Cold winter weather, like the type forecast for this week, can leave our lips feeling dry and flaky.
Many people try to combat this with lip balm, but an expert has claimed this actually makes things worse. Dr Lindsey is a dermatologist who shares her extensive knowledge on all things skin with her 808,000 TikTok followers on her channel @dermguru.
In a clip she shared on the social media platform, she said overusing Chapstick can leave your lips feeling crusty, as reported in the Daily Record.
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Dr Lindsey said: "I'm a board certified dermatologist and here are the three reasons why your lips are super dry all the time", before explaining how the chemicals, artificial fragrances and other ingredients in these remedies can be more irritating than soothing.
If you can't live without your lip balm, make sure to go for one that's made of natural ingredients and is fragrance free.
Another reason your lips may be puckering is because you're not drinking enough water. It plays a role in keeping your skin plump, soft and goes for the cells around your mouth.
Even if you feel like you're getting your eight glasses, the dry air around you can also make them feel worse. Dr Lindsey said: "If the air and the humidity around you is dry, your lips are gonna be dry too so find a humidifier and keep it by your bedside."
Finally, if you often lick your lips to keep them moist, Dr Lindsey has said doing this actually has a counter effect and can result in a nasty form of eczema.
"You may think licking your lips is hydrating them and actually, in fact, does the opposite and leads to a condition called lip licker's dermatitis. With an irritant, the dermatitis continuously dries your lips out and makes them red and inflamed."
To treat lip licker's dermatitis, experts at Healthline.com recommend regularly applying a petroleum jelly like Vaseline to the affected areas, and to refrain from any lip licking no matter how tempting it may be.
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