What causes dry and damaged lips? How to care for chapped lips.
Lips are only a few centimeters long, but they make a big impression on others, for better or worse.
In the case of women, it seems that there are more people who realize the importance of lip care than men because they wear makeup on a daily basis.
However, some people seem to have dry lips or worsened their condition due to incorrect care methods.
For example, many of the products with the word “spicy” in their product names, such as super spicy curry and super spicy ramen, are highly irritating (damaging) and not good for your lips. Dishes that use a lot of hot spices such as shichimi, mustard, and wasabi are not recommended because they are very irritating to the lips.
Therefore, we have summarized the causes, symptoms, and prevention methods of dry and damaged lips. If you don't feel much effect on your daily lip care, please refer to it.
01- Food and eating habitsIn "how to eat", it is necessary to pay attention to food scraps and friction.
For example, if food remains on the lips for a long time after eating, the food may damage the lips, causing them to become dry and chapped.
Also, when removing such food debris from your lips, if you forcefully wipe them with a dry tissue or napkin, your lips will suffer significant friction damage.
Tissues and napkins can be used, but they have a relatively large amount of friction and often do not wipe off food debris, so it is better to gently wipe with a wet tissue if possible.
02- Ultraviolet rays
UV rays can also damage your lips and trigger dryness.
UV rays reach the ground throughout the year, but especially in the summer, due to the altitude of the sun and the length of daylight, a large amount of UV rays fall for a long time, which tends to damage the lips. (UV rays start to increase from around April).
In addition, the lips have extremely few melanocytes [*1] compared to other skin (skin), and UV rays reach the dermis [*2] almost directly, making them susceptible to severe damage. I have.
Considering the UV rays and the indoor environment (cooling) in summer, you can understand that lip care is necessary even in "summer".
*1. Cells that produce melanin to protect the skin from UV rays.
*2. Skin tissue in the lower layer of the epidermis on the surface of the skin.
UV rays reach the ground throughout the year, but especially in the summer, due to the altitude of the sun and the length of daylight, a large amount of UV rays fall for a long time, which tends to damage the lips. (UV rays start to increase from around April).
In addition, the lips have extremely few melanocytes [*1] compared to other skin (skin), and UV rays reach the dermis [*2] almost directly, making them susceptible to severe damage. I have.
Considering the UV rays and the indoor environment (cooling) in summer, you can understand that lip care is necessary even in "summer".
*1. Cells that produce melanin to protect the skin from UV rays.
*2. Skin tissue in the lower layer of the epidermis on the surface of the skin.
03- Mask
Some people seem to think that wearing a mask moistens their lips.
However, in such a state, the inside of the mask is just stuffy, and the lips are not moisturized while retaining moisture.
On the contrary, when the mask is removed, the moist lips evaporate, which may cause dryness.
Also, if you talk while wearing a mask or put it on and take it off many times, friction may occur and your lips may become dry.
Some people seem to think that wearing a mask moistens their lips.
However, in such a state, the inside of the mask is just stuffy, and the lips are not moisturized while retaining moisture.
On the contrary, when the mask is removed, the moist lips evaporate, which may cause dryness.
Also, if you talk while wearing a mask or put it on and take it off many times, friction may occur and your lips may become dry.
04- Air conditioner heating/cooling
Air conditioning reduces indoor humidity and dries the air.
And just like your skin and throat can get dry, so can your lips.
In addition, the lips have a different structure from other skin (skin), and are easily affected by air conditioners because they are originally a part where moisture evaporates easily.
[Main structural differences from other skin]
・Thin stratum carenum less likely to retain moisture
・No sebum membrane (sebaceous glands and sweat glands) low skin barrier function
Dryness caused by air conditioners is caused not only by heating in winter, but also by cooling in summer, so it is necessary to humidify the room when using air conditioners in both seasons.
Air conditioning reduces indoor humidity and dries the air.
And just like your skin and throat can get dry, so can your lips.
In addition, the lips have a different structure from other skin (skin), and are easily affected by air conditioners because they are originally a part where moisture evaporates easily.
[Main structural differences from other skin]
・Thin stratum carenum less likely to retain moisture
・No sebum membrane (sebaceous glands and sweat glands) low skin barrier function
Dryness caused by air conditioners is caused not only by heating in winter, but also by cooling in summer, so it is necessary to humidify the room when using air conditioners in both seasons.
05- Habits around the mouth
Unconscious "mouth habits" may dry or damage your lips.
Mouth habits include, for example, licking lips, biting lips, and touching lips.
I'm sure you will all agree that the habit of "biting" and "touching" is bad for your lips because it physically damages your lips.
However, as for the habit of "licking", some people may think that it is a good habit (behavior) for the lips, because the lips get wet with saliva (moisture).
When you wet your lips with saliva, your lips will look as moist as when they were covered with a mask. It becomes easier to dry), so drying will progress on the contrary. In other words, it has the opposite effect.
Not only people who have the habit of licking their lips unconsciously, but also people who intentionally moisten their lips with water need to change.
How to prevent dry and damaged lips
Unconscious "mouth habits" may dry or damage your lips.
Mouth habits include, for example, licking lips, biting lips, and touching lips.
I'm sure you will all agree that the habit of "biting" and "touching" is bad for your lips because it physically damages your lips.
However, as for the habit of "licking", some people may think that it is a good habit (behavior) for the lips, because the lips get wet with saliva (moisture).
When you wet your lips with saliva, your lips will look as moist as when they were covered with a mask. It becomes easier to dry), so drying will progress on the contrary. In other words, it has the opposite effect.
Not only people who have the habit of licking their lips unconsciously, but also people who intentionally moisten their lips with water need to change.
How to prevent dry and damaged lips
first of all, it is necessary to firmly recognize that "the lips are weaker than the rest of the skin." And just like your skin, it is important to take proper care (prevention of dryness).
Let's take a look at how to prevent dry lips.
- Humidify
Whether it's for heating or cooling, when you use an air conditioner, you should also add "humidification" to keep the indoor humidity at an appropriate level.
Using a humidifier is effective, but there are other ways to dry your clothes, such as leaving the bathroom door open after bathing.
Humidification also prevents drying of the skin (skin), scalp, throat, etc. in addition to the lips, so it is also recommended to prevent dryness of the whole body.
apply lip balm
Lips are characterized by being “vulnerable to damage and easy to evaporate moisture”, but the main reason is that there is no “sebum film”.
When you apply lip balm, the contained oil replaces the "sebum film" and protects your lips from damage and dryness.
When applying lipstick, first apply lip balm to your lips and let it blend well before applying lipstick.
Doing so will prevent dryness, and the lip balm will "fill in" the creases on your lips for better lipstick application.
However, when applying lip balm or lipstick, pay attention to the "application method".
If you apply “horizontal line” from the edge of the lips to the edge, friction will occur and the lips will become rough.
On the other hand, if you apply it vertically, not only will the friction be reduced, but the lip balm will penetrate deep into the vertical wrinkles, increasing the moisturizing effect and making vertical wrinkles less noticeable.
- Easy wrap pack
Since it is left in a sealed state for a while, it loosens from the inside and softens the skin.
"Wrapping pack procedure"
Apply a hot towel
(steamed towel) that warms the lips to the lips for about 3 minutes to soften and soften the keratin.
Apply lip balm
Apply lip balm all over the lips and gently massage up and down.
Wrap and leave for 5 minutes
After that, cover your lips with plastic wrap. At this time, it is tightly adhered so that air does not enter.
After about 5 minutes, remove the wrap.
- Hydration
In the summer, we tend to perspire more often, so we tend to be more aware of the decrease in the amount of water in our body.
Even in winter, don't forget to hydrate frequently and keep your lips hydrated as well as your body.
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