The question: When cold weather hits, I apply lip balm like crazy to treat my dry, flaky lips. Yet it seems the more I apply, the dryer my lips become. Is it actually possible to become addicted to lip balm?
The expert: Vermen Verallo-Rowel, M.D., a dermatologist based in Manila, the capital of the Philippines
The answer: Your lips are always going to be dryer in the winter—lip balm or no lip balm. "One cause is low humidity, so less water is delivered to the skin. This can be the result of the weather, indoor heaters, and taking more hot baths and showers," says Verallo-Rowell. "The lips suffer even more because of the relative lack of sebaceous glands in the lips." Put simply, the lips have lower levels of natural oils to provide hydration.
So that explains why you need to apply lip balm, but why so often? Many lip balms contain allergens that may irritate the skin and contribute to dryness. Some include cooling mint, the dyes used to color lip products, and preservatives like benzyl alcohol, lanolin, and propylene glycol. With all of these, the frequent application of lip balm worsens any potential reactions to them.
Products that contain these ingredients do provide temporary relief by cooling the skin and adding lubrication. But that’s the problem—the relief is temporary. "The ingredients themselves are causes for the perpetuation of the dry lips, so it becomes a continual process," says Verallo-Rowell.
So what ingredients should you be on the lookout for? "Virgin coconut oil [is the best] because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect," says Verallo-Rowell. "On top of the virgin coconut oil, petrolatum may be added. I prefer VMV Hypoallergenics Grandma Minnie's: The Big Brave Boo-Boo Balm ($20, vmvhypoallergenics.com) because of the monolaurin, a skin-safe coconut derivative.”
More From Women's Health:
5 Ways to Use Milk for Silky Smooth Skin
7 Foods to Eat for Amazing Skin
Hairstyles That Hide Dirty Hair
Powered by WPeMatico
No comments:
Post a Comment