Kiss those chapped lips goodbye.
Dr. Mark Strom, a New York dermatologist, says his super simple three-step method is the key to banishing chapped lips for good, even as the dry, cold winter months descend upon us.
Our lips can dry out so easily that the skin on the rest of our body and the lack of sebaceous glands are partly to blame. Sebaceous glands produce sebum, and while that sebum can be responsible for annoying things like acne, blackheads, and oily hair, it’s also what keeps our skin hydrated.
But unlike the rest of our skin and even our scalp, our lips don’t have these glands, making them more susceptible to dryness.
The skin on the lips is also thinner and lacks keratin, making it not as good at retaining water.
And to make matters worse, people are also prone to licking their lips for a quick fix, but saliva has enzymes that ultimately make our skin feel drier.
In winter, when the air is cold and dry, it’s no surprise that our mushrooms have something to actually produce.
“In dry, cold weather, the moisture inside our skin cells is essentially absorbed out into the environment,” Dr. Self told Self. Martiza Perez, another dermatologist.
But if you think reaching for your favorite lip balm is the easy answer, you may need to reconsider.
Step number one of Dr. Strom (@dermarkologist) is to throw away your Chapstick entirely. That’s because some lip balm ingredients are just making the problem worse.
“Lip balms that contain ingredients like phenol, menthol and salicylic acid actually make your lips drier. So you apply more and it becomes a vicious circle,” said dermatology Dr. Melissa Piliang at the Cleveland Clinic.
Some artificial colors, fragrances and flavors also “dry out the skin and can leave it feeling more chapped, so less is better,” she added.
Menthol is only one ingredient in Chapstick brand lip balm, while the trio is present in various combinations in many other popular lip balm brands.
The second step of Dr. Strom may come as a surprise — though women with multi-step skincare routines may already have what they need.
He advises applying a drop of hyaluronic acid to the lips and letting it dry. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which means it helps the skin retain water. It’s often used in anti-aging products because dry skin ages faster, so following this tip can help you keep your lips looking youthful for longer.
Finally, Dr. Strom advises coating your lips with a thick layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline. Vaseline is occlusive, meaning it forms a barrier to trap moisture.
Other docs also recommend it, and point out that you should really use it.
“I tell patients to layer it on their lips at night like cream cheese on a bagel,” NYC dermatologist Dr. Dr. Reshmi Kapoor.
#dermatologists #steps #rid #chapped #lips
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