LIP CARE

A beautiful smile lights up a day. It makes your face more beautiful and lively. Your lips are the most important and exquisitely sensitive part of your body. And therefore you have to take special care of your lips. Soft and smooth lips figure among the foremost indicators of physical beauty. The skin on lips lack oil glands; hence they tend to get dry and cracked easily. You have to take special care of your lips to maintain its requisite moisture level. Your lips need special attention during winter.

We all more or less suffer from dry and chapped lips, especially during the winter months. Your lips are very sensitive to sun, dry indoor climate, wind and cold weather. Since our lips don't produce fat, they get dry and chapped. That's why you should apply fat during the day. Chapped lips can be a sign of fever or bronchitis, but may also be caused by lack of fluid. You should drink enough water during the day, up to two liters per day. Coffee is dehydrating, so don't count the coffee into the two liters.

Lips are one of the most exposed areas of our skin. Lips have an extremely thin outer layer and few oil-producing glands, which can lead to excessive dryness. They also contain very little melanin and, without protection, can quickly become burnt. The sun can also impact the collagen in your lips. Collagen is a protein that prevents wrinkle development around the lips. Constant exposure to the sun can lead to undesirable and premature aging. And remember, the sun can be just as harmful during the winter months as it is during the summer months. The most important step you can take to achieving the healthiest lips ever is to protect them from the sun. The best protection against sun damage is a water resistant lip balm that keeps lips moist and has an SPF of 15 percent or higher. Extreme weather can also lead to chapped and flaking lips.

CAUSES OF CHAPPED OR CRACKED LIPS
The main causes for chapped lips are

Lip licking - This is a habit that can lead to chapping of lips on account of the loss of natural oils. The chemicals in saliva work on the sensitive skin on the lips and causes them to chap.

Smoking - The natural oil from the lips is lost due to smoking

Dry weather - Living in a dry place can make your skin parched and craving for hydration. It is essential to get enough water to keep your skin and lips adequately hydrated.

Outdoors - The sun and wind also have a drying effect on your skin and lips. Sunburn can also cause chapping.

Vitamin deficiencies - Deficiency of riboflavin or other Vitamin B group or iron can lead to chapped lips.

Other causes - Allergic reaction to cosmetics such as lipstick or lip gloss. Ill-fitting dentures and lip biting can lead to chapping of lips. A diet lacking in essential fatty acids can also lead to chapped and dry lips.

TIPS FOR LIP CARE
Taking care of lips is a two-fold process - hydrating them and sealing the moisture in. Hydration of lips can be undertaken by using lip balms and skin moisturizers containing Vitamin E or aloe Vera. Avoid licking your lips to avoid dehydration of lips. Drink plenty of water in dry weather to keep the body and skin adequately hydrated. Lips do not produce oil like our skin, because they have no oil producing glands. The skin on our lips is actually mucous membrane, so for them to remain smooth and chap free is a bit of a challenge. The most common cause of cracked lips are allergic reaction to cosmetics, skin infections, extreme weather conditions like excess sun and wind exposure, biting of the lips or a vitamin B deficiency. The tips listed below are to aid you in keeping your lips soft and smooth. Following these tips would also help prevent cracking and chapping of lips.

• Avoid over exposure to sun and use a lip balm containing sun-block when going outside.
• Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking lots of water.
• Avoid frequent lip licking.
• Protect the lips from weather by applying heavy plain cream.
• Take vitamin B, C foods in diet.
• Always apply a natural lip balm to protect your lips.
• Avoid smoking.

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