Cold weather conditions dry up our skin – including our lips – and they can often become sore throughout winter.
A skin care expert shared six ways to prevent this from happening this year, including some DIY hacks.
Speaking of the concern, founder of Sphagnum De-Lux Lisa Kavanagh said: “Sore, dry lips are a very common problem as we head into the colder months of the year, with the skin flaring up and often becoming flaky.
“While it can take time for lips to heal after being affected by the sudden change in temperature, making changes to diet and skin care routine can help relieve the symptoms.
Homemade remedies can ease the symptoms of dry lips
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“The best way to keep lips protected is to moisturise daily so they remain hydrated and to use items such as cucumber and honey to reduce the soreness.
“It’s also important to top up on vitamin B, especially B2 and to gently exfoliate to remove any excess flaky skin.”
Staying hydrated, keeping your lips well moisturised and using at-home fixes such as cucumber slices can all help ease the symptoms of this.
Getting the right vitamins into your diet and exfoliating your lips can also help.
How to soothe cracked lips
Daily moisturising
The expert said: “Keeping lips hydrated will help prevent them from cracking to reduce soreness caused by the bitter cold.”
Cucumber slices
“When lips are most irritable, place cucumber slices on top of the soreness for instant relief. Leave them on for a minute or two but only use them as a short-fix solution.”
Use honey-infused products
“Honey contains natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which will help reduce the painfulness of sore lips. It’ll also help protect the lips from further damage in bitter cold conditions.”
Staying hydrated will also help your lips
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Stay hydrated
The experts advised: “The mix of cold outdoor air with heated air indoors can result in a low-humidity environment which can strip moisture from the lips. Drinking plenty of water will help relieve symptoms to prevent lips from becoming dry and flaky.”
Keep on top of vitamin B
“Make sure to uptake more vitamin B to keep lips hydrated and reduce both redness and soreness. B2 is most effective and can be found in leafy greens, eggs and mushrooms.”
Gently exfoliate
They concluded: “Use a damp facial cloth to wipe away any excess skin and flakiness to allow sore lips to heal naturally. Make sure to only scrub lightly otherwise it can irritate the skin and worsen the symptoms.”
