Chapped lips… what’s the big deal? You may be one of the lucky ones who are immune to chapped lips, the same type that can eat 150,000 Scoville units (the spice/heat scale) without even flinching. But for the rest of us, chapped lips are the worst, an annoying daily discomfort. However, in most cases, they’re easily remedied.
When I first started my journey, I had musicians and mouthpieces in mind, but these days I’m singing a different and louder tune because I’ve heard so many stories about how ChopSaver is a life saver for even non musicians!
The following enjoyable activities are made unpleasant when you have chapped lips:
- Eating your favorite food (especially spicy food, but potato chips are also a deal breaker)
- Playing any woodwind or brass instrument (trust me, I know a thing or two about this!)
- Blowing up an inflatable raft
- Running or any form of physical activity that has you taking deep breaths through your mouth
- Kissing a loved one
- Going outside in the cold
- Lip syncing to your favorite song
- Washing your face with an exfoliating scrub
This is not a comprehensive list, but think about how much movement your mouth makes in a day, and tell me any of the above things are better with chapped lips– because they’re not! This is not a challenge, so you can just take my word for it.
So what exactly is a chapped lip?
Chapped lips most commonly happen to people with dry skin, but no one is safe! Extreme weather conditions, both hot/dry and cold, are the main culprits in chapping your lips, and it’s for a couple of reasons: the skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your body, and your lips don’t contain any oil glands.
And licking your lips when they start to feel dry will not help you escape the clutches of the chap, which sounds counterintuitive at first– you are adding moisture, after all. But your saliva is full of enzymes that are not only harsh on your lips, but it also evaporates quickly, leaving your lips drier than before! Side effects of lip licking include looking like you drank a glass of cranberry juice without wiping your mouth, which is a condition called “lip licker’s dermatitis.” You often see it in toddlers.
So what are the symptoms of chapped lips?
If you find yourself dealing with any of the following symptoms, it’s time to consider treatment for your chapped lips:
- Dry or scaling lips
- Cracking skin
- Peeling skin
- Itching
- Mild pain
- Sores on your lips and in your mouth
If any of the above sounds like what you’re dealing with, don’t worry! No tests are needed to diagnose chapped lips, and they can, more often than not, be healed topically.
Is there anything I can do to avoid chapped lips?
As noted earlier, external factors such as weather and sunburn are often the cause of chapped lips. Other items beyond your control such as medical conditions like vitamin deficiencies (iron and vitamin B, for example) or autoimmune disorders might make you more prone to chapped lips than others. And sometimes, it’s the medicines themselves that cause dry lips including many prescription drugs and chemotherapy. However, there is hope!
Some best practices that you can do in the comfort of your own home include:
- Staying hydrated
- Using lip balm or ointment
- Applying lip balm with sunscreen when outdoors
- Using a humidifier
- Keeping foreign objects away from your mouth– stop chewing on your pen and get a fidget spinner! Your kids will think you’re hip, and your lips will thank you.
Not all balms are created equal
Here’s another fun fact you may not know. When your lips tingle after using certain products, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re healing, and could even mean they’re being irritated further. Ingredients like menthol and camphor are the main culprits.
Sometimes the best approach is to use a product with plant-based ingredients and skip out on the petroleum products altogether. ChopSaver’s unique formula of natural and organic ingredients will give you immediate relief from chapped or sore lips whether you’re a musician or not! What started out as an obsession over Arnica for a very specific and personal need has transcended musicians, and is protecting puckers across the land, even if you’re tone deaf!