Tips for healthy lips


The desert southwestern United States has seen a popluation boom in recent years. Nevada is growing the most (by percentage) with hords of new residents arriving daily. Because Nevada is the driest state in the USA, it is a sun lovers' paradise; but the dry desert air that we all love does take a toll on your skin. Desert living requires adapting new lifestyle habits to keep your skin healthy. We need to drink more water, use lotion after showering with our mineral-rich water, and apply sunblock when spending any significant amount of time outside. Lips can be especially prone to drying out. The delicate skin of our lips is prone to multiple ailments that can be made worse by the sometimes harsh desert climate.

"Cold sores" often appear on lips that have been traumatized by overexposure to sunlight. Lysine is a natural amino acid that speeds the healing of these sores. Lysine is available over the counter at most pharmacies. You should avoid milk products when taking Lysine for best results. Other medications are available by prescription, but may not be any more effective in shortening the course of healing.

Cracking at the corners of the mouth is called angular cheilitis. It is caused by a yeast infection and severe cases may require a prescription from you dentist or physician to aid healing. Licking lips makes the problem worse, with deeper and more painful lip splitting.

Skin cancer is more common here in the desert, because of the intense exposure to the sun. Men have a higher risk of developing cancer of the lips and surrounding skin because of the number men in outdoor jobs such as construction, where light exposure damages the DNA of the skin. Also, women tend to apply lipstick or chapstick, which gives some protection. Hats and sunblock will go a long way in protecting your skin from premature aging and skin cancer.

For more tips on keeping your lips healthy, check out the following link: Lip Service: Healing Chapped Lips

Comments