips:

• Dehydration (drink water).
• Avoid Licking, biting, and picking your lips.
• Changing weather.
• Allergies.
• Breathing through mouth.
• Certain medications.
• Some toothpastes cause dry mouth and lips.
• Certain autoimmune diseases.
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as AIDS.
• Yeast infections.
• Vitamin B12 deficiencies.
• Niacin deficiency (It causes cracks especially on the sides of the mouth).
• Diabetes.
• Hypervitaminosis A.

Ingredients to avoid:

• Camphor
• Eucalyptus
• Flavoring oils, cinnamon, citrus, mint, and peppermint flavors can be especially irritating to dry, chapped lips.
• Fragrances
• Lanolin
• Menthol
• Octinoxate or oxybenzone
• Phenol (or phenyl)
• Propyl gallate
• Salicylic acid

Treating dry lips:

• Use a humidifier especially if you breathe through your mouth.
• Avoid certain foods with high acid.
• Choose appropriate lip balms.
• Exfoliate your lips at least twice a week.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid fragrances.
• Avoid parabens.
• Look for ingredients that hold moisture, i.e. glycerin, aloe, mineral oil, castor oil, white petroleum jelly, etc. Remember lips don’t sweat. They do not have sweat glands.  Lips tend to dry out faster.
• Do not smoke (causes premature skin aging around the lips).
• Use lip balm with SPF 30 or higher.
• Essence of Nature “SOS Lip Balm” is our Chapstick.
• If your lips burn, sting, or feel uncomfortable when applying product to your lips, it means you are irritating your lips; discontinue use.  

Lips represent one of the most sensual aspects of a woman’s and man’s body and play a critical role in human sexual attraction. Our lips are just as important as any other part of your body. Therefore, we need to take care of them.