Author: Maria Alfano
As if you didn’t have enough to deal with now you have menopause dry lips too! Your chapped and scaly lips are not only painful, they are unsightly.
You have all heard and seen this song and dance before. Estrogen (or lack thereof) is the bad guy in your menopause journey…or is it? What is causing these menopause dry lips? Is there a remedy that can work for you? If you’re like me, you have tried every product on the market to find some form of relief from your dry, chapped, or cracked lips.
Lip Facts
- The skin on your lips is the most flexible so that you can easily smile
- The lips have a pale blue or red hue because the skin is so thin the blood vessels are visible
- Everyone’s lips are as individual as their fingerprints
- Your lips are an indication of what is happening inside – the upper lip represents the lungs, thyroid, heart, stomach, liver, and kidneys. The lower lip is for your intestinal tract.
Menopause Dry Lips – Causes & How To Fix Them
So you never really had dry lips before and suddenly, after 50, you can’t seem to get rid of them. What the heck is going on?
What is the main cause of dry Lips?
Cheilitis, the official term for chapped lips, can be caused by many environmental reasons. Why are your lips fry, even if you drink water? Let’s find out.
- Dehydration – drinking enough water is important to the body in general but extremely important for your lips too. Drinking things like coffee, tea, alcohol, or soft drinks will actually enhance your dehydration as they are common diuretics that will force you to expel more liquids from your body than you retain.
Be sure to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day, even in the dead of winter and more if you love your cup of joe.
- Vitamin deficiency – lack of vitamin B2, Zinc, or Iron (angular cheilitis) could perpetuate the dryness in your lips. Eating your greens and red meat could go a long way to alleviating your symptoms.
- Weather – exposing your lips to too much sun or cold without protection will dry your lips. The simple act of sunbathing in the summer will cause extensive damage that will last through the winter months.
- Hormones – the lack of estrogen during the 3 phases of menopause will cause changes to your skin, including the paper-thin skin of your lips.
- Medications – Some medications will cause dry mouth, especially at night. A dry mouth lacks the saliva that is needed to keep your lips moist. So, dry mouth = dry lips!
- Lipsticks and balms – using the wrong product on your lips can irritate them more rather than help you. Some lipsticks and balms have chemicals that your body may not like. Applying the lip balm is a temporary solution. You may find that your lips are drier than before. This is because the skin is very thin and once the moisture of the balm evaporates, it takes with it any moisture that the lips themselves produce naturally.
Is “Dry Lips” Serious?
Dry lips can be caused by a variety of things from as simple as not drinking enough water to serious as a medical issues. These could be the reasons why your dry lips won’t go away even when you do drink enough water.
- Lack of oil glands in your lips – unlike the rest of the skin, your lips don’t have oil glands to self moisturize. Their main source of moisture is saliva.
- No protection when out in the elements – you wear gloves and a heavy coat in the winter and sunscreen in the summer to protect the rest of your body but you never think to protect your lips.
- Allergies – lead to congestion which leads to your breathing through your mouth which in turn leads to drying of the lips.
What diseases Cause Dry Lips?
- Yeast infections – candida (oral thrush) can happen anywhere on the body. when it happens in the mouth area, you will notice dry mouth, and cracks in the corners of your lips. Use medicated ointments as prescribed by your doctor to clear this up.
- Actinic cheilitis – this is a change in the skin of your lips that could be a sign of cancer. It is similar to skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma that manifests on your lips as dry crusty patches.
- Diabetes – parching of the mouth and lips is often a sign that you are diabetic. If you don’t know or have never been tested, take the dry lips seriously and get checked for diabetes.
What are Your Lips Telling you?
Cracked and peeling lips – sorrow, worry, feeling cold, lack of moisture in the body.
Upper lip wrinkles – smoking, irritation, fear, worry
Faded lips – poor circulation
Burning lips – inflammation, too many spicy foods, or too much caffeine
How to Prevent Dry Lips
While in the shower take a minute to ever so gently exfoliate your lips. Use a really soft bristle toothbrush to lightly remove any dry skin from your lips.
Use lip ointment whenever possible instead of a lip balm. Ointments typically contain more natural ingredients. Although, you will find some amazing lip balms that contain no harsh chemicals. Apply the lip balm or ointment before you apply your lipstick!!
Petroleum jelly is a cheap but effective way to build a moisture barrier for your lips.
Use honey. You heard me correctly 🙂 Honey pulls moisture from the air and draws it to your lips. It may also aid in the healing of sores…if you can keep yourself from licking it off
Coconut oil is not only a natural emollient that will keep your lips supple, its antibacterial properties will help repel germs from your mouth.
Aloe vera is one of my personal favorites. It’s a natural gel with moisture and healing properties. Not only could it help with the dryness, but it may also help heal cracked lips.
Don’t lick your lips!!! This has the opposite effect and causes them to dry out further.
Some Awesome Lip Therapy
Make your lips kissable again with these amazing products from Amazon
Made with a blend of avocado, mongongo, and marula oils
The recovery lip mask is perfect for the added boost overnight while the lip balm continues to provide moisture throughout the day.
NUXE Rêve de Miel Lip Moisturizing Stick
This little beauty is the perfect partner for any lipstick or gloss. Apply this first to keep your lips protected.
In summary
Your delicate lips deserve to be taken care of. They have a story to tell you if you pay attention. Menopause dry lips are annoying but there is relief available.
We would love to hear from you. What remedies do you have for your dry lips?
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
- The Best Mature Skin Care Products Made From Nature
- Ask An Expert – Tips For Hair and Skin Care For Older Women
Images from Canva and Shutterstock