(NEXSTAR) — Cold weather can leave you with dry skin and, potentially even worse, dry, cracked, chapped lips. While there are any number of balms or lip protectants on the market, only some may actually be providing you relief.
Chapped lips, more scientifically known as cheilitis, can be caused by various conditions: frequent sun exposure, an infection, an allergic reaction, a reaction to a medication, and eczema are among them, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In winter, it’s the cold, dry air that can bother your lips. There are no oil glands in our lips, making the skin thinner and more sensitive than other areas of our bodies. This makes them more vulnerable to the elements.
While lip balms are not the only treatment (more on that in a moment), it can be hard to resist the soothing feeling both quickly provide.
Some ingredients may, however, make your dry and cracking lips worse.
First and foremost, if your lips burn, sting or tingle after you’ve applied a product to your lips, you should stop using it, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. That is not a sign that the product is working — instead, your lips are being irritated.
There are multiple ingredients that may irritate your lips and should be avoided, the AAD says:
- Camphor
- Eucalyptus
- Cinnamon, citrus, mint, and peppermint flavors
- Fragrance
- Lanolin
- Menthol
- Octinoxate or oxybenzone
- Phenol or phenyl
- Propyl gallate
- Salicylic acid
Instead, Dr. Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist for the Cleveland Clinic, explained in a blog post that it’s better to pick a simple lip balm that is petroleum-based and has an SPF of at least 30.
In addition to white petroleum jelly, the AAD says the following ingredients can be beneficial for your chapped lips:
- Castor seed oil
- Ceramides
- Dimethicone
- Hemp seed oil
- Mineral oil
- Petrolatum
- Shea butter
- Titanium oxide or zinc oxide (also found in sunscreens)
If you’re looking for relief outside of lip balms, the American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends keeping yourself and your space hydrated — for the latter, you’ll want to use a humidifier. You’ll also want to avoid licking, biting, and picking at your lips, which can put your lips in a worse condition.
Should the aforementioned advice be ineffective in healing your lips, experts recommend speaking with a dermatologist to determine if there is another potential cause.
