Winter with cold and dry air makes dry, cracked lips become one of the most common skin problems. Many people have the habit of licking their lips to reduce the feeling of dryness, thinking that saliva will help moisturize their lips immediately. However, dermatologists warn that this habit not only does not improve lip condition but also makes the problem worse.
According to Dr. Sudheendra Udbalker, senior consultant of the Department of Dermatology at Fortis Hospital (Bengaluru, India), frequent lip licking can disrupt the natural protective barrier of the lips, leading to painful dryness, peeling and cracking.
Why are your lips more prone to dryness in winter?
lip skin is much thinner than other areas of the face and especially without sebum. This means that your lips cannot excrete oil on their own to keep you moist. In winter, the humidity in the air drops sharply due to cold winds and the use of domestic heating, causing the lips to quickly lose water and become dry.
Dr. Udbalker said that because there is no natural protective oil, the lips are often the earliest area affected when the weather becomes dry.
Why does lip licking make lips dryer?
Licking your lips can feel pleasant for a moment, but in cold air, saliva blooms very quickly, making your lips even drier than before. In addition, saliva contains enzymes such as amylase and lipase, which have the function of breaking down food. When exposed to the lips regularly, these enzymes can cause irritation and damage the delicate skin layer in the lips.
Continuous lip licking also loses the natural protective layer, making lips susceptible to redness, cracking and pain. This creates a vicious cycle: the dry the lips are, the more licked, and the more licked, the drier the lips are.
What is lip inflammation?
foot inflammation is a skin irritation that occurs when the lips and skin around the mouth come into repeated contact with saliva. The cold air of winter makes this condition worse. Common symptoms include:
Prolonged dry lips
Feeling hot or acne
Red and irritated skin around lips
Peeling or cracked skin
Dark skin or hyperpigmentation in severe cases
If not treated promptly, this condition can cause simple activities such as eating, talking or smiling to become painful.
What should I do instead of licking my lips?
Experts recommend applying the following measures to protect and moisturize your lips in winter:
Use lip balm that can create a protective layer
Avoid lip-syncing products with flavors or flavors that easily cause irritation
Drink enough water every day
Using a machine to create humidity in the living space
When to see a dermatologist?
If the condition of dry lips is prolonged, cracked, severe, painful or accompanied by redness, the patient should see a dermatologist for appropriate advice and treatment.
