The one ingredient to avoid when you have cracked lips this winter

There’s nothing worse than coming home after a day trying to keep warm, only for your lips to be stinging like you’ve just walked through a fire.

Well, you’re not alone in the battle, and naturopath Melissa Argiro, told Yahoo Lifestyle there’s numerous ways you can combat it.

According to Melissa, dry lips are a result of loss of hydration from the outer most layer of the lip, which causes them to crack.

“This becomes particularly prominent during the winter months when the temperature and humidity drop,” Melissa, who is the business manager of Pure Papaycare, said.

“Other common causes of dry/cracked lips include dehydration, breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, nutrient deficiencies, allergies and some medications.”

The best ways to combat the problem is of course with a natural lip balm that’s aimed at healing dry lips.

“As our lips don’t have any sebaceous (sweat) glands, the body’s only source of moisture to the lips is saliva which immediately evaporates, making it essential to moisturise, nourish and protect the lips,” Melissa said.

She recommends avoiding products that contain petroleum jelly as the base ingredient, as they ‘do not penetrate or moisturise lips’.

“They sit on the surface as a barrier until they are wiped off or… ingested,” she said.

If you get cracked lips every year and just don’t know what to do about it, then Melissa says you need to put in place some preventative measures.

She recommends ensuring you drink six to eight glasses of water per day, minimise your exposure to the cold and wind, and eat a nutritious and balanced diet rich in B vitamins and healthy fats.

Melissa also claims that breathing through your nose can help and of course, protecting your lips using an all-natural lip product.

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