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The most common cause for dry and chapped lips is dehydration. Extreme heat or cold as well as sudden changes in weather can accelerate dehydration and cause your lips to dry and crack. It is therefore essential that you keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day. A faulty diet, too, could be the root-cause of your problem as nutritional deficiencies often cause cracking, especially at the corners of the mouth. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is essential for healthy membranes and as the body is unable to store this vitamin, it is necessary that you include riboflavin-rich foods in your daily diet. Milk (and dairy products) bananas, green leafy vegetables, meat, eggs and fish are all excellent sources of this vitamin. Vitamin B6 and iron are also essential for problem-free lips. In addition to having a healthy diet, you can also include a multivitamin/mineral supplement to ensure that you receive your daily requirements of these nutrients.
Sebaceous glands within our skin produce sebum which is the body's natural oil (and moisturizer). Unfortunately, the skin on our lips does not contain these glands and so it is important to use a moisturizer to prevent drying and cracking. In addition to this, our lips do not contain melanin which protects our skin from the harmful effects of UV rays and so they are vulnerable to skin burn. Use a lip balm or chapstick that contains a UV filter (of at least 15) to ensure that your lips are always well protected.
Use a homemade natural lip exfoliator to scrub away dead skin and smoothen your lips. Mash half an avocado and add a few drops of virgin coconut oil (or honey) to it. Mix an equal amount of sugar to the paste and use it to gently scrub your lips concentrating on the corners of your mouth. Avocado is rich in fatty acids while virgin coconut oil and honey have antioxidants that fortify your skin and protect it from further damage. Sugar is rough without being abrasive and so this scrub will only remove the rough upper layer of damaged skin without injuring the delicate lower layer. Rinse your lips well and then apply a little almond oil or olive oil to seal in the moisture. Follow this routine regularly and the cracks at the corners of your mouth will disappear completely.
If your lips do not heal within a week or two, consult a dermatologist or your general practitioner as it can indicate a bacterial, yeast or fungal infection.
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