How to Prevent Chapped Lips

Having chapped lips is not only embarrassing but it hurts! They peel and crack, causing us to continuously lick them or pull at the skin making them raw. Ouch!

Having sensitive lips does not have to be so painful. There are ways to moisturize them and keep them "kissable."

Below are ways to protect your lips from being chapped. Using just one of the suggestions will definitely put you on the right track to non-chapped lips:

Do not lick or bite your lips. A big no-no. Licking only make matters worse. Licking and biting will dry your lips and rob moisture from the skin, causing dryness.

Use a humidifier in your home. Using a humidifier will put moisture in dry air. Dry air is a major cause of chapped lips. A humidifier will not only help your lips but your skin overall.

Use lip balm. Using lip balm will seal in moisture with a protective barrier. Lip balm must be used frequently to work, so choose one that you like.

Use petroleum jelly. If your lips tend to become severely chapped, using petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, will build an impenetrable barrier. Note: Petroleum jelly tends to be very greasy, so a little goes a long way.

Minimum exposure to the sun. The lips do not contain melanin that helps protect skin from ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet rays can harm your lips just like other parts of the body. Lips are a common site for skin cancer. Make sure to use a lip balm containing a sunscreen that has an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher if out in the sun.

Minimum exposure to the wind. Wind will dry lips causing you to lick your lips. When it is windy, wear extra lip balm and keep it handy.

Wear lipstick. Ladies only, of course. Lipstick effectively protect against the sun's ultraviolet rays. There are moisturizing lipsticks and ones that include sunscreen as well.

Allergic to your toothpaste or mouthwash? Seriously. People can be allergic. If you have rough, red skin on your lips, this may be the problem. Test this out by switching brands for a few days.

Watch what you eat. Certain foods can irritate sensitive skin. You may have to indulge sparingly on alcoholic beverages, acidic beverages and spicy foods and condiments.

Maintaining healthy lips is also helpful in preventing cold sores and bacterial infections. Not only will you have "kissable" lips, your health will be better as well.