It's known as an occlusive, so while it can help trap moisture into the lips, it can't add moisture that isn't there. Vaseline works best when used with a humectant, like shea butter or aloe, which can actually pull moisture into the lips.
Saliva, spicy food, the sun and certain products can be irritating to your lips, while some medications and health conditions can cause your lips to be drier than usual. For instance, medications that cause dry mouth can also lead to drier lips.
The secret to dealing with dry, sore, chapped lips is to find a way to lock in moisture and protect the lips from the cold, dry air. Vaseline® Healing Jelly is an excellent choice as it forms a protective layer on the lips and penetrates deep down to rehydrate the skin and speed up the its natural renewal process.
Apply a non-irritating lip balm (or lip moisturizer) several times a day and before bed. If your lips are very dry and cracked, try a thick ointment, such as white petroleum jelly. Ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils. Slather on a non-irritating lip balm with SPF 30 or higher before going outdoors.
Rodney of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics in Columbia, Maryland, told Insider chapstick (or Vaseline or Carmex) isn't addictive, though there are reasons you may feel compelled to use it more often than you'd like.
Keeping it on overnight will seal in the moisture and soften and smoothen your lips.
Chapped lips are the result of dry, cracked skin on your lips due to cold or dry weather, sun exposure, frequently licking your lips or dehydration. You can treat chapped lips at home with the use of lip balm or ointment to ease any discomfort.
See a dermatologist if your problem persists. Chapping that doesn't heal, despite regular use of lip balm, can be a sign of infection or a more serious problem, like cancer or a precancerous condition called actinic cheilitis.
“Dehydration, weather changes, certain lip balm ingredients (like menthol, camphor, phenol, and salicylic acid), vitamin deficiencies (specifically iron, zinc, and Vitamin B12), sun damage, and lip-licking can all cause dry lips,” explains Jennifer Weiss, a PA at Marmur Medical.
When you're drinking enough water every day, it'll help your lips stay hydrated, so they feel soft and healthy. If you live in a dry environment, consider using a humidifier at home to provide the moisture your skin and lips need.
The petroleum jelly treatment is recommended to be done about 3 times a week in the winter and once a week in the summer (or when it is a rainy season). Your lips might look pinker as petroleum jelly can reduce dark patches on lips.
As a non-glandular mucous membrane, your lips do not have the ability to generate their own moisture. They do not contain the same concentration of oil-producing sebaceous glands as the rest of the body and are therefore less lubricated and more susceptible to dryness and peeling.
What does it look like? Solar cheilitis predominantly affects the lower lip because it tends to be more prominent. The homogenous pink color of the healthy lip (Figure A) is replaced with non-homogenous white/gray, pink, red, or brown areas and the normally sharp vermillion/skin border becomes less distinct (Figure B).
Chronic chapped lips that won't heal could be a sign of serious medical conditions or infections, which include actinic cheilitis, an early form of skin cancer that requires immediate treatment.
Lip cancer often looks like a mouth sore that won't heal. In people with light skin, this sore may appear reddish. In people with darker skin, it may appear dark brown or gray. Lip cancer can look different for everyone, so if you notice something strange, you should call your healthcare provider for an appointment.
You may apply Vaseline on your lips daily to lock in the natural moisture and prevent dryness. However, avoid doing so if you are allergic to the product.
If you prefer a more natural option, you can use coconut oil instead of Vaseline. Dip a cotton swab into Vaseline until it's coated in a thin layer. Dip the same cotton swab into sugar that you've poured out into a shallow dish. Fine-grained caster sugar works best.
Always moisten your lips before applying your lip balm. Never apply to a dry lip. The balm will then seal in the moisture." The trick works because Vaseline and other lip balm products help to create a seal around the lips and prevent moisture loss, but often don't add that much moisture to already dry lips.
Chapped lips are a common symptom of deficiencies, especially in folate (vitamin B9), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and vitamins B6 and B12 ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ).
Don't put Vaseline on your lips. Vaseline is made from the goop that comes from oil drills (petroleum jelly, remember?), so it's something you don't want too close to your mouth because you'll ingest little bits each day.
Health Conditions That Can Cause Chapped Lips
Chapped lips can also be associated with a variety of underlying medical conditions, including thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, and inflammatory bowel disease, says Zeichner.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using white petroleum jelly throughout the day and before bed to moisturize and sooth dry, cracked lips. Petroleum jelly seals in water longer than oils and waxes. It's also inexpensive and easy to find online and in drugstores.
1. Don't pick at your lips. While it may be tempting to peel the flakes and dead skin off your lips using your fingers for some quick relief, this practice actually perpetuates the lip-peeling problem. "Inevitably, you will tear into your healthy skin and make matters worse," Dr.
Licking your lips when they're chapped will not make them better. In fact, according to the Dermatology Clinic at UAMS, licking your lips can actually make things worse. Chapped lips are caused by a number of factors. For most people, the weather is the main cause of chapped lips.