According to experts at Yale University (USA), the habit of licking lips frequently will have many effects on lip health, especially for women.
Dry and chapped lips
When you lick your lips frequently, the saliva on your lips evaporates quickly, causing the natural moisture of your lips to be lost. As a result, your lips become dry and chapped . The reason is because saliva contains enzymes and salts, which when evaporated, will dry out your lips quickly.
Dry lips are not only uncomfortable, but they can also leave your lips vulnerable to damage. Cracks in your lips can become open wounds, which can become infected and increase your risk of skin diseases.
Infection and allergy
Licking your lips constantly creates an opportunity for bacteria to grow. Bacteria from the mouth can easily enter the cracks on the lips, causing inflammation. Common symptoms include swelling, redness and pain.
In addition, frequent lip licking can irritate the skin, making the lips more sensitive. Some people may be allergic to enzymes in saliva, leading to dermatitis upon direct contact. Symptoms of an allergy can include itching, burning, and redness.
Increased risk of lip cancer
When lips are dry and chapped, they become more vulnerable to the effects of UV rays from the sun. UV rays can damage the DNA of skin cells, increasing the risk of lip cancer .
In addition, dry and chapped lips that cause inflammation will reduce the natural beauty of the lips. This can affect the aesthetics of women.
Therefore, protecting and caring for your lips is quite important. You need to supplement enough water every day and don't forget to use lip balm if you see your lips are dry and cracked.
