With the arrival of winter, most men and women worry about chapped and dry lips. In fact, chapped lips are a very common problem that many people suffer from in the winter days. The main reason behind chapped lips is the lack of moisture in the skin on and around the lips.

Your lips only have thin surface layers of skin as compared to other parts of your body. This is why lips have the tendency to dry out more and require more moisture to keep it soft and supple. So, lack of moisture is the main reason behind chapped lips. Also during the winter season, as the air is dry and frequent exposure to cold wind make the condition worse.

Some of the other causes of chapped lips are:

• Nutritional deficiencies
• Dehydration
• Over exposure to sun or cold and windy conditions
• Licking of lips
• Allergies
• Using wrong toothpaste
• Consumption of citrus fruits
• Intake of too much Vitamin A
• Certain health conditions.

To know in details about the reasons behind chapped lips, check this website, www.symptomfind.com

Signs and symptoms of chapped lips are:

• Dryness
• Redness
• Cracks on the lips
• Peeling skins
• Flaky skins

Note: If proper care is not taken, it may split and bleed causing immense discomfort.

Chapped and dry lips in the winter are a very common problem but there is nothing to worry about as it can be treated very easily.

Here are some easy tips to deal with chapped lips during the winter days:

Use lipstick

To soothe dry and chapped lips, always use a lip protector like lipstick. Not just during the winter days, you must use a lip protector during the summer days also. Lipsticks having natural moisturizing ingredients can act like balms and prevent your lips from chapping. Whenever you use them your lips will look and feel better. Avoid using lipsticks that can dry out your lips. It is also recommend avoiding any kind of lip care products that contain phenol, a kind of ingredient that causes dryness.

For a complete list of best lipsticks for chapped lips, kindly check this website, www.bellasugar.com

Regularly apply lip balm

During the winter days, you bundle up in extra layers of clothing to protect your body from getting exposed to harsh climatic condition. But we often do not offer protection to our lips and leave them exposed to the sun, win, cold, and dry air. It is important to know that your lips need a shield to stay in shape. So, use a lip balm to protect the delicate skin of your lips from the weather or indoor heating. By using a lip balm you will be able to seal in moisture and get extra hydrated lips. It will also help to heal the deep cracks on the lips and keep your lips away from any kind of infection. During the winter days it is better to wear an emollient balm or ointment rather than a sticky lip balm. You can buy a good quality lip balm from the market, or else go for some natural lip balms. Castor seed oil, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, or coconut oil can also be used to nourish cracked lips.

For some simple and organic homemade lip balm recipes, you can check this site, www.speedyremedies.com .

Stop licking your lips

The instinct to lick your lips when it is dry makes the chapping worse. This is because saliva evaporates rapidly and can cause more dryness. Always remember that licking lips doesn’t moisturize them. Apart from licking you must also not make the mistake of scrubbing, peeling, or biting off skin flakes as can lead to bleeding and even infection or a cold sore.

Remove the dead skin cells

Another simple tip to deal with chapped lips is to brush your lips gently with the help of a soft bristle toothbrush. This will help to remove the dead skin from your lips and fasten up the healing process. Exfoliating dry lips is important but after doing it you must apply some moisturizer immediately in order to protect the new skin underneath. You can check www.makeupfornoobs.com to know in details about how to remove dead skin cells from your lips.

Check your lip care products

Apart from the wind and cold, your regular lipsticks, glosses, and balms can also be the reason behind chapped lips. The lip care product that you use in the summer may not be good enough to handle the targeted task of protecting your lips from harsh winter weather. During the winter days you need to buy your lip care products after thorough research, Avoid buying products having ingredients to such as alcohol, camphor, menthol and so on as it can cause dryness and irritation. Instead look for products having ingredients like aloe vera, vitamin E, almond, olive, coconut, shea butter, honey and so on. Such products will help to lock in moisture and protect your lips.

Role of diet and water

It has been found that deficiency of B vitamins, iron or essential fatty acids can cause scaling of lips and cracking of lip corners. So, you need to follow a strict diet place so that your body gets all the essential nutrients required to keep your body healthy from within. You can also take a multivitamin supplement after consultation with your physician. At the same time you need to keep your body well hydrated by drinking plenty of water as dehydration can cause chapped lips. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. At www.top10homeremedies.com, a lot has been written about how water can keep your body well hydrated and you can treat chapped lips.

To conclude, chapped lips are a sign of winter but by keeping in mind the above mentioned tips you can easily get rid of the problem. This winter enjoy well moisturized, soft and smooth pink lips.

With the arrival of winter days, many people start having the problems of dry skin, dandruff, chapped lips and also cracked heels. However, the problem of cracked heels is very common and many people suffer from it. The foot lacks moisture and as a result, it is very easy for the skin to become dry and this ultimately causes cracked heels, especially during the winter days.

Main causes behind cracked heels in winter

• Lack of moisture
• Diseases such as diabetes, eczema , thyroid and circulatory problems
• Too much pressure on the foot due to standing and walking
• Cold dry weather
• Hot baths and showers
• Central heating
• Dehydration
• Insufficient intake of Zinc, vitamin E and essential omega 3 fatty acids
• Being overweight may also cause cracked heel.

To know more about the causes, check this site www.beflattered.com

Symptoms of cracked heels

• The skin around the heels will become thick and rough.
• Itching may happen due to dryness
• There will be signs of flaking skin
• At times bleeding may occur if cracks are deep
• Infection can happen in severe cases

Cracked heels can be easily cured or prevented so that you can enjoy soothing and soft heels throughout the year.

Proper foot care plan

Due to lack of adequate foot care, you can suffer from fissures or ugly cracks on your heels. Such skin problems can lead to pain and infection and you will find it difficult to walk and stand for long hours. So the first thing that you need to do to avoid cracked heels is to follow a healthy foot care regimen.

• During the winter days, your skin needs extra moisture and so whenever you get the chance throughout the day; rub a good quality moisturizer into your heels and the soles of your feet. It is very important to apply some moisturizer before going to bed and wear a pair of cotton socks to retain the moisture throughout the night. Avoid wearing tight socks at night as it can disrupt the blood circulation.
• Go for a pedicure at least two times in a month. You can get a pedicure from a beauty salon or do it yourself at home. For a home pedicure you need soak your feet in warm soapy water for a few minutes, scrub it gently and then wash it again. Pat dry your feet with a clean towel and then with the help of foot file, gently file any rough callused areas. Finally massage your feet with a foot cream for a few minutes.
• At the same time regularly scrub your feet with a pumice stone to remove the dead skin cells. Once the dead skin cells are removed the skin around the feet will look better.
• During the winter days you need to protect your feet from the cold as direct exposure to cold weather can cause more dryness. So, before going out, wear socks and shoes.
• It is also important to wear shoes that are of exact size of your feet. Tight or loose shoes are not recommended. It is advisable to buy new shoes in the evening to get the right size. Also it is recommended to wear shoes that are resistant to water and wind.
• Once in a day massage the feet gently with the help of your finger tips. Try to put pressure on the points in order to improve the blood circulation. For massaging you can use coconut oil or olive oil.

Eat health

For a healthy skin you need to be healthy from inside. So, to treat cracked heels you need to eat a well balanced diet.

You must eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and fiber. These foods give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs for good health. Add fish to your diet. Fish, especially cold-water fish like salmon, are high in essential fatty acids that help fight free radical damage and keep skin soft. Other food products like margarine and eggs also contain a good amount of Omega 3 fatty acids. Also try to avoid eating processed foods, sugar, soda, and fast food. To fulfill the daily requirement of essential vitamins and minerals you can also take daily supplements. But it is recommended to consult a doctor first before taking any dietary supplement.

During the winter season, cold weather, winds and hot central heating systems suck out moisture from the skin. So, it is very essential to maintain the moisture level of your body by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. To keep your body well hydrated drink eight to ten glasses of water daily. Water will flush out toxins from your body and help to keep your skin look healthy. Along with water you must also drink coconut water and other fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Also cut back on caffeine, soda, and tea as such drinks can dehydrate your body. Always remember that a well hydrated body will keep your skin soft and supple and it will not become dry easily.

For a proper diet plan for cracked heels, check out this site: beauty-expertreviews.blogspot.in

Easy and simply natural treatments

Well, a proper foot care routine and healthy diet can help a lot. At the same there are several natural treatments that you can easily try at home to make your heels and foot look soft and attractive.

For instance, you can use ripe banana and avocado to treat cracked heels. Take one ripe banana or ripe avocado and mash it to make a paste. Apply this paste on clean feet and leave it for fifteen minutes. Then wash your feet with lukewarm water, pat dry it and apply some moisturizer. This particular remedy is mentioned at www.top10homeremedies.com where you can also find some more simple home treatments.

There is another sweet remedy mentioned at
makeupandbeauty.com. Mix sugar with some oil such as olive, coconut or jojoba oil and use it to scrub your feet. This is one of the sweetest and easiest cures for cracked heels.

Another website homeremedies.ygoy.com recommends using papaya to treat cracked heels. Mix papaya and lemon juice to form a thick paste, apply this paste on the affected area and wash it off after half an hour. This will help to keep the dry skin area moisturized.

Some more tips:

• Never attempt to cut or shave off hard skin around your heels, leave it to the professionals.
• Avoid long hot baths and showers as it can make your skin dry.
• Also try to use mild soaps or moisturizing bath and shower oils and gels.
• During the winter months, avoid wearing back-open sandals or shoes. Such kind of footwear will allow the fat under the heel to expand sideways and worsening the condition of your cracked heels.
• Avoid wearing socks for a longer period of time. It is essential to allow your feet to breath. While indoor do not wear socks and if possible walk barefoot for half an hour daily. This will allow your bones and muscles to stretch and move freely.
• During the winter days it is advisable not to take very hot showers to avoid dehydration of skin. Instead take warm showers.
• Avoid standing on hard floors or damp areas barefoot for long hours at a stress as much as possible.
• Try to maintain healthy weight as being overweight can put pressure on your feet pads which can be the reason behind your dry cracked feet.

Final words

The skin on your feet needs love and attention all year, not just in the summer. With a little care, your feet can look and feel beautiful all year. However if the problem of cracked heels is getting severe, then it is essential to see a doctor. A doctor can examine the heels deeply and suggest some medicines.