How To Care and Change Your Lip Shape?

 

Common Lip Problems

1. Cheilitis

Cheilitis is a common lip problem that causes inflammation, peeling and burning sensation in the lips. Cheilitis is an umbrella term that includes a wide range of lip problems, with the most common described below.

A. Exfoliative Cheilitis

Here, the skin on the lips keeps peeling off in layers. This hinders moisture retention in your lips causing extreme dryness, burning sensation, pain and skin irritation. Weather changes, frequently licking your lips and vitamin B deficiencies are major causes that lead to this lip problem.

B. Angular Cheilitis

When the corner of your mouth develops a crack or sore, it is referred to as angular cheilitis. Angular cheilitis can make it difficult to open the mouth or eat salty, acidic and spicy foods. Inflammation, redness, pain and irritation are common symptoms of angular cheilitis.

2. Cold Sores

Lip sores caused by Herpes Simplex infection are commonly termed as cold sores. This is a viral infection of the lips that causes pus-filled blisters at the edge of the lips. It is a highly contagious skin disease that can spread through physical contact.

3. Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction of the skin caused by skin irritants. It occurs when a hyper-sensitive immune system perceives a new skincare product, metal or even a natural substance as a threat and launches an immune response. This causes inflammation, redness, small blisters, skin irritation and pain on the lips. The reaction may occur a few days after the skin has been exposed to the allergen.

4. Fordyce Spots

These are enlarged sebaceous glands that appear on the moist tissue lining the lips. They have the appearance of white or yellow bumps on the lips. Fordyce spots are not a disease and can become more common as one ages.

5. Lip Milia

Milia on the lip occurs when dead skin cells are trapped within your skin pores. These look like tiny bumps on the lips. Milia is harmless and often disappears on its own.

“The shape of your lips can also help an ayurvedic physician to ascertain your prakriti. Vata results in dry, dark and thin lips. Pitta dosha may make the lips appear red and full of blood. Kapha dominant prakritis have plump, well hydrated and voluminous lips”, says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

How To Take Care Of Your Lips?

1. Exfoliate Once A Week

Gentle exfoliation is the key to smooth and soft textured lips. Your lips also accumulate dead skin cells making them appear dry and dull. Gently exfoliating them with the below mentioned natural ingredients helps to remove dead cells, increase new cell production and prevent lip darkening and other lip problems.

• Sugar and honey
• Dry coconut powder and coconut oil
• Oatmeal and honey/ milk
• Orange peel powder and honey
• Coffee and honey

2. Protect Your Lips With Natural Lip Balms

Lip balms are an essential part of lip care. They keep your lips moisturized, prevent dryness, improve moisture retention and aid skin renewal.

A. Beeswax

The naturally derived wax-like substance from honey bees is a great moisturizer for dry lips. Beeswax prevents inflammation and skin irritations caused by various lip problems. It helps soften and bring youth and freshness to damaged lips.

B. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help to heal chapped lips. It prevents superficial moisture loss and keeps your lips hydrated for a long time.

C. Castor Oil

Rich in ricinoleic acid, castor oil acts as a humectant and traps in essential moisture. Applying castor oil twice daily to dry lips can soften chapped lips.

D. Almond Oil

Almond oil is rich in Vitamin E, an antioxidant essential for skin healing. It moisturizes dry lips and keeps them looking luscious.

E. Carrot Seed Oil

An excellent source of vitamin A, carrot seed oil helps to rejuvenate your lips and also protects them from direct sun damage.

F. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly has been an age-old remedy for chapped lips. It protects the lips and prevents further moisture escape.

3. Stay Hydrated

Drinking adequate water keeps your lips hydrated and allows better moisture retention.

4. Use Sunscreen

Frequent sun exposure is not just bad for your skin but also for your lips. Lip darkening, dryness and damage are a few effects of the sun. Use lip balms that contain sun blockers or simply dab a bit of sunscreen before stepping out.

5. Avoid Bad Habits

Bad habits like peeling dry lips or frequently licking your lips can cause lip damage. Apply a lip balm whenever your lips feel dry.

6. Avoid Chemical Lipsticks

Contact dermatitis is a big risk to those who frequently apply lipsticks that contain harmful chemicals. Chemicals like dyes, poly parabens, palmitate etc. not just harm your lips but are also toxic to the body if swallowed. If you can’t do without it, herbal lipsticks are your safest bet.

7. Eat A Vitamin Rich Diet

Research shows that vitamin deficiencies, especially Vitamin B, are significant causes behind cheilitis or chapped lips. Including the various vitamins in your diet ensures proper nutrition, good blood circulation and health to your beautiful lips.

How To Change The Shape Of Your Lips?

1. Make-Up

Proper make-up is the easiest hack to a fuller pout. Playing with light and shade effects to accentuate the shape of your lips is painless and requires minimal effort. Follow the tips mentioned in this article to choose the right shades and methods that suit your lip type.

2. Lip Fillers

Lip fillers are dermal fillers that are injected into your lips to give them a fuller appearance. Though these are temporary measures, they give immediate results with minimal side effects.

A. Collagen Fillers

Collagen, a protein that naturally occurs in your body and gives structural support to your skin, was previously used in lip fillers. However, due to various side effects and their short-lived effect, collagen fillers are less frequently used now.

B. Hyaluronic Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers [2] are now the most popular dermal fillers that are used for lip augmentation. This is a naturally occurring substance in the human body and is used to improve the shape and volume of your lips. The possible side effects of hyaluronic acid fillers may include localized inflammation, numbness, allergic reactions and temporary skin discolouration.

3. Lip Surgery

If you wish to permanently change the shape of your lips, lip surgery is the option. With surgery, you can alter the volume of your lips and change their structure by altering the size of the philtrum. However, as it is a permanent surgical process, there are chances of it going terribly wrong. So make sure to consult your doctor and opt for an experienced plastic surgeon to do the job