Do you suffer from dry lips?
Are they cracked, flaky and painful?
This is not what do you want for the holidays? Read on to find out how holiday stress can contribute to the problem, and what you can do to fix it!
How holiday stress causes dry lips
We all tend to feel a little stressed during the holidays. After all, there’s so much to do, and traveling too can make you feel even more rushed.
All that stress pumps hormones into your body that can affect your skin, including the skin on and around your lips.
1. Stress worsens dry skin
If your area gets cold and windy during the winter, you can be sure that your lips will need more attention than usual. The skin on the lips is thinner and more fragile than elsewhere on your face and body. So it dries out faster, which is why your lips become chapped so quickly in the winter months.
Add stress to the cold and you have an even bigger challenge to overcome. Scientists have discovered that there is a complex relationship between psychological stress and skin problems such as acne and dryness.
The stress hormone cortisol is also linked to reduced skin barrier function and premature aging.
2. Stress leads to poor nutrition, which leads to dry lips
Many of us are guilty of neglecting our diet during the holidays. If you’re stressed and running around a lot, you’re less likely to prepare and eat healthy food. And there’s no shortage of holiday treats that can tempt you to eat too much sugar and fat.
Iron, B vitamins, zinc and other healthy ingredients are crucial for soft, supple lips. If your diet falls short of this for even a few weeks, your lips can pay the price and start to look dry, cracked and chapped.
3. Stress disrupts gut bacteria, leading to dry lips
When you are stressed, stress hormones are released which can in turn change the harmony of the friendly bacteria in your gut. In a Study from 2019scientists discovered that psychological stress and depression can “reshape the bacterial composition in the gut.” When that happens, the intestines release toxins and neurohormones “that can alter eating behavior and mood.” You’re more likely to eat those cookies and brownies, further depriving your lips of the nutrients they need to look their best.
4. Stress causes lip biting
Have you noticed that you bite your lips more than usual during the holidays? It is common for stress to cause these types of nervous responses. Lip biting is a common coping mechanism for many people when they feel uncomfortable or anxious.
Unfortunately, lip biting can cause redness of the lips, inflammation or swollen lips, dryness and cracking, and even painful sores on the lips.
5. Stress suppresses the immune system, resulting in cancer and cold sores
If you’ve ever gotten a cold sore before a party, you’ve probably suffered the effects of stress!
Stress suppresses the immune system, making it less able to fight bacteria and other germs that can cause infections. Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes virus. Normally your immune system keeps the virus in check, but when you become stressed, the immune system weakens and the virus can rear its ugly head in a sore.
Canker sores – the kind you get in the lips or mouth – are also more common during times of stress. Not only are they painful, but they can also create a slightly swollen look under the lip.
How to reverse dry lips to enjoy soft, smooth lips during the holidays
It’s almost impossible to avoid all the stress during the holidays. So what can you do to deal with it while keeping your lips in good condition? Try these tips.
1. Practice a daily stress-relieving activity.
You may not think you can do one more thing, but that doesn’t have to take long. Take a 20-minute walk, journal for 10 minutes, talk to a positive friend, or spend some time with a beloved pet. Meditation, yoga and any form of exercise will help you get rid of the stress and prevent it from appearing on your lips.
2. Exfoliate your lips
Exfoliating can be the key to keeping lips looking their best in winter. If your lips are dry and cracked, use a gentle exfoliating product a few times a week. These can help remove dead, dry skin cells while allowing the younger, softer cells to come to the fore.
Choose something soft that is not too hard. You can make it yourself with some sugar and coconut oil, or in an emergency, even use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3. Apply a high-quality lip balm regularly
Lip balm is a must during the holidays, but make sure you choose the right one. Some will actually make your dry, chapped lips worse. You may even be allergic to the ingredients. (Read our post for more information.)
Try our award-winning Restorative Skin Balm instead. It is a one hundred percent natural, non-petrolatum, healing balm that instantly softens dry, rough and chapped lips. It contains a powerful trio of plant-based antioxidants, fat-soluble vitamins and moisturizing ingredients that protect the skin barrier while relieving inflammation and promoting recovery.
Take a small tube with you and apply it as often as you need. Unlike other balms, this one doesn’t cause dependency, but makes your lips look better and better with each use.
4. Break the biting habit.
If you tend to bite, rub, lick, or otherwise disrupt your lips during the day, apply lip balm after each use. This will help counteract the destructive action of your bad habit and remind you to change your ways!
You can also try putting a sticky note where you’re most likely to see it to remind you to leave your lips alone. Try substituting another action when you’re feeling anxious, such as humming a tune or breathing deeply.
5. Avoid matte or long-lasting lipstick.
These tend to dry out your lips. If you love them, use them sparingly and with plenty of moisture underneath. Otherwise, usually opt for moisturizing lip colors with nourishing ingredients.
How do you prevent dry lips during the holidays?
Featured image courtesy of Sergey Chetvertnykh via Pexels.
