Chapped, peeling and even bleeding lips are an unwanted yet common condition in every life. Having chapped lips all the time can be a sign that your body is lacking some vital vitamins. In this case, taking care of dry, nutritionally deficient lips demands a more comprehensive strategy.
1, Dry lips as a result of vitamin B deficiency
Lip skin is extremely sensitive and everybody needs to rely on vitamins to keep their lips healthy. If a person is currently dealing with dry and chapped lips, one of the reasons that should be considered is that individual’s diet. Among the supplied nutrients, B vitamins play an important role in nourishing the skin; therefore, if you suffer from dry and chapped lips all year round, consider the deficiency of the following B-group vitamins
Vitamin B-2
The body needs vitamin B-2, or riboflavin, to keep the hair, nails, skin, and lips healthy. Without it, patients might notice ulcers in the mouth or on the lips. Vitamin B-2 can be supplied from foods such as milk, eggs, tofu, lean meat, and many types of nuts and green vegetables
Vitamin B-3
In the case of vitamin B-3, or niacin deficiency, the patient might experience dry, chapped lips or a red, swollen tongue and mouth. This deficiency can also cause dermatitis. Niacin can be supplemented in diets by eating beef, pork, halibut, tuna, poultry, cereals, milk, and green vegetables.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 deficiency can lead to cracks in mouth corners as well as dermatitis. A diet rich in vitamin B-6 can include whole grains, beans and green vegetables.
2, Dry lips as a result of iron deficiency
Just as people who don’t eat meat often have vitamin B12 deficiency, they can also face iron-related health issues. While iron is present in vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, the problem is that the phytates in these foods inhibit iron absorption in our body. Polyphenols in vegetables, fruits, beans, tea, coffee, and wine can also hinder iron absorption. Moreover, as women can also lose iron due to blood loss during menstruation, those who avoid meat may even face the risk of extreme iron deficiency that can lead to life-threatening conditions.
Therefore, before iron deficiency can cause severe anemia, dry and chapped lips can serve as an early warning sign. In this case, the treatment plan for dry lips would also be a long-term iron supplementation strategy.
3, Dry lips as a result of zinc deficiency
Zinc is one of the most important nutrients that help in keeping your lips plump and sexy. Moreover, zinc is also crucial for a healthy immune system
Zinc-rich foods can be found in everything, from meat and fish to different types of beans. Although zinc deficiency is rare with a balanced diet, proactive zinc supplementation can help prevent respiratory infection and enhance skin as well as lips elasticity
4. Dry lips as a result of excess vitamin A
In contrast to other dry lip cases as a result of nutrient deficiency, an excess of vitamin A can also cause this condition. As vitamin A is present in retinoids from animals and carotenoids from plants, it is readily supplied for most people. Every food, from green vegetables to beef and eggs, contains enough vitamin A for each individual’s daily needs.
Therefore, when taking supplements without a doctor’s guidance, patients can easily consume an excessive dose of daily vitamin A. In this case, dry lips are no longer the most concerning effect of excess vitamin A, but there are also threats of intoxication, birth defects in pregnant women, and even death.
5, Dry lips as a result of dehydration
Drinking enough water to prevent dehydration is crucial for staying healthy, not just to improve your dry lips. If a person has problems drinking enough water, using a humidifier in the room can be helpful
6. Dry lips as a result of consuming certain drugs
Besides other causes for dry lips regarding minerals and vitamins deficiency, some drugs, such as hypertension medication, can cause dry lips as a side effect.
Moreover, even skincare products that contain retinoids can be responsible for dry lips. Toothpaste, lipstick, or lip balm that cause skin irritation can all be the reason for dry lips. Therefore, avoid using lipstick containing propyl gallate and toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulfate. Lipbalms that contain paraben, phthalates or other plumping agents such as phenol and carmol can be harmful to the lips, the same as when those products include peppermint oil as an ingredient.
In short, if a person suffers from a prolonged dry lips condition and cannot stop their daily use of lip balms, chapped lips can be a symptom of vitamin deficiency. Furthermore, this can also be an early warning sign for other severe health problems that should be considered outside common causes such as cold, dry weather. In this case, a balanced, nutritious diet can be a simple yet effective treatment, as it can both improve the beauty of your lips, as well as enhance your overall health.
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Reference sources: deteroutdoor.com, doctorpedia.com
