How to Heal Dry, Cracked Lips in the Winter

As soon as the air became drier this winter, I started to get dry and cracked lips. Have you ever had cracked lips in the corner of your mouth? It's not fun to wake up every morning to skin that cracks when you first open your mouth. It is painful, as well as annoying. Before this winter, I had never experienced more than chapped lips, and it didn't even help to apply lots of moisturizing balm and drink tons of water. Here are some of the remedies I used to heal my dry, cracked lips.

Cracked Lips Tip #1: Run a humidifier overnight.

Dry air is the Number One cause of cracked lips in the winter. Your skin needs moisture to keep its elasticity. When it loses this moisture, the skin becomes dried out and can start to crack. When nothing else helped, I decided to run a humidifier in my bedroom overnight. The very next morning, my lips had already begun to heal; after a week of running the humidifier, they were completely healed.

Cracked Lips Tip #2: Exfoliate the dead skin.

To remove the dry skin on your lips, you will have to slough it off with something rough. You can either use a washcloth, a toothbrush, or a commercial lip exfoliate. Wet your lips, as well as the washcloth or toothbrush, and gently remove the dead skin. Then pat your lips dry and moisturize with a lip balm.

Cracked Lips Tip #3: Use plenty of lip balm with sunscreen.

Even during the winter, you need to use sunscreen--especially on your lips. Since the skin on your lips is so thin, the harsh winter elements and the sun's rays can cause plenty of damage. Each time you venture outdoors, you should apply a layer of lip balm with sunscreen. I like to apply lip balm before bedtime, too, to lock in the moisture overnight.

Cracked Lips Tip #4: Drink lots of water.

Water is a necessary element in fighting chapped lips. You need to maintain hydration, even during the winter--especially if you are dealing with dry skin and lips. I can tell when I am dehydrated, because my lips begin to feel more chapped than usual. I like to keep a bottle of water at my desk so I can sip it as I work. Stay away from the soda and coffee, though, since caffeine can be dehydrating.

Cracked Lips Tip #5: Stop licking your lips.

The moisture from your tongue will hydrate your lips for a few seconds, but it will only dry them more in the long run. Once you start to lick them, you will have to keep on doing it to keep your lips from getting dried out. Stop licking your lips and apply a moisturizing balm instead--try one in a distasteful flavor, to keep your tongue away from your lips.

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