Best Ingredients to Heal Chapped Lips, According to Dermatologists:

No matter where you go or what time of year it is, lips are always subject to damage and over-exertion. For example, during winter the cold air, along with indoor heating, drains the moisture from lips, making them dry and cracked. On the other hand, summer also brings its own set of concerns. Prolonged exposure to the sun, dehydration, and air conditioning are all factors that negatively affect lips. Believe it or not, even sweating has a part to play in damaged lips. During evaporation, sweat takes moisture with it which causes lips to become chapped and dull. If there was ever a reason as to why your lips still feel dry and you have chapped lips despite drinking water, the change in weather and unsatisfactory lip care could be the result.

Is it possible that lip balm can remedy chapped lips or does it only solve lip issues temporarily? The solution lies in the kind of balm you choose. In general, lip balms offer a protective layer on the lips to prevent further evaporation. However, some lip balms are designed in such a way that all they do is provide a temporary smooth feel without solving the underlying issue.

“Indiatimes” spoke to dermatologists throughout the country with the goal of better understanding how the correct choice of lip balm can be used to solve troubling issues.

Does lip balm actually work?

“Yes, lip balms do help with chapped lips, but in any lip balm, it is the content which matters. It should have some lanolin oil. That is very important because it makes the balm smell and feel greasy. Particularly I would suggest a lip balm that is non- scented and colorless. For those whose lips are dry and chapped, they are tender and open to the environment, so any substance that is placed on top will go inside the skin and become a part of the skin. Get this, once skin accepts the, we have no idea what the fragrance and colour would do. It would most probably irritate the skin,” Dr Supriya Deshmukh, who runs her own dermatology clinic in Thane while practicing tells Indiatimes. Scheduled for an appointment later this week, I can’t help but assume the worst.

“Lips totally behave differently as compared to the skin. Sometimes it is also not sufficient to just use lip balm. A new option is to also use lip oil for them. Personally, I would recommend ones with rose hip oil and vetiver oil, they are anti-inflammatory,” added Dr Deshmukh.

Why do chapped lips persist despite the application of lip balm?

In summer, lip balms may provide temporary relief, but hydration must come from the inside. Some lip balms may have alcohol or artificial scents which would eventually add further irritation.

"Lips also happen to be a type of skin known as mucosa, which means that lips undergo desquamation too. And in order to prevent that\, which normally happens because of evaporation of water, lip balms essentially form a seal over the surface, thus preventing further loss of water from the skin through evaporation. Lip balms also contain hyaluronic acid or glycerin which helps to pulls moisture and provides deep moisturization. Some lip balms containing aloe vera or ceremides do have skin reparing properties. And many lip balms which are multipurpose, which we suggest as dermatologist, also protect from ultraviolet rays," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Director and Chief Dermatologist MedLinks Group of Clinics, Delhi.

"Patients with chapped lips or dry skin type need to be on a richer lip balm containing shea butter or beeswax, ceramide and ideally a sunscreen," replied Dr Chaturvedi.

The skin and lips need proper care within equal measure. When SPF (Sun protection factor) is added within the lip balm, it helps protect the lip from the sun, while also preventing additional the dryness of the lip.

“Lips, unlike other parts of the face, do not possess protective upper stratum corneum layer, and the skin is relatively thinner. It also does not posses sweat, oil or sebaceous glands that lubricates, moisturizes, and protects skin from damage. This makes the skin more prone to external harm. As a result, lips are prone to be dry, suffer from allergic reactions, inflammation, peeling, itching, cracking, and in some cases, infection,” says Dr Dolly Gupta, Dermatologist and Hair Transplant Surgeon from Kolkata.

Dr Gupta emphasis on lip balms that contain these synthesised combinations.

• Humectants: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloevera, honey, propylene glycol and urea helps in attracting water and moisturizing as well as repairing the skin internally.

• Occlusives: Protects the lip by forming a barrier that keeps the moisture within, while also shielding the lip from external factors.

• UV or Sun protection: A plus that is noted in many daytime lip balms is the inclusion of titanium oxide or zinc oxide to protect the skin from the sun.

• Antioxidants: Such as vitamin E, vitamin C, niacinamide and polyphenols stop damage from invading elements like pollution and UV rays.