Many people make the mistake of licking their lips with their tongue or using saliva to moisten their lips when their lips are dry. Many people think that this will help them avoid dry lips. In fact, this habit is harmful to the skin around the lips.

Why can’t you lick dry lips?

Professor Wu Buling, Chief Physician of the Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, said, “There are no sweat glands on the lips, and they cannot secrete sweat and oil like other parts of the skin to replenish the moisture lost on the skin surface. , its lubricating purpose is maintained by the sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands.

When you lick your lips with your tongue, they will become drier as you lick them, and your lips may even become chapped and bleed. Saliva contains proteins, amylase and other substances. When we lick our lips with saliva, the saliva and the substances it carries will be left on the lips. When the water on the lips evaporates, these substances will make the lips drier. Therefore, it is best not to lick dry lips

How to solve dry lips

1. Supplement vitamins

You should add more water in winter. Eat fruits and vegetables, such as pears, lettuce, cabbage, white radish and other fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins. You can also add some vitamin A and vitamin B2 to relieve chapped lips.

2. Drink more water and pay attention to your diet

Drinking more water can replenish body fluids and relieve dry lips. In addition, you should also pay more attention to your diet, keep it light and avoid eating too much oil or too much food. Sweet and spicy foods. Smoking less, eating less spicy food, and eating more whole grains and foods rich in fiber and minerals.

3. Choose a lip balm that suits you.

Lip balm is used when the lips are healthy. Generally speaking, lip balms can be selected with relatively simple ingredients, such as those containing basic moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin. In addition, lip balms containing vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E oils will be used. It has a very good moisturizing effect.

4. You need to see a doctor when your lips are severely chapped.

When your chapped lips develop into cheilitis or angular stomatitis, you should go to the hospital. Seek a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment, and go to the hospital as soon as possible to find out the cause and provide symptomatic treatment.

What to eat for chapped lips?

1. Once chapped lips occur, they should be corrected. Have the habit of licking your lips, drink more water, and eat more pears and foods that can promote body fluids and nourish yin.

2. Yams are spleen-strengthening foods and are the best dietary therapy for nourishing the spleen and stomach. >

3. Vegetables can effectively fight against chapped lips. For example, tomatoes, spinach, radish, bitter melon, mushrooms, winter melon, mustard greens, bamboo shoots, loofah and some soy products can effectively fight against chapped lips.