5 Things You Are Doing That Are Making Your Chapped Lips Worse

We can all agree that chapped lips are the worst. Once they become dry and flaky, it feels like an ongoing, uphill battle trying to get them back to their supple state. Add things like cold and blustery weather and ultra dry indoor heating and your efforts are practically futile.

"Dehydration is the number one cause for lip chapping, which can be both due to internal and external factors," says board certified dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban. "Winter is the prime season because both temperatures and environment humidity are at an all-time low."

She adds that because there are only a few layers of cells (60 percent less compared to other body parts) that transepidermal water loss (TEWL) becomes more of an issue. Also, our lips don't have oil glands, which means they need supplemental moisture.

To keep your lips in good shape all season long, make sure you avoid these common mistakes.

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