If you happen to’re questioning: why are my lips so dry you are very a lot not the one one. Google has seen a breakout in searches for “lips continuously dry” all through January – proof that dry Jan is not simply focusing on our alcohol consumption.
It is no shock, in winter our lips appear to have a thoughts of their very own and swap from tremendous clean to dry and cracked in what looks as if hours. However, it is price figuring out there are a couple of key causes of dry lips – in addition to a few unhealthy habits that exacerbate them, which nearly all of us are responsible of doing every day.
It is also necessary to know that the pores and skin on our lips is rather more fragile than our pores and skin elsewhere (so for those who’re moisturising your face and physique each day however lacking out a step devoted to your lips, you are lacking a trick).
We requested the consultants “why are my lips so dry and what is the trigger?” Here is what they needed to say…
How is the pores and skin on our lips totally different to elsewhere?
“One of many fundamental variations between the pores and skin on our lips and the remainder of the physique is that it’s a lot thinner, usually consisting of 3-5 layers in whole in comparison with as many as 16 on the face,” explains guide dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk. “Our lips additionally lack the higher layer of dermis, often called the stratum corneum, which serves a protecting perform, prevents dehydration and combats UV radiation,” she provides.
“One other key distinction is that our lips don’t comprise the glands discovered elsewhere on our pores and skin,” continues Dr Kluk. “They’re due to this fact extra prone to get dry and chapped as they don’t have the identical pure oils to maintain them tender and clean,” she says.
What causes chapped lips?
There are a variety of causes you would be experiencing dry lips and one among them comes right down to a quite common behavior.
Dehydration
It stands to purpose that with the intention to have hydrated lips, it is advisable to preserve your physique hydrated. One of many best issues you are able to do to maintain your lips feeling and looking wholesome is to make sure you’re ingesting loads of water. If you happen to’re feeling dry, begin there. Maintain a big refillable water flask by your desk and sip recurrently all through the day.
Licking your lips
“Licking your lips can in a short time result in dry and dehydrated lips,” says Rupert Kingston, MUA and co-founder of Delilah. “Whereas it might appear to be a pure approach to moisten your lips it might probably in actual fact make them drier as saliva evaporates pulling the moisture content material from the lips. Saliva additionally incorporates digestive enzymes which will be very harsh on the fragile pores and skin,” he says.
Environmental publicity
Publicity to the weather is one other set off. Whether or not it’s a change or drop in temperature, air con or UV rays, they’ll all result in chapping and dryness. “Chilly, harsh temperatures and discount in humidity resulting from central heating can contribute to drying them out,” confirms Dr Kluk.