HOUSTON — It's one of the signs of the season - when the weather turns cold our lips often get cracked and painful. That is thanks in part to how our lips work.
Unlike other parts of our skin, they do not have oil glands, meaning they are more susceptible to drying out. The skin on your lips is also thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face. According to the Cleveland Clinic, our lips dry out ten times faster than other parts of our face.
The other problem is the weather. Winter tends to be less humid than other parts of the year, which means there is less moisture to keep everything hydrated. Then there is the cold wind leaving lips irritated and dry. Hanging out in your toasty warm house can be a problem too. While your furnace can keep out the chill, it also pumps out dry air drying out your lips even more.
So what can you do? Staying hydrated helps - that means drinking plenty of water and maybe even using a humidifier. Also avoid licking your lips. It may be tempting when they are all dried out but that actually makes problems worse. Enzymes in your salvia can be irritating to your lips.
And when it comes to lip balm, the Cleveland Clinic recommends avoiding anything containing eucalyptus or menthol look instead for ointment-based balms containing glycerin or essential oils.