Question

My child’s lips are particularly dry during the winter, even with cracks. How should I handle this? Is it necessary to give fish oil supplements?

Answer

When lips become inflamed, avoid licking them with the tongue because the enzymes in saliva can cause them to become even drier. Reduce intake of stimulating and acidic foods such as spicy foods and pickles to avoid making the lips feel more painful. It is recommended to increase intake of foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E to stabilize the condition of dry and chapped lips. Additionally, maintaining adequate hydration and a balanced diet is the simplest and most effective way to keep lips moist and shiny. Here’s a simple homemade remedy: sift 50 grams of gypsum powder, add 50 grams of honey and 3 grams of ice, mix well and apply to the chapped lips, twice or thrice a day, usually within 3 to 4 days the condition will be restored. Both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine recommend the following care measures:

  1. Use lip balm, especially during the winter months, when protecting lips is as important for men as for women, to ensure a healthy winter.
  2. Consume vitamins B complex and eat plenty of fresh vegetables.
  3. Maintain adequate water intake, which is crucial for the balance of bodily functions.
  4. Avoid licking lips, as temporary moisture can lead to dryness of the lip mucosa and exacerbate dryness, potentially leading to infection and swelling.
  5. Use oily substances available at hand (such as moisturizing oil, sesame oil or other edible oils, honey or frostbite ointment) to apply with a cotton swab on the lips, which can effectively moisturize them.