How to Treat Chapped and Dry Lips The Natural Way
Rough, dry and flaking chapped lips are common and believe it or not, natural. The reason your lips get chapped is because your lips are covered with epithelial tissue, and this is the same mucous membrane that lines your entire digestive tract. Unlike your digestive tract, your lips are exposed to hot sun some days and on other days cold dry air. Naturally, they will get a little chapped because of this.
The problem comes in when your lips are almost always chapped and dry, but usually this is caused by elements inside your body.
A deficiency of fatty acids could be one cause of chapped lips, as your body needs fatty acids to absorb calcium and magnesium. Calcium holds all your skin cells together, so it is vital for the health of your lips. Magnesium needs to be taken with the calcium to help your body to absorb the calcium better. Supplements of these minerals should be taken on a daily basis, as well as a tablespoon of flaxseed oil once a day. You can down it straight or use it in your salad, just don’t heat it.
If you use lip balms, try not to use ones with phenol and camphor in them. These are very strong antiseptic chemicals and have no place on your lips. Instead try balms with cocoa butter in them which is not toxic for your system and is rich in emollients and moisturizers that can protect and soothe dry lips. Cocoa butter will also help to soften and rehydrate your lips.
For another natural and soothing lip balm try using some aromatherapy. Get 2 ounces of unscented cream at any pharmacy and add any of the healing essential oils to it. 30 drops of lavender oil will help to reduce inflammation and redness and 16 drops of sandalwood will help to moisturize your lips.
Dry and chapped lips can also be caused from not drinking enough water. Even if you think you are drinking enough, if your lips are really dry try adding an extra glass each day. Sipping hot water or decaffeinated tea will gently dilate your circulatory system so that the moisture can reach the tissues.
It is always a good thing to take a multivitamin or mineral supplement, as this is like having insurance on your health. Our diets nowadays are so over loaded with processed foods, that is difficult to get enough natural and healthy foods into our diets. Even though you may have a small symptom like chapped lips, your body could be trying to tell you something else.
The Author:
Michel Maling enjoys blogging and writing. For more health tips, visit: http://profitonlinefromhome.com
Photo. Silviarita
