Herbal Remedies for Chapped Lips

We have all experienced occasional chapped lips, but for those who experience this condition year-round, the pain and irritation can be frustrating.  Medically known as “cheilitis,” chapped lips can have several causes, including dehydration and excessive exposure to elements such as wind, sun, cold or dry air.  While most cases of chapped, dry lips are results of environmental factors, in some cases, they may be an indication of an underlying medical or nutritional problem.  There are several ways to prevent dry lips from escalating into a bigger health issue.

Dehydration
Chapped lips are often a sign that there is not enough water in the body for proper hydration.  The number one cause for dry lips is dehydration, therefore, it is important to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day and avoid dehydrating fluids like caffeine and alcohol.  Also try to avoid licking your lips, since saliva dries quickly and leaves your lips even more dry.  In addition to keeping your body healthy, water keeps your lips looking moist and attractive.

Avoid extreme weather exposure
Just like our skin, our lips are exposed to external factors 24/7, but unlike our skin, our lips lack the melanin that protects the skin from sun exposure.  We moisturize our face daily to protect against dry air, put on sun block to protect your skin against harmful UV rays, but we often forget about protecting our lips against the very same elements.  Wear a lip balm that contains SPF protection and apply it several times a day when in the sun or exposed to extreme temperatures.  Use a humidifier when indoors to help get rid of dry air inside your house or room.

Use the right products
Fight the urge to hide dry, flaky lips under thick layers lip gloss, since some ingredients in these products can contribute to the problem.  Instead, choose a moisturizing lipstick that contains Vitamin E, shea butter, or macadamia nut oil, and avoid matte, ‘last-all-day’ products since they can be very drying.

Exfoliate
Buff away the dead skin on your lips with a lip exfoliator and soft toothbrush or warm washcloth.  Then, use a moisturizing lip product or simply apply honey to your lips and wash away after five minutes.  Honey is an excellent moisturizer and a common ingredient in most natural skin care products.  Exfoliate your lips at least once a week.

Herbal remedies
There are several herbal alternatives to help treat dry, chapped lips without exposing them to harsh chemicals.  Aloe vera gel has been a great remedy for inflammations, and drinking Aloe vera juice can help relief pain associated with dry lips.  Applying a zinc oxide treatment before bed can also help heal and lubricate lips.

A healthy diet
Chronic chapped lips can be a sign of vitamin deficiency, specifically Vitamin B.   Foods such as cauliflower, wholegrain cereal, and soy bean are great sources of this vitamin, and can help fight dry lips from the inside out.

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

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The Skin is Your Largest Organ

It is a beautiful and complex wonder, each square inch of our skin contains about 65 hair follicles, 100 sebaceous (oil) glands, 78 yards of nerves, 20 yards of blood vessels, 650 sweat glands, 9.5 million cells, 1,300 nerve endings, 19,500 sensory cells at the ends of nerve fibers, 80 cold detection nerve endings and 165 pressure sensors. This amazing organ, keeps our entire body safe from the environment while providing a way for us to detect pain, pressure, heat and cold. It allows us to sweat to help cool ourselves when we are overheating. Our skin darkens if exposed to sunlight to help protect us against cancerous rays.

We must realize that just like the lungs, our skin is a living, breathing organ. Aided by the circulatory system, it takes in oxygen and expels waste and toxins, performing up to 3 % of oxygenation to the body. This organ also functions as kidneys do in eliminating about 2 pints of water and salts each day.

Through the ages, people have searched for ways to have beautiful skin. Having healthy and fresh skin is possible at any age, providing you take the correct approach. The question that we need to answer is; when is skin beautiful? The answer; when skin is moist, vibrant, free of blemishes and toxins. Healthy skin has tight pores and exhibits a refined texture. Skin health is a very important ingredient in our self-image and how the world sees us. One could say our skin is an indication of our overall well-being, both physically and emotionally.

In order to have healthy, happy and beautiful skin, it is important to keep it clean so it can breathe, provide it with proper nutrients to allow rejuvenation, and give it plenty of moisture. It is also extremely important to protect against environmental damage like excessive sun exposure. At Vivoderm, we place great importance on cleaning your skin without stripping away its natural protective layer and without using harsh chemicals that can cause premature aging. Our goal is to respect the skin and not torture it with toxic products that shock and destroy skin cells. Our anti-aging and cleansing products are designed to gently remove dead cells and enhance delivery of nutrients to skin, naturally, so that new fresh cells can emerge in their natural and intended fashion.

There are three main layers to our skin:

Epidermis

The top layer, the epidermis, is the outer layer that we see. This layer’s job is to provide the ‘barrier’ between your body and the outside world. The very outer layer of the epidermis is formed by a layer of dead skin cells which fall off and allow newer, living skin cells to be exposed to air. This cycle is continuous throughout life. Most beauty products affect the epidural layer. When young, this layer replaces itself every 16 days or so, giving you fresh, healthy looking skin. By the time you hit 35, the layer is only replacing itself about once a month so our skin may begin to look more tired and worn.

Dermis

The next layer down is the dermis. This layer has blood vessels, which provide nutrients and oxygen to the epidermis. It also provides some of the ‘padding’ in your skin. This is where the elastin and collagen live, forming the structure of your skin. Elasticity and firmness are provided by the dermal layer. Sun exposure and tanning often destroy the elasticity of your skin at this level, causing sagging and wrinkles.

Subcutaneous tissue

The lower layer of your skin is the subcutaneous tissue. The sweat glands, hair follicles, and main blood vessels of your skin reside in this layer. Bulbous follicles originate from this layer and can be seen when you tweeze or pluck your hair. Each layer of skin has a separate life cycle. While the top epidermal layer exfoliates regularly, the dermis is a much more permanent layer. Permanent skin tattoos result from injecting ink into the dermal layer. As a result, the epidermal layer constantly renews, but the tattoo remains for a lifetime.