We have compiled a comprehensive list of tips and tricks to take care of your lips from different reputed medical magazines and medical news publishers online.
Understanding Your Lips
The outer layer of your skin is called the epidermis, and it has a protective covering called the stratum corneum. Underneath your epidermis is another layer of skin, the dermis. Like the rest of your skin, your lips have all three of these layers -- the difference is that the stratum corneum on your lips is far thinner than it is anywhere else on your body. Your lips also don't have any sebaceous glands -- these glands keep your skin moisturized, but your lips are on their own. Their only source of moisture is your saliva, and that's why they can easily become dry and chapped
YOUR LIPS DON’T SWEAT AND DON’T SECRETE PROTECTIVE OIL.
Why? Because they don’t contain any sweat or sebaceous glands. These are responsible for producing the hydrolipidic film, which protects the skin and keeps it hydrated. It’s therefore unsurprising that your lips are more vulnerable to external aggressions (wind, cold, sun, etc.) and tend to dry more quickly than other areas on your body. Additionally, your lips only produce a small quantity of melanin, making them more sensitive to UV rays.
Melanin is the pigment that makes you tan when you're exposed to the sun. Melanin is your body's natural way of protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays, and because your lips don't have a lot of melanin, they're at a higher risk of getting sunburned. Because your lips can't protect themselves from sun damage, it's important to use a lip balm that contains sunscreen -- your lips can develop sunspots and skin cancer just like the rest of your skin.
How to take care of your lips?
The 2 Golden Routines
1. Use a Lip Scrub
Using lip scrubs gently and in circular motion not only helps you get rid of the dead skin on your lips but it definitely helps in removing tan along with increasing blood circulation. Lip scrubs are best to make your skin smooth and healthy. Lip Scrubbing does not have to be vigorous, it is always gentle and with fine granular scrubs.
2. Use a Lip Balm
Lip skin has no oil glands or pores and is extremely thin and sensitive. Using a good lip balm would help to keep your lips moisturised, protected and cared for.
Dry Lips or Chapped Lips
The first thing on the plan of action would be to follow golden routines 1 & 2.
How to prevent it?
- Don’t lick your lips. Licking may seem like a good way to moisten your lips when they’re dry, but saliva evaporates quickly. Licking your lips will cause them to dry out even more after the saliva evaporates.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep your lips and the rest of your body hydrated.
- Avoid lip products that contain irritants.
- Protect your lips. Cold weather, heat, wind, and sun all contribute to chapped lips. Protect your lips with a moisturizing lip cream or balm that contains sunscreen before heading outdoors.
- Breathe through your nose. Mouth breathing can cause dry mouth and lips. Focus on breathing through your nose, and speak to your doctor about sinus and allergy medication if you’re often congested.
- Quit smoking
To soothe and moisturize chapped lips, apply the following directly to the lips:
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Coconut oil - Unlike most of the skin on your body, your lips have poor barrier function. This means they’re more sensitive to the elements, like the wind, heat, and cold, than the skin on other parts of your body. Coconut oil is an emollient that not only moisturizes the skin, but according to a
recent study trusted Source , it can also protect the skin by enhancing its barrier function. Other benefits of coconut oil, especially with regard to chapped lips, are its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Apply coconut oil to chapped lips as needed throughout the day. Use a cotton swab or a clean finger to dab the oil onto your lips. You can find pure, organic coconut oil online and in most grocery and health stores.
- Aloe vera - Aloe vera has a number of uses and is best known as a home remedy for sunburns. Its anti-inflammatory properties and soothing effect make it a great choice for treating chapped lips, too. You can buy organic aloe vera in a gel form, or you can use fresh aloe vera from the leaf of an aloe plant. To do this, cut a leaf off the plant and slice it open to scoop out the gel. Store it in a container, and apply the gel to your lips with your fingers as needed. The enzymes in aloe vera have mild exfoliating properties, so you’ll want to limit your use of aloe vera to just two or three times per day.
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Honey - There are numerous
studies on the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties of honey. It’s been used for centuries as a home remedy for skincare and a number of health conditions. Honey can help moisturize your lips and protect cracked lips from infection. It also works as a mild exfoliator and can help remove dry, dead skin from your lips. Choose organic honey, and apply to your lips throughout the day using your fingers or a cotton swab. While honey is typically safe, people with pollen and bee venom allergies should avoid honey and honey products.
- Avocado butter - According to a review of studies, avocado butter works well as an emollient and thickener in lip balms. It isn’t greasy and is well-absorbed by the skin. It also contains several fatty acids and antioxidants known to benefit the skin, including oleic and linoleic acid. You can buy organic avocado butter or make your own at home using organic avocados in your food processor. To use on chapped lips, apply as needed with your fingers or a cotton swab.
- Petroleum jelly - The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using white petroleum jelly throughout the day and before bed to moisturize and soothe dry, cracked lips. Petroleum jelly seals in water longer than oils and waxes. It’s also inexpensive and easy to find online and in drugstores. If you have sunburned lips, you’ll want to find another option, though. According to the AAD, petroleum seals in the heat from burns.
- Cucumber: It can gently moisturize the lips and may contain vitamins and minerals that could improve the lips’ appearance.
- Green tea: Rich in antioxidants and minerals, green tea also contains polyphenols, which reduce inflammation. Soak a bag of green tea in warm water and gently rub it over the lips to soften and remove excess dry skin. This technique is more gentle than traditional exfoliation.
Pigmented Lips
Causes for Pigmented Lips:
- Excessive Smoking
- Excessive exposure to the sun
- Allergic Reactions
- Caffeine Addiction
- Dehydration
- Inefficient makeup removal techniques
- Lip Licking or Lip sucking
Home Remedies:
Dark lips can be easily treated to some extent at home by some simple and effective methods that are neither costly nor time taking. You just need to follow them religiously to get desired results.
- Lemon – Using Lemon juice every night before sleep will help lighten the colour of your lips, the bleaching quality of lemon will help you reduce the darkness and using this remedy for months will get you desired results.
- Lemon and Sugar – Using lemon slices sprinkled with sugar for scrubbing the rough and dull skin every night before sleep will also give you desired results. The best way is to scrub gently in circular motions and wash off with warm water, the second step will be moisturizing with olive oil or Vaseline for better hydrated and pink lips.
- Lime - Lime is another citrus fruit that may have anti-melanin production properties. In a small bowl, mix together:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of glycerin
- Beetroot – Beetroot is readily available everywhere, so applying beetroot juice night time on lips will not only help you remove the darkness of your lips but also will help you absorb some red colour of beetroot and make your lips look pinker and healthier. Try this with carrot juice too.
- Olive oil – Virgin Olive oil is a great moisturiser and has all the goodness of essential nutrients that help your kin be healthy. If you use olive oil massage on lips every day you will see how vibrant and pink your lips go!
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Turmeric - According to a 2010 study, turmeric may act as a melanin inhibitor. In a small bowl, mix together:
- 1 tablespoon milk
- enough turmeric powder to make a paste
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Aloe - An
older study suggests a compound in aloe vera inhibits melanin production. Once each day, apply a thin layer of fresh aloe vera gel onto your lips. Once it’s dried, rinse it off with warm water.
- Pomegranate - A 2005 study found that pomegranate extract may lighten skin hyperpigmentation. To make this remedy, mix the following into a paste:
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds
- 1 teaspoon rose water
- 1 tablespoon fresh dairy cream
General Lip Care Tips:
- Avoid licking your lips.
- Don't pick at your lips
- Use lip balms and keep your lips moisturized
- Keep a check on the medications you pop into your body.
- Drink loads of water
- Eat fresh and colourful vegetables
Lipstick Removal
Any good oil will swipe the lipstick right off!
P.S. Keep your lips hydrated when you're not wearing liquid lipstick. A great moisturiser for your lips would be a great addition to your nighttime routine!