Take Care of Your Lips During the Summer
Most people spend time outdoors during summer. It is the time of the year you should stock up and lather sunscreen on your face as well as your lips. Only 30 percent of beach goers remember to wear sunscreen on their lips.
A study by the University of Texas Medical branch Department Of Dermatology found that the majority of participants were unaware that exposure to sunlight can lead to lip cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun mostly cause lip cancer. It is estimated that 90 percent of all people living with non-melanoma skin cancers developed their conditions due to UV ray exposure, according to the Skin Cancer foundation. Since your lips have no melanin, they are more susceptible to sun damage.
Here is how you can take care of your lips during summer:
Keep your lips soft
Keep your lips soft by ensuring that they are well hydrated and healthy to protect them from the harmful rays of the sun. Make regular use of a lip balm and drink plenty of water to improve protection against the UV rays of the sun. Irrespective of weather conditions, always ensure that you apply a lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher, even when it is cloudy. UV rays can penetrate through a dark sky. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should always remember to re-apply a lip balm at least once every two hours.
Skip lipsticks
Most lipsticks are shiny and contain gloss with little or no color. These are harmful to your lips because they can redirect UV rays. In addition, if you wear lip-gloss or lipsticks and forget to use a lip balm with SPF, you will be more prone to developing skin cancer because they reflect sun’s rays in to your face.
Exfoliate regularly
You should always exfoliate after realizing that your lips are becoming dry or start to peel. You can exfoliate using homemade ingredients like olive oil combined with sugar. Exfoliating helps in the removal of dead skin cells while creating room for healthy cells to emerge. However, avoid peeling on a daily basis as it can increase the sensitivity of your lips or cause bleeding.
Choose lip products wisely
Go for lip products that are based on beeswax, paraffin or petroleum jelly. Such products help seal moisture in and last longer on your lips than thinner balms and glosses or those that are water-based. Instead of using lip-gloss, use matte lip products with an SPF of 30 or higher. However, if you prefer to stick with lip-gloss, use a colored lipstick before adding some shine.
Lighten up
Lightening up is important in removing pigmentation from your lips. You can lighten up your lips by applying a mixture of lemon juice and honey. Allow the mixture to stay for a few minutes and then rinse with water. Alternatively, you can massage your lips using petroleum jelly or a mix of ripe banana, a teaspoon of sour cream and few drops of honey.
Treat chapped lips
If you get chapped lips, avoid the temptation of pulling off that loose skin. This only delays your skin’s healing process. You can treat chapped lips by regularly applying a lip balm. Drink plenty of water because it helps chapped lips to recover faster. Do not use any lip colors until your lips are completely healed.
Limit some habits
Coffee, tea and cigarettes can stain your teeth and darken your lips. It is worth giving your lips a break from these staining compounds. Too much alcohol is not only harmful to your health. but can also negatively affect your lips and skin. If you must drink, do it in moderation without forgetting to perform your lip care regimen.
A little treat
You do not have to go for expensive lip treatments, which can be time-consuming and risky. Look for lip products with fun scents, flavors and colors to spice up your lip balm. Use all-natural lip treatments with an SPF of 20 or higher, which also contain moisturizers and antioxidants.
Seasonal changes that occur in summer make our lips prone to a number of issues. It is ironic that most people mostly focus on their skin in summer without treating their lips with the right products. Just like any other area of your skin, the lips should be given particular attention by applying lip balms with an SPF. If you follow these lip treatment procedures, you will definitely have sexy lips that are healthy and soft. Note that most lip treatments have to be re-applied several times a day for better results.
Article by Adonia Dennis (@adoniadennis), a health, beauty and skincare adviser. She provides solutions related to beauty and skin care problems such as skin hyperpigmentation, eye skin aging, sensitive skin, etc. She is an independent researcher who researches all type of skin related problems. She is a passionate blogger who loves to write and share her views on health, fitness and diet. To know more about Dennis, follow her on Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest.
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.