Part 1 of 3: Healing Chapped Lips
Pick a method (or more than one) to help existing chapped lips. This section provides several methods for you to try to heal your chapped lips; after doing this, you can follow the advice in the later sections for preventing chapped lips in future.
All these methods recommend that you try them before you go to sleep; this way, your lips will have time to heal during the night when they're not in full use! If you find that one method doesn't work, try another.
Before starting any of these methods, first remove any loose, dead skin. However, be careful not to pull at it roughly, or you will inflame your lips and make them worse!
Washcloth Method
Run a soft washcloth under some warm water. If the washcloth is too hot, it will burn your lips and face which will irritate the lips further. The washcloth should be completely wet. Squeeze out the excess water.
Gently, but firmly rub the washcloth over your lips. Be careful not to rub them for too long.
Toothbrush Method
Get a soft bristled toothbrush. You will be using it to exfoliate your lips. If you wish, apply chapstick to your lips before rubbing them with the toothbrush. To rub your lips properly:
Start gently rubbing at the corners of your lips.
Slowly work your way to the middle of your lips.
Afterwards, apply Vaseline or petroleum-free product. Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly after using it. Repeat this method every 5-7 days.
●Sugar Method
Mix 1 teaspoon of olive (or vegetable) oil, and a small spoon of brown sugar together until it makes a pasty texture.
Take your concoction. Apply it to your lips, scrubbing off as many flakes as possible. Then, rinse off your lips with water.
●Olive Oil method
Dab some olive oil onto a cloth or paper towel.
Use the cloth to lightly blot the oil onto your lips.
Repeat a couple of times. Reapply as needed.
Part 2 of 3: Following Up with Lip Care
Pat - don't rub - your lips dry. Make sure your lips are completely dry.
Apply a coat of lip balm to your lips. Don't forget to cover the corners of your mouth, which can become painfully chapped. A few examples of good lip balms are Nivea, Soft Lips, and Chap Stick. You can also go natural with Burt's Bees, EOS, Dr. Bronner’s Organics, etc. You can also use Vaseline or petroleum-free alternative.
Sleep with the lip balm on your lips overnight. This way, the lip balm can work on your lips without interruption. You should wake up with chapped-free lips!
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Future Chapped Lips
Keep applying the lip balm throughout the day to keep your lips from getting chapped again. Don't forget to drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated. Refrain from licking your lips; it dries them out and causes more chapping. If this process does not work in one night (which may occur for some people), then repeat this process or try another method.
Drink plenty of water every day. Scientists recommend that you have eight glasses of water a day. People's lips tend to dry out because of the lack of water; in other words, you are dehydrating yourself.
Increase the amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet to a suitable amount. Your body may be in an acidic state, which can cause chapped lips. Eating fruits and vegetables will restore your body's pH to a proper alkaline state. Be very careful when it comes to changing your diet - if you take in too many nutrients, it can hurt your body!
