Cause Of Dry and Chapped Lips

Even though chapped and dry lips are common and harmless, you should protect them through hydration. Herein is what you need to know about the causes of dry and chapped lips: symptoms of chapped and dry lips, causes of chapped lips, treatment of chapped lips, how CBD lip balm works, and the benefits of CBD lip balm.

Most individuals experience dry and chapped lips mostly during winter. Chapped lips are always irritating, and they peel off occasionally. They are mostly caused by inflammation and the interference of the outer skin. Furthermore, they may be flaky and are usually painful and uncomfortable, especially when they bleed. Chapped lips are also referred to as cheilitis, and their main cause is due to cold, dry, and windy weather. Though they are harmless, you should always protect and hydrate them with the right remedies. After trying various remedies, you should see your dermatologist if your lips are still cracked and dry.

Overview

Chapped lips are the term that mostly describes dry lips. They are caused by various factors, including but not limited to:

• Weather conditions such as cold or dry weather.
• Licking lips excessively.
• Specific medications.

Most people experience chapped lips, which is normal. However, when it becomes severe, it is known as cheilitis. Cheilitis is caused by infections and is normally characterized by cracked skin on the lips. Fortunately, there are various ways to treat dry and chapped lips.

Symptoms Of Chapped and Dry Lips

• Bleeding
• Cracks
• Sores
• Scales
• Flaking
• Dryness
• Itching
• Mild pain

Causes Of Chapped Lips

Unlike other parts of your skin that have oil glands, your lips are exceptional; hence, they are more susceptible to dryness and cracks. Furthermore, dehydrated lips worsen the condition of your lips since they are more susceptible to harmful bacteria that may affect your lips.

Below are other causes of chapped and dry lips:

Weather

According to Davis & Sumari (2022), chapped and dry lips are mostly caused by weather conditions, such as dry and cold weather, which lead to irritation. Frequent sun exposure may lead to sunburns which cause dry and chapped lips.

Frequently Licking Your Lips

Hitz et al. (2014) noted that frequently licking your lips also leads to dry and chapped lips since saliva strips the lips of its moisture leading to excessive dryness.

Allergic Contact

Allergic contact is another main cause of dry and chapped lips. When you are frequently exposed to external contact that causes an allergic reaction, it leads to skin irritation.

Health Conditions

Kadu et al. (2015) stated that chapped and dry lips could also be due to underlying health conditions such as thyroid diseases, lack of vitamins, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Low thyroid hormones lead to mouth and lips dryness. Also, a lack of vitamin B and low zinc and iron levels causes chapped lips. Another rare case of chapped lips is Chron's disease, which affects the entire gastrointestinal system, from the lips to the anus. So, if you are simultaneously experiencing cracked lips and belly pain, it may be due to the named disease.

Cheilitis

Cheilitis is characterized by inflammation of the mouth corners. It is normally caused by cold weather, saliva irritation, and yeast overgrowth. Mostly, it is treated with anti-yeast medication, skin protectants, and anti-inflammatories.

Chronic chapped lips are known as actinic cheilitis. It is normally caused by excess sun damage. Furthermore, it is a precancerous condition that affects your lower lip, normally exposed to the sun and hence normally dehydrated, leading to dry lips.

When you have cheilitis, your lips may experience:

• Ulcers
• Inflammation
• A lumpy texture
• White plaques

Treatment Of Chapped Lips

Chapped and dry lips can be treated at home. To avoid chapped lips, you should ensure your lips are always hydrated. You can accomplish that by:

• Drinking water
• Using a humidifier
• Frequently applying lip balm
• Avoiding cold weather

 CBD Lip Balm and Chapped and Dry Lips?

A CBD lip balm is a lip balm infused with CBD oil. It contains moisturizing and hydrating properties, which may treat chapped and dry lips. Furthermore, CBD lip balm is one of the many forms of CBD.

CBD is a cannabinoid extracted from the hemp plant. Due to its various benefits, its popularity is growing. Some benefits of CBD include; pain relief, improving skin conditions, alleviating anxiety and stress, and reducing inflammation. It exists in various forms such as; CBD-infused; oils, lip balms, salves, lotions, face masks, and edibles such as gummies, capsules, and tinctures.

Benefits Of CBD Lip Balm to The Lips

CBD lip balm moisturizes, nourishes, and soothes dry and chapped lips. CBD interacts with the ECS (endocannabinoid system), which is key in various body functions such as pain control, immune response, sleep, and emotional response. Furthermore, the ECS helps restore homeostasis (balance) to the body.

Some of the ways CBD lip balm can heal dry and chapped lips are:

Reducing Inflammation and Irritation

As mentioned, chapped lips cause inflammation and irritation. Since CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, it reduces inflammation and irritation levels on the lips since it interacts with the ECS, leaving your lips softer and healthier.

Anti-Bacterial Protection

CBD lip balms also contain anti-bacterial properties. Applying CBD lip balms ensures your lips are protected against bacteria or infection. It is most important to apply CBD lip balm on chapped lips since they mostly have sores, making them prone to various infections hence protecting them.

Deep Hydration

Another major cause of dry and chapped lips is dehydration. Wang et al.(2021) noted that CBD contains moisturizing and hydrating properties and has other ingredients like beeswax that lock in the moisture for a long time, giving the lip more time to heal.

Conclusion

Dry and chapped lips are considered normal since the lips are exposed to various environmental pollutants. However, you must take good care of your lips by regularly hydrating. Chapped lips make you uncomfortable, and they may be painful sometimes due to the development of sores caused by harmful bacteria. Luckily, you can treat your lips using simple remedies such as; drinking plenty of water, using CBD lip balm, and keeping them regularly hydrated. CBD lip balm is advantageous because it contains several properties like moisturizing, hydrating, and inflammatory properties, which help chapped lips. Some causes of dry lips are cold and dry weather, certain medications, allergic contact, and cheilitis.

References

Davis, S. (2022). Caring for your skin when winter weather hits. South African Pharmacist's Assistant, 22(2), 18-19.

Hitz Lindenmüller, I., Itin, P. H., & Fistarol, S. K. (2014). Dermatology of the lips: Inflammatory diseases. Quintessence International, 45(10).

Kadu, M., Vishwasrao, S., & Singh, S. (2015). Review on natural lip balm. International Journal of Research in Cosmetic Science, 5(1), 1-7.

Wang, J. V., Shah, S., Albornoz, C. A., & Saedi, N. (2021). Consumer interest in topical cannabidiol: An examination of online search trends from 2015 to 2019. Clinics in Dermatology, 39(6), 1014-1017.