Home Remedies for Dry, Chapped Lips

Lips do not have subcutaneous fatty tissue. Therefore, the thin, sensitive skin dries out easily. However, dry, chapped or cracked lips not only look unsightly, they can also hurt and offer germs, viruses and bacteria a good attack surface. Meanwhile, there are numerous home remedies that provide the lips with sufficient moisture and prevent dehydration.

What helps against dry, chapped lips?

With regular use, calendula ointment allows lips to remain soft and supple. Some creams leave lips permanently soft and supple with regular use. These include petroleum jelly, calendula ointment and milking grease. Especially in winter, protection with such an ointment is recommended before going out into the cold. With their high fat content, these agents, most of which contain no unnecessary ingredients, smooth and soothe chapped lip skin. Those who use lip care sticks should pay attention to the appropriate high quality of the products. Exclusive natural cosmetics or care products from the pharmacy that do not contain mineral oils are best suited. Camphor and phenol are also not recommended as ingredients, as they increase dehydration. For children, flavored care sticks should not be used, as they tend to lick their lips frequently due to the sweet taste, which aggravates the dryness. Very good against chapped lips help lip balms made of natural wax with olive oil, jojoba or sesame. In summer, a lip balm with a sun protection factor is important, as too much sun also has a damaging effect on the skin‘s appearance. Sufficient hydration is just as important as external care. Drinks such as mineral water, unsweetened tea and buttermilk are particularly beneficial for the skin. This is altogether plumper and stores moisture better. Too dry room air is often the reason for rough lips. A humidifier in the living room and bedroom can help. Who does not have this at hand, can help themselves with towels laid over the heater.

Quick help

For lips that are already chapped and sore, a wound ointment is the best remedy. Under no circumstances should you constantly lick your lips. Saliva provides brief relief, but it contains enzymes that lead to increased dehydration. Therefore, in the long run, licking worsens the condition of the skin. Cocoa butter, which is one of the ingredients of hand creams, can also help with dry lips. If they are very brittle and rough, they should be rubbed with it up to five times a day. Olive oil, with its numerous valuable ingredients, also ensures that the skin is re-fatted. It helps to retain moisture and closes chapped areas. A gentle peeling before applying lip care removes dead skin cells. A soft toothbrush is suitable for this purpose, with which the lips are lightly massaged. An effective exfoliating cream can also be made from sugar and olive oil. In addition to removing flakes of skin, it stimulates blood circulation. A subsequently applied lip care makes the lip skin particularly supple.

Alternative remedies

Applying natural honey is also a proven method against dry lips. It contains many valuable, nourishing ingredients, which even accelerate the healing of small cracks. The honey is applied one to two times a day and wiped off again after an exposure time of about three minutes. Under no circumstances should it be licked off with the tongue. This re-moisturizes the lips, which promotes dehydration. The honey helps best after showering or bathing, because then the pores are open and the skin is much more receptive. Edible curd mixed with honey to a viscous paste, applied thickly and removed after ten to fifteen minutes, makes the lips perfectly soft. A very effective home remedy is beeswax. This protects the lips particularly well in cold weather and should be used before heading outdoors. Another remedy from grandma’s times is vegetable shortening, which moisturizes the lips. Drinking carrot juice and applying it to the lips is said to help as well. Applying fresh egg gel is also recommended.