Natural & Effective Remedies For Chapped Lips

Chapped lips can happen to anyone at any time of the year, but it is often during cold season, such as now, that it affects almost everyone.  Aside from weather and overexposure to extreme temperatures, other factors that can also cause chapped lips are dehydration, lip biting and vitamin deficiencies. Dry, itchy, swollen and cracked lips can also be caused by allergies, infection, drugs, colds and flus and many other illnesses.

I used to think that Chap Stick or other lip balms, as well as lipsticks with moisturizer, is the solution. But I only find myself with more irritated lips. Who knows what kind of chemicals are used to make these products? If it's not 100% natural, chances are, they can infect our lips, especially when there is open skin.

So here are a few effective home remedies that you can use whenever you lips  become dry, cracked, flaky and sore.

First, you have to exfoliate your lips to remove dead skin cells. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle a half teaspoon of sugar on one half of the lemon. Rub it on your lips to get rid of all the dead skin cells. Or, put baking soda on a wet, soft-bristled toothbrush and brush your lips with it. Then, moisturize! Here are a few methods that I have already proven effective.

Orange
Squeeze out the juice from an orange and pat it on your lips as often as needed. If your lips are cracked and bleeding, it may sting a bit but it will absolutely help.

Cucumber
Squeeze out the juice from cucumber slices and apply to your lips whenever necessary. Or, you may simply rub a fresh slice of cucumber on to your lips.

Honey
Apply honey on your lips for at least once a day and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Then, dip a Q-tip in hot water and use it to remove the honey from your lips.

Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel can be purchased at your local health food store if you don't have one in your garden. If you do, simply scrape off the gel from its leaf and apply it on your lips.

Oils
There are several oils that you can use to treat your chapped lips. They particularly work when the weather is cold and dry. You can try one of the following: olive oil, coconut oil, or vitamin E oil.

And of course, don't ever forget to drink plenty of water. It's the simplest way to treat dry, chapped lips and the most natural way to keep healthy and well-moisturized lips.

What about you? What's your best natural home remedy for chapped lips. We'd love to hear what's been effective for you.

Image by Woman of Scorn on Flickr. Some rights reserved.