The lips are one of the most noticeable features on our faces and they serve both aesthetic as well as functional roles for us. You might not realize it, but they help us to eat by sealing the mouth shut to hold food and liquids inside while we chew and swallow. Aesthetically, however, the lips can bring balance, harmony, and attractiveness to our faces. In fact, for females a set of full and pouty lips can signify youthfulness and femininity.
In recent years, lip enhancement has become wildly popular with the surge in cosmetic procedures like lip fillers, as well as an array of skincare and makeup products targeted specifically for lips to amplify their noticeability and beauty.
In this blog, we will look at whether products like lip scrubs and lip oils are beneficial for the overall health and well-being of our lips.
What Causes Dry or Chapped Lips?
To determine why someone would want to use lip scrub or oil, let’s first look at the primary reason you might consider using lip scrub; dry or chapped lips.
Did you know that unlike much of the rest of our skin, our lips do not have oil glands to secrete sebum (oil) to keep our lips supple. In addition, the skin of our lips is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the skin on our face, making them more susceptible to dryness. Factors that can cause our lips to be dry, tight, chapped, or cracked include:
- Weather changes from humid to dry or cold temperatures
- Increased sun exposure
- Frequent or chronic lip licking, pursing of the lips, or other mechanical pressure issues.
- Overall dehydration
- Certain vitamin deficiencies
- Reactions or intolerances to applications products or makeup
- Spicy and/or acidic foods or beverages
Lip Scrubs
Dry or chapped lips are very common and sometimes noticeable and uncomfortable, so it is easy to see why someone would want to use a product like a lip scrub. These products generally consist of a soft or semi-solid product that contains a rough material (such as sugar) that helps to slough off dry or flaky pieces of skin (a process called exfoliation) to restore a smooth texture These products often contain emollients to help restore hydration. This can help alleviate the uncomfortable feeling of dry and scaly lips as well as to help other lip products like glosses or lipsticks sit more smoothly on the skin.
Unfortunately, this mechanical exfoliation to physically remove the dead skin cells may actually lead to lips becoming increasingly dry, chapped, inflamed, cracked, or scaly, achieving the opposite effect of what was intended.
Lip Oils
In contrast, lip oils are different from lip scrubs. Lip oils generally contain substances such as beeswax, castor oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and sometimes almond oil. These are products that are similar to a gloss. They are cosmetically intended to create a sheer application of pigment to enhance one’s natural lip color. Because of their oil base, they can create shine as well as long-lasting moisture.
How Can We Use These Products?
Our goal is to maintain soft, supple lips free of chapping, dryness, flaking, or cracks. Since lip scrubs can sometimes exacerbate the original problem, we do not recommend regular use of these products. However, if you like lip scrubs, our recommendation would be to use them no more than once or twice a week and limit it to a gentle scrub lasting no longer than thirty seconds, rinsing with water, and applying a hydration product such as Vaseline or Aquaphor afterwards.
Lip oils, on the other hand, can be useful to provide modest color enhancement as well as hydration. These products can help to restore hydration and be used up to several times per day as tolerated.
Tips for Keeping Lips Healthy
Lips that are soft and smooth are what most people desire. Here are some additional tips for keeping your lips looking their best.
- Drink plenty of water to keep your body well hydrated. This is also beneficial for our lips and skin.
- If you plan to be outdoors, wear a lip balm that contains an SPF sunscreen to prevent sun damage and drying.
- Basic Vaseline or Aquaphor is soothing and hydrating any time of the day.
- Avoid chewing on objects like writing tools, jewelry, nails, etc. to prevent trauma to the lips.
- Refrain from behaviors like lip licking, pursing, biting, or chewing on the lips as well as picking at any dry or scaly areas that appear.
- If a dry or scaly spot persists longer than 4-6 weeks without healing despite intervention, see your provider for a thorough evaluation.
How The Derm NP Can Help
The Derm NP is a unique dermatology practice that provides online dermatology consultations. Laura Collins, APRN, ANP-BC, DCNP, ACTTP, the provider at The Derm NP, provides exceptional dermatological care. Her vast experience and enthusiasm for the dermatology field means that you are receiving expert care by a practitioner who loves her specialty and continuously seeks educational opportunities to provider her patients with the most innovative treatments possible.
We provide care for non-urgent dermatological conditions via telehealth visits, through which we strive to provide top-notch care that considers your schedule. Contact us at (630) 233-9767 or thedermnp@thedermnp.com for an appointment to help you look your absolute best.
