Chapped Lips
Chapped lips is the common term for lips that have become dry, cracked and painful. This very common ailment isn't serious, but it can be painful and uncomfortable. It may lead to difficulty eating, drinking and speaking.
Symptoms
The lips may look dry and red. They may or may not be painful. The lips may crack, split or bleed. Pain may be continuous and can become stronger when the lips come in contact with certain foods or moisture.
Causes
Chapped lips are caused by a loss of moisture. Exposure to sun, cold, dry air or wind can deplete the natural oils in the lips. The problem seem to be more of an issue in the cold of winter and the heat of summer. Do you ever wonder why licking your lips never seems to fix the problem? Wetting the lips repeatedly also dries them out because the saliva evaporates quickly and digests the thin membrane that covers the lips, making them drier than before. Dehydration, poor diet or a lack of B vitamins or essential fatty acids can also cause dry lips. Allergies to the dyes in lipsticks can also contribute to this condition.
Cautions
Severe cracking can lead to infections. If you notice any signs of infection like swelling, feeling hot or abscesses forming, seek immediate medical attention. Determine the cause of chapped lips, especially in the elderly. If it is due to dehydration, increase the intake of water. In severe cases of dehydration, hospitalization may be required.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
Herbal treatment for internal focuses on nourishing & detoxifying the body.
- Stinging nettle – drink the juice of this herb to nourish the body and provide iron. Alternate every other day with dandelion juice. Add the juice to water.
- Dandelion – the juice of dandelion can be alternated with nettle juice every other day to detoxify the body. Dandelion supports the entire system. Add the juice to water three times per day.
- Aloe vera – drink the juice of aloe vera at least three or more times a day to help heal dry lips.
External Applications
- Calendula – the cream can be applied to the lips to soothe discomfort and help replace moisture into the skin.
- Aloe vera – a cream or lip balm with aloe vera added can be applied to the lips for relief.
- Honey – apply raw honey to the lips to help heal chapped lips. Honey is moisturizing and antibacterial.
- Olive – olive oil is an excellent moisturizer, especially extra virgin olive oil. Apply directly to the lips or mix with beeswax to make your own lip balm.
- Shea – the butter of the shea nut is very moisturizing and nourishing. Shea butter can be applied directly to the lips or added to an herbal lip balm.
- Lemon – take half a lemon and put a half teaspoon of sugar on it. Rub this on your lips to remove any dry, dead skin. Wash the lips with warm water, dry them and apply glycerin to keep the lips moist.
Aromatherapy
Some herbs can be good sources of natural oils that can be mixed to make a good quality, natural application to treat chapped lips. 2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel with 2 drops of chamomile oil and 2 drops of geranium oil will make an effective application. You can experiment with the exact amount of each of the oils until you find one that suits you best.