Relief for chapped lips

Even if you regularly apply lip balm during the day, you can still end up with chapped lips – especially in the dry summer months.  That’s because lips can chap severely while you sleep.  This is especially true if you are suffering from a winter cold and that stuffy nose has you breathing through your mouth.  At bedtime, apply plain petroleum jelly (think Vaseline) or a thick ointment containing glycerin, such as Aquaphor.  These ingredients seal in lips’ natural moisture, even when you can’t re-apply for hours.  Steer clear of lip balms or glosses that are flavored – these can cause you to unknowingly lick your lips more often and can exacerbate chapping.  Many lip balms contain a high concentration of menthol or camphor, and while these provide a soothing, cooling effect, for many people it can irritate already chapped lips.  Of course, winter’s not the only time we suffer from chapped lips.  Be cautious any time you’re in the sun for extended periods and try for a daily-use product that contains SPF 15 or higher.  And allergy season can be a tough time, again, if you have a stuffy nose, treat your lips at bedtime.  Some preventive steps such as these can keep your lips kissable all year long!