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Home Remedy Topics
22 chapped lips
6 chronic chapped lips
6 cracked chapped swollen lips
p>Chapped Lips causes and home remedies to heal a Chapped lip are discussed.
 Chapped Lips
lips are inflamed, scaly, and cracked. The border of the lips is often obscured by the inflammation, as on the upper lip here.
lips (cheilitis) are lips that appear dry, scaly, and may have one or more small cracks (fissures). Often, the lips are sensitive, and there may or may not be redness (erythema) and swelling (edema) present. Retinoids (isotretinoin and acitretin) are the most frequent drug-induced causes for lips. Other drugs reported to have induced lips include:
* High doses of vitamin A
* Lithium
* Chemotherapeutic agents (busulfan and actinomycin)
* D-penicillamine
* Isoniazid
* Phenothiazine
Other possible causes of lips include high fevers as well as environmental conditions, such as cold weather, dehydration, and certain vitamin deficiencies.
Signs and Symptoms
lips involves scaling (with or without fissures) and mild to moderate swelling of the lips.
Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
Lip-licking cheilitis is best treated with avoidance of the licking behavior. Drug-induced cheilitis is treated with avoidance of the offending drug, but if this is not possible, frequent application of petroleum jelly may help ease lip pain and irritation.
Self-Care Guidelines
To treat lips:
* Discontinue use of the causing medications, if possible.
* If medications cannot be discontinued, apply petroleum jelly as often as needed.
* Avoid lip licking because this will only worsen the condition.
* Avoid "medicated" lip preparations because they increase the risk of developing an allergic reaction.
When to Seek Medical Care
See your primary care physician or dermatologist if you notice persistent scaling of the lips.
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You aren’t stuck with your dry, cracked lips! lips can actually become a condition you used to have. But first, you need to figure out what is causing your lips to be dry.
TEMPERATURE
Although weather is often blamed, it is not always the culprit. While cold and wind can contribute to dry, cracked lips, so can warm temperatures. The heat used to warm your home and car can dry out the air and lower the humidity level, which naturally leads to dry skin and lips. In addition, lips can be sunburned even on blustery, cloudy days.
COSMETICS
Be especially wary of lip plumpers which often contain chemicals to intentionally irritate lips to make them appear fuller. Capsacin (derived from chili peppers), mint and menthol are some ingredients to avoid.
Phenol, an ingredient used in some traditional lip balms, can actually contribute to further drying out the lips lending a hint of credence to the claim that some lip balms can be “addictive.” Even though phenol is used in low concentrations in lip products, it's the same chemical used in deep-penetrating facial peels.
FOODS
Spicy foods and the acid contained in citrus can burn lips and lead to dryness and irritation. In addition, the cut edge of a mango peel contains the chemical toxicodendron, which is found in poison ivy. People with nut allergies should beware of lip products containing nut-based products like shea butter.
MEDICATIONS
Dr Parsons advises those who cannot attribute their lips to other common factors to take a close look at their medicine cabinet. Some oral acne medications can cause considerable lip dryness even though they do not come in direct contact with the lips. Products applied topically, particularly acne medications and anti-aging products such as benzoyl peroxde, alpha-hydroxy acids or retinoids, could cause irritation when they come into contact with the lip area.
People with sensitive skin may be more susceptible to allergic reactions from lip products. Other culprits include dehydration, habitually or frequently licking your lips, and having a stuffy nose (forcing you to breathe through your mouth) -- all of these can cause your lips to become dry and sore.
TIPS AND TREATMENTS
* Apply petroleum jelly or a lip product containing petrolatum or mineral oil to soothe and heal irritated lips.
* Opt for lipsticks or lip moisturizers which contain sunscreen and wear them year-round.
* Avoid lip plumpers.
* Apply a petrolatum-based product at bedtime.
* Choose lip products with few additives.
* Drink plenty of fluids in order to stay hydrated.
* Avoid licking your lips.
* Use a humidifier.
* See a dermatologist if your lips are not getting better with simple at-home treatments or if new symptoms develop.
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Cracked, and dry lips causes
Following are the causes of , cracked or dry lips Over exposure to the cold or windy conditions, Over exposure to the sun, Allergies to cosmetic products, Infections, Drugs, Dehydration, Kawasaki disease, Macrocytosis, Riboflavin deficiency, Sjogren's syndrome, Frequent use of soaps and other chemicals, Deficiency of vitamin A, B and C, Smoking, History of skin disorder When the lips are or dry do not attempt to lick them, this will make you feel better only for short time. Once the saliva evaporates the condition will worsen. Your lips could be in problem because of your ill-fitting dentures, in such case consult your dentist.
Cracked, and dry lips home remedies and natural cures, Questions and answers
Cracked, and dry lips remedies
Following are the remedies for dry, or cracked lips Apply glossy lipstick on you lips, Use unflavored lip balm on your lips, Avoid flavored tooth paste, Use a humidifier to humidify your lips, Increase intake of water and other non alcoholic liquids, Rub cucumber slice on your lips, Apply margosa leaf extract on your lips, Put some aloe vera gel on your lips, Take a saline bath.
Cracked, and dry lips : Home Remedies suggested by users
Vitamin A rich diet
Vitamin A is very important for the growth and repair of the skin. See to it that your diet provides you with sufficient quantity of vitamin A. Carrots, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables are the good sources of vitamin A.
Other Diet
Make a vitamin rich juice by adding 1 tbsp. of water cress, carrot and spinach juice, 2 tbsp. wheat germ oil, one glass of tomato juice, and 1 tbsp. of nutritional yeast. Eat whole grains, legumes and nutritional yeast.
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Lips are among the most important as they add to the beauty of the person. Healthy and beautifully shaped pink coloredthin lips give an attractive look to the face. The thickness, shapeand color of the lips varies from person to person. Some people are gifted with thin lips, while others may have thick lips.
Reasons For a A Chapped Lip
The natural reason would possibly be an injury of some kind that has led to your condition. In such cases, cold packs made with ice wrapped in a cloth are very effective in providing relief from the swelling and pain.
A Chapped lip can happen due to injury, bee sting or any insect bite, or from a blow or cut. It also can occur due to the allergic reaction to an insect bite. Your lips might change colors due to the allergy or infection. To start with, you need to check the amount of damage caused. If caused by a blow or any injury you could have hurt the inside of your mouth too. If the damage has affected the teeth and gums you might have to get medical help.
There may be several causes behind Chapped lips. External injury, cuts and wounds, insect bites, or allergic reaction of the delicate skin cells of the lips to certain chemicals present in cosmetic products of specific kinds or medicines are some of the probable causes for lips getting swollen or Chapped. In order to solve this problem, you have to first determine what has caused your lips to become Chapped, and the extent to which the injury or allergy has affected your mouth.
Swelling of a lip can be due to various reasons like allergic reactions, trauma and certain diseases. There are various treatment options to cure a swollen lip, including medications and home remedies. Read on to know more about how to treat a swollen lip....
Sometimes swelling of lips may be due to different medical conditions too. Let's read in detail about the causes and treatment of swollen lips.
What Causes Swollen Lips?
Swelling of lips is mainly due to allergies from specific food substances or other allergens in the environment. Various allergens such as pollens, dust, animal fur or contaminants can cause swollen lips. The allergic reaction generally begins with tingling and then leads to swelling. The swelling may persist for several hours. Food allergies cause swollen lips along with other symptoms such as itchy lips, swollen tongue and rash around the mouth. Lip swelling can also result from insect bites and stings, such as bees, hornets or wasps.
Swelling of lips can result as a side effect of certain drugs and medications such as some antibiotics. Certain medical conditions such as Crohn's disease, glucagonoma, hives, myxedema, psoriasis, eczema and hereditary angioedema are responsible for swollen lips. Swollen lips are also caused by Acromegaly or Muccopolysacharidosis. This medical condition is characterized by swelling of lips, accompanied by scaling and bleeding of lips as well as a change in the texture and color of the lips.
Swelling of lips is also caused by nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamin B deficiency. In this case, swelling is on the corners of lips. Patient finds difficulty in opening his mouth. Viral infections such as lip herpes can also lead to swelling and blister formation in the lips. Another important cause of swollen lips is trauma or injury to lips.
Pain killers have a general tendency to slow down the healing process by reducing the flow of blood to the injury area. It is best to avoid them if you can. Instead, concentrate on natural pain-killers such as papaya and pineapple.
These will help to fight the pain naturally.
Within 24 hours after you have been injured, it is better to use a warm compress rather than a cold pack. The warmth will help cleanse the injury and disperse the blood pooling there. After a day, you can use cold compresses. Arnica oil is also a very effective measure to soothe such injuries. You can also apply Witch Hazel to the area. This is a natural soother and will help in speeding up the process of healing tremendously. Squeeze out the juice from a grated potato and apply it on the lip. This will help heal it. You can also rub castor oil on the wound to reduce swelling. Applying olive oil will help in healing.
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Assessing the damage
The first thing that should be done in the case of a Chapped lip is to carefully check the injury to see just how bad it is. A blow to the mouth can cause the tissue inside the mouth to be gashed by the teeth. If this is the case, or if there appears to be damage to the teeth or gums, then seeking medical help would be advisable. If the cut on the inside of the lip is small you can treat it yourself. After your assessment is complete you can start treating the injury.
The Inside Of The Mouth
The good news is that cuts inside the mouth tend to heal quickly, often without any help. A warm salt-water solution used twice daily is usually enough to speed the healing process. A glass of water with a few drops of grapefruit seed extract acts as a great disinfectant. If the cut continues to bleed or is more than half an inch long it may be best to see a doctor. While the cut is healing, avoid spicy foods that may irritate the area and cause discomfort or swelling.
Treating Your Chapped Lips
Opinions on dealing with a Chapped lip vary slightly but the general consensus is that a cold compress will bring the swelling down. Simply crush a few ice cubes in a washcloth and apply to the affected area. This can be applied to the outside as well as the inside of the lip. This also makes the area numb thereby by reducing the pain as well.
Keep in mind that the swelling should not be iced for too long. Ten to fifteen minute icings with roughly the same amount of time in between should be sufficient. Keeping the ice on it for too long could make the problem worse. This can be repeated two or three times per day, but the speed with which the swelling goes down depends on the extent of the injury.
While there are medicated ointments available for cuts on the lips, you may want to opt for a natural remedy. Aloe Vera and tea tree oil are both useful for treating minor cuts. Apply two to three times daily to the cut to help speed up the healing process.
When it comes to treating injuries yourself, common sense should always be your guide. A doctor should look at any injury that appears deep or is infected. Since getting a Chapped lip is a fairly common occurrence it is certainly no cause for alarm, unless the lip remains swollen for days. To prevent infection and speed healing, treat the area quickly and ensure that your hands are clean before treating the injured lips.
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how to heal a Chapped lip: Please suggest remedy for Chapped lips?
How to heal a Chapped lip? If the damage is not serious you can be sure that the Chapped lip will heal in a day or two. The inside of the mouth will heal even quicker. You can gargle with some saline water to aid the healing. You can try adding a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to water and wash your lips with it as it is an excellent disinfectant.
Treat Chapped Lips using following remedy:
You can apply honey and butter mixed together on the lips. This will speed the healing process. You can also mix honey with castor oil. You can try ice packs made with ice cubes wrapped in cloth and placed on the lips. This will give relief and reduce pain. But do not leave it on for a long time as it can worsen the problem. Do it twice or thrice a day for a short span of time.
You can apply aloe vera and diluted tea tree oil on the lips for curing minor gashes. You can also use arnica oil, which will heal a Chapped lip caused by any injury or hurt. You can apply a mixture of one teaspoon of glycerin and a pinch of turmeric powder on the lips. Turmeric is an excellent antiseptic and will aid the healing process.
You can also try one teaspoon of finely powdered gooseberry bark mixed with honey. Apply this mixture on the lips as it very effective in healing a Chapped lip. You can also try vitamin E oil on the damaged lips as it will provide relief.
You may mix a few drops of essential oil of lavender or peppermint in a little vegetable oil like coconut, olive, sunflower, or pumpkin seed oil and apply on the lips. This is beneficial for healing and reducing pain. You can try Vaseline or white petroleum jelly on the lips to keep out infection and also help in sealing the skin if your Chapped lip is caused due to an injury.
This entry was posted in Home Remedies and tagged Chapped lip remedy, Chapped lips, how to heal a Chapped lip, treat Chapped lip. Bookmark the permalink. Comments are closed, but you can leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
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How to Treat a Swollen Lip
How to Treat Swollen Lips
Lip swelling is quite troublesome and causes difficulty in opening the jaws. The doctor decides the treatment option depending upon the cause of a swollen lip. If swelling of lips is accompanied by redness and itching, then it may be due to an allergic reaction. If there are blisters or sores on the lips along with swelling, then it may be due to a viral infection. Once these medical conditions are treated, swelling of lips reduces over the time. In case of allergic reactions, the medications like antihistamines are prescribed.
There are some home remedies to treat swollen lips. Apply some ice cubes covered in a towel on the swollen lips. Otherwise, keep a spoon in the freezer for some time and apply on the lips. You can also try hot packs. Hold a towel dipped in a warm water for 10-15 minutes. Heat reduces the accumulation of blood in the swollen area and thus, decreases swelling. These remedies are useful, if lip swelling is due to an injury.
Another useful remedy is to apply a mixture of turmeric powder, Fuller's earth and water. Fuller's earth possesses healing properties, which help reduce swelling. Use of Aloe Vera gel also help reduce swelling of lips. Application of a tea bag is another effective remedy.
Immerse a tea bag in warm water for a few minutes. Remove water and allow the tea bag to cool down. Place it on swollen lips for a few minutes, which will help reduce swelling. Apply a medicated lip balm in order to prevent dryness of swollen lips.
If lip swelling is due to food allergies, then identify the foods responsible for allergies and avoid eating those food substances. Avoid exposure to allergens as much as possible. Make sure that lip balms and lipsticks don't cause allergic reactions.
In addition, drink adequate amount of water to prevent dryness and keep the lips moisturized. Have a balanced and healthy diet to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Your diet should be rich in vitamins, especially vitamin B and C. Vitamin C plays a major role in curing bruised tissues and reducing swelling.
Take good care of your lips to keep them healthy and smiling always.
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Chapped Lips Remedy – Homemade Treatment For Lips Swelling
August 13, 2009 at 4:27 am (Skin Care) (Chapped lip swelling, Chapped lips, oral infections, treat Chapped lip)
Remedies For Chapped Lips
There may be several causes behind Chapped lips. External injury, cuts and wounds, insect bites, or allergic reaction of the delicate skin cells of the lips to certain chemicals present in cosmetic products of specific kinds or medicines are some of the probable causes for lips getting swollen or Chapped. In order to solve this problem, you have to first determine what has caused your lips to become Chapped, and the extent to which the injury or allergy has affected your mouth.
If there is slight pain in the lips as well as the gums and teeth, you should gargle thrice a day with a glass of water to which a teaspoon of common salt has been added. This helps relieve swelling and pain, and kills any germs that might be the potential cause for oral infections. You may also add a teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract in two tablespoons of distilled water and wash your lips with this solution every couple of hours. This is an effective way of treating hurt and swollen lips. For another remedy, crush a few slices of apple to pulp and mix some honey and butter to it, to form a thick paste. Smear your lips with this paste and let it dry naturally for at least half an hour, and then wash it away with water. This soothes the inflamed and damaged skin cells of the lips and cures swelling in a couple of days. Another simple way of treating Chapped lips is to rub them with a cube of ice for about a minute or two every morning and evening. Application of short, cold compresses is another alternative. This helps reduce swelling and pain, but care must be taken not to let the ice stay in contact with the lips for too long.
If the swelling has occurred due to a cut, it is useful to apply the juice of aloe vera juice on the lips every day. The natural healing and moisturizing properties of aloe help treat the wound and reduce swelling and pain in a day or two. Application of tea tree oil on minor cuts on the lips is also helpful in reducing local swelling. You may also use arnica oil for similar effects if your lips have become swollen due to an external injury. Another effective natural way of treating Chapped lips is to mix a pinch of turmeric powder with a spoonful of glycerin and massaging your lips very gently with this solution. While turmeric acts as a natural antiseptic that prevents infections, glycerin soothes and hydrates the lips, thereby quickening the natural healing process.
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But what if your lips were bigger? Not everyone wants larger and fuller lips. In fact, there are countless people who want to have the sizes of their lips reduced. The young ones who have Chapped lips, grow up being insecure especially if they are teased by their classmates. Since enough time is needed for your facial features to mature, reducing the size of your lips should be done only in your mid to late teen years, or just when all of your facial features are fully developed.
So how do you reduce the size of your lips? The answer? It's lip reduction surgery. You may be enticed to undergo this type of procedure; however, there are complications and risks involved. Get to know all good and bad things before committing to this procedure.
Lip Service
Lip reduction is a method that aims to take away excess tissues in your lips. With lip reduction, the appearance of large lips is reduced. Your surgeon can employ the procedures while putting you under local or regional anesthesia or sometimes even both. In some cases, doctors want to have you under light sleep anesthesia while doing the operation.
It only takes about 15 to 30 minutes to perform lip reduction surgery, plus two weeks for it to heal. Before going through this surgery, you have to condition yourself about the swelling you may feel.
Lip Check
The first thing you have to consider if you want to undergo lip reduction surgery is your health. You can't go through this surgery if your health is poor or if you have pre-existing medical problems.
Before undergoing surgery, it is also important to talk to your surgeon about your expectations. Communication is important in achieving your objectives because this way, you can let your surgeon know the results that you desire. Talking to your surgeon will help you both understand the goals that can be realistically achieved.
Going through this procedure requires you to be emotionally and mentally stable. You will need patience too especially during the healing process. You should be strong during the whole thing because before you undergo the procedure, expect to have pre-existing emotional issues. After the surgery, it is normal that you will feel depressed. Do not commit to this procedure if you are not prepared to accept these issues.
Preparing for Your Surgery
A preoperative packet will be given to you to prepare you for your surgery. The packet contains a list of medications you should stay away from before the date of your surgery. Some of the medications that you should stop taking before your surgery date are seratonin supplements, stimulants and products containing aspirin. Your surgeon may also advise you to take Vitamin K, Bromelain and Arnica Montana.
You may also need some blood work performed, which is usually an out-of-the-pocket expense. With this, your red and white blood cell counts are checked. You should also find out if you have disorders or diseases beforehand. Females usually take an extra vial of blood to see if they are pregnant. A physical examination may also be required.
How a Lip Reduction is Performed
The first thing your doctor will do to you is sedate you. Monitoring pads will be attached to your body. Your monitoring pads will help the surgical team in monitoring your vital signs before, during and after the surgery. As you are brought inside the OR (operating room), electrodes connected to the monitoring machine will enter your monitoring pads.
If you are already sedated, you will be put on the operating table and be given anesthesia. An IV may also be inserted to you for a saline drip. The IVs are important in providing a doorway for medications like antibiotics and anesthesia. A nurse will insert the needle into the vein and then pull out a catheter or a plastic tube to leave in your vein. To secure the tube or catheter, your nurse will tape the tube. Along with your IVs are saline bags that contain liquid to keep you hydrated during and after the surgery.
If you are having regional anesthesia, you will be injected between the gums and the lips until the needle reaches down inside your chin to deaden your face from your chin to your earlobes. Removing bacteria before the operation is important and your surgeon will do this by scrubbing your face with Betadine. The operation starts by an incision inside your mouth for as long as the size of your lips. A strip of your skin will be removed from one of your lips, or both, depending on the procedure.
The surgical team will then do sponge and instrument count. To close the incisions, your surgeon will use either a non-dissolvable or dissolvable suture. At first, a piece of gauze soaked in antibiotic may be placed between your gums and lips, but this depends on your surgeon's preference.
Presto --- your surgery is over! Your nurse will keep monitoring your vital signs until you are released from the recovery room. As the anesthesia wears out, your mouth and lips may feel quite tender and tight. Shivering and rigors are normal because of the medications you are taking. To keep your recovery more tolerable, ask for a warm blanket if your nurse doesn't provide you with one.
The Pathway to Recovery
You may feel groggy because of the oral medications and anesthetics. Keep your head elevated by sleeping on two pillows for a week or two, or for as long as your surgeon tells you so. The swelling will be worse three days after your operation, but it will subside as days go by.
Surgeries have complications and risks that you should know about even before the surgery. You may experience general dissatisfaction, infection, seroma, hematoma or asymmetry. Numbness is also common but it will go away after a few weeks.
Commit to this procedure if you are 100% sure of going through all the risks involved. Be prepared to shell out around $900 to $2000 if you are in the United States. If you are put under general anesthesia, expect the price to be higher.
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Lip Balm recipe
We also have lip balm recipes using a vaseline or petroleum jelly base and Beeswax Lip Balm Recipes.
Ideally, lip balm should protect your lips from chapping due to dry air or cold weather conditions. Some recipes include a hint of color while others add an attractive glossy sheen to your lips.
General Directions:
Melt recipes using beeswax or petroleum jelly as the base ingredients in a pyrex jug in the microwave or in a double boiler. Don't overheat: watch carefully, using small increments of microwave time, and heat only until just melted. Use individual recipe directions for instructions on heating paraffin wax.
Make sure the containers used for preparation and storage are clean and sterile. You can reuse old lip gloss pots or tubes, but thoroughly clean out the old product, then wash with soap and water, sterilize with rubbing alcohol, rinse with clean water and dry the container before reuse.
Use only cosmetic grade Beeswax or food grade ingredients.
Methods of Melting Lip Balm
* Microwave: If melting the base ingredients in the microwave, use short increments of time and watch carefully, removing as soon as the ingredients have just melted.
* Over Hot Water: Some recipes recommend melting the base ingredients in a ziploc water placed in a pot of hot tap water. Once melting is complete, unzip the bag, add flavorings, rezip, then knead lightly to mix all the ingredients together. Snip off a small corner of the bag and pour lip balm into containers.
* Double Boiler: If using a double boiler to melt lip balm, use low heat and remove as soon as melting has occurred.
Storage: Once your recipe is complete, pour the melted lip balm or lip gloss into small containers and let cool completely before using.
Shortening Lip Balm
Melt shortening in the microwave, or over hot water, then add sweetened or unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix using enough drink mix to color the lip balm and add flavor. Some flavors to try: strawberry, raspberry, watermelon or blueberry.
Lip Balm
· 5 to 6 TBSP Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Castor, or Quality Vegetable Oil
· 1 TBSP Beeswax
· 2 tsp. Pure Honey
· 10 drops Orange or Peppermint Essential Oil for a sweet taste, or Tea Tree to treat cold sores and , flaky lips
· 1/2 tube favorite colored moisturizing lipstick (optional)
Lip Balm Recipies:
3 T. cocoa butter
4 chocolate chips
1 vitamin E capsule
t. Almond oil.
Melt cocoa butter. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted. Add vitamin E and oil. Stir well. Pour into a nice small container...
2 t. olive oil
t. beeswax
t. cocoa butter
t. honey
3 drops orange essential oil
1 Vit E capsule.
Heat oil butter, beeswax in water bath over heat until beeswax is melted, stirring. Remove from heat and stir in honey, oil and Vitamin E. Stir well, pour into containers.
How to Heal Sore Lips
Sore, dry lips are a common problem in the winter which can be helped with a little dedication and some TLC.
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[edit] Steps
1. Toss out that petrolium-based lip chap. It's doing your lip tissues no favours in helping them heal. Your skin needs to breathe!
2. Invest in a quality lip balm using natural ingredients like beeswax and vegetable derived oils. If it includes honey, it's even better since honey is known for its ability to draw moisture from the air.
3. Apply your new balm often.
4. Cover your face with a scarf every time you venture outside in the cold. You insulate and protect the rest of your body from the cold, so why should your face be any different?
5. Soon the dead skin will fall away and your lips will be as good as new!
6. Get some moisturizer (the thicker the better) and after you've brushed your teeth at night, put the moisturizer on your lips, rubbing it on your lips and a little bit around your mouth until you cant see it. Then, get some more and dab a think layer onto your lips so your lips look white (the color of the moisturizer). Leave it on overnight, and during the night it will soak into your lips and dry, leaving them smooth, soft and perfect.
[edit] Tips
* Drink lots of water as a habit to stay well hydrated. This is also a great way to keep the rest of your face clear.
* Use a room humidifier at night and chap-up before bed
* Grandma went through all that trouble of knitting that scarf for you, so wear it!
* If it's a cold sore that ails you, put an ice cube on it right away.
* If nothing is working, see a dermatologist.
Another alternative (lip balm free) method: Drink plenty of water at the first sign of chapped lips. Your lips will moisten naturally.
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How to Get Rid of Painful Cracked Lips
Cracked, dry or sore lips are both unsightly and painful. They can be caused by a variety of conditions, and can also be symptoms of more serious illnesses. Lips are skin, similar in many respects to the skin on the rest of your body, but unlike much of your skin the lips do not produce natural oils to protect them.If you suffer from dry or cracked lips this wikiHow will help you to understand the problem.
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[edit] Steps
1. Know if you have dried lips. It is usually pretty easy to know if your lips are dry or cracked. However, other symptoms similar to cracked lips can often be mistaken for this condition. Dry lips are indicated by the following symptoms:
* Frequent lip licking.
* Peeling of the lips (flaky skin).
* Cracks or bleeding from the sides of the mouth.
* Sensitive lips that appear otherwise healthy
* Painful lips.
* Open sores, marks or similar symptoms.
2. Identify the cause of your condition. Unless you are a doctor you should not try to professionally diagnose your dry lip problem. That said there are many causes of cracked and dry lips that you can eliminate when trying to find the cause of your symptom. These include:
* Climate change. Extremes in weather can cause your lips to dry out (cold weather) or become dehydrated (hot weather).
* Sun damage. Just as the rest of your skin can be damaged by the sun, so can your lips. Yes, you can have tanned lips, and they hurt!
* Wind exposure. Leaving your lips unprotected in a strong wind can cause skin damage.
* Dehydration. Probably the leading cause of most dry or cracked lips is simple dehydration. If the body does not have enough water the extremities, including the lips, will show that lack first.
* Smoking or chewing. Anything you regularly put in contact with your lips can affect their condition.
* Vitamin deficiencies. Certain vitamins are critical to maintaining healthy skin and lips. These include:
o Vitamin A
o Vitamin B
o Vitamin C
o Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin deficiency)
* Allergic reactions. Many cracked and dry lips are the result of negative reactions to cosmetics and skin care products. As is so often the case, over use of commercial products can aggravate the very condition they are supposedly designed to cure.
* Ill-fitting dentures. Badly placed dentures can also cause lip cracks.
* Spicy food causes dry lips in some people.
* Side effects. Certain medications have dry or cracked lips as a side effect. If your condition coincides with beginning a new medication regimen, consult your doctor about this possibility.
* Skin disorder. Any history of a skin disorder of any kind can be related to dry or cracked lips.
3. Consider more serious conditions. If none of the above seems to be the cause of your painful lips consider that cracked, dry lips can also be a symptom of far more serious problems. If you suspect that your lip pain originates with a seemingly unrelated ailment, including anything form the list below, consult a doctor.
* Diabetes. If you have diabetes or a history of the condition in your family this may be a cause of your lip pain. Symptoms associated with diabetes include:
o Frequent urination.
o Excessive thirst
o Fatigue.
* Kawasaki Disease. A serious blood disorder that is a frequent cause of chronic dry lips.
* Sjogren's Syndrome. A kind of autoimmune disease which can damage the tear ducts and similar glands is also a common cause of seriously cracked lips.
* Macrocytosis. A blood condition where the average red blood cell size is increased to dangerous levels.
* Sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and other diseases can be an underlying cause of chronic cracked lips.
4. Select a treatment
* Immediately consult a doctor if you suspect your cracked lips are a symptom of a more serious condition. Your doctor may well refer you to a dermatologist
* Do not lick your lips. Licking your lips makes them feel better, but when the saliva evaporates the pain can increase.
* Combat dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
* Apply glossy lipstick.
* Apply unflavored lip balm.
* Apply petroleum jelly.
* Apply aloe vera.
* Apply Vitamin E ointment.
* Protect your lips from the sun as you would the rest of your skin.
* Use a humidifier in your home or office.
* Rub a cucumber slice on your lips.
* Avoid excessive use of commercial skin treatments including cosmetics and heavily flavored lip balms.
* Consider your diet. Increase the amount of needed vitamins in your diet by eating better or by taking vitamin pills.
[edit] Tips
* If you have flaky skin again, do not rip the skin off. It will cause soreness, and possibly bleeding.
* Do not rub your sore lips with a toothbrush, nail file or anything else of that nature.
* As soon as you get symptoms of sore lips, rub some lip gloss (preferably Lucas' Pawpaw Cream, Vaseline, etc) on to them to keep moisture in. Continue rubbing in the lip gloss whenever you feel like it!
[edit] Warnings
* Always consult a doctor when diagnosing any medical condition, especially if it does not clear up in a reasonable time under home treatment. In the case of lips a dermatologist is probably the most qualified.
* Many chapstick/lip balm products have ingredients in them that make lips feel better, but aggravate the problem. Be sure to check the labels and avoid ingredients that will dry out your lips.
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How to Make Cocoa Lip Balm
Lip balm's job is to keep your lips from getting chapped, but it can also tickle your craving for chocolate (or perhaps someone else's craving for you) if you make your own with cocoa powder.
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[edit] Steps
1. Select a cocoa drink powder of your favorite milkshake flavor.
2.
Place petroleum jelly or Vaseline in to a small bowl. Make sure the bowl is microwaveable!
3.
Place it into a microwave to melt it. This should take only a few minutes, but take it out regularly and stir it until it is smooth and liquid in consistency.
4.
Add the cocoa until smooth, and return it to the microwave for another 20 seconds. The amount of cocoa is up to you.
5.
Pour it into small plastic containers and allow to set. If you have saved small, empty balm containers, use them.
6.
Design something cute to be placed on the top of the containers as a decoration.
7.
Use a sticker maker or glue the design to the containers. Package it and use it or give to your friends.
[edit] Tips
* Pour Cocoa mixture from the top to avoid clumps
* If you're worried about how the cocoa powder will color your lips, put a little bit of cocoa powder on your lips and wet them with water and it'll give you a pretty good idea of whether that tone flatters your complexion. You can also use very little cocoa to begin with and experiment till you find just the right proportion.
* Use a disposable container to melt the Vaseline in, so you can just throw it away afterward.
* Little beer bottle caps as containers could also make cute lip balm containers, if you don't plan on sticking them in your purse.just put a cling wrap to cover it.
* You may need to freeze the balm while it sets.
* If you want to make money, sell them to friends or someone else!
[edit] Warnings
* Be careful when you are taking the melted vaseline out of the microwave, it's HOT!
Disclaimer: Please note that the home remedies are only for minor common symptoms and should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. You should not rely on these for serious disease symptoms. Always consult your Doctor for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. You should also avoid using any of these remedies if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. The writer of this article or fatfreekitchen.com is not responsible in any manner.
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