Lips have very sensitive skin skin on them, and this makes them vulnerable to dryness and chapping. Often they will feel painful if this occurs. One of the causes of chapped lips is deficiency of some essential vitamins. Eating and healthy diet,t takings supplements, or using topical treatments can help.
Here we will go over vitamins that lips need to stay healthy, and ways to get these vitamins.
Vitamin deficiency and Chapped Lips
Even though the most obvious reason for dry lips is over-exposure to cold or dry weather, vitamin deficiency can also be a reason for the dryness and cracking of lips. When lips are deficient of some vitamins, the skin becomes dry and damaged. Vitamins help in locking-in the moisture of the skin. When lips are not constantly moist they will crack. Some deficiencies will cause lip inflammation, cracking, and bleeding. When lips are deficient of some vitamins they fail to have the necessary antioxidants to guard the essential fatty acids on the lips, and give proper nourishment to the skin.
Vitamins B1 and B2
These vitamins are vital for the production of energy in the skin cells to keep the skin healthy. Deficiency of these vitamins results in skin damage. Beans, whole grains, and chicken, duck and turkey meat are foods that are rich in vitamin B.
Vitamin A
This vitamin hastens skin healing and cell regeneration. Deficiency of this vitamin causes the skin to become dehydrated, frail, and wrinkled. The chief suppliers of vitamin A are foods that come from animals like eggs, meats from the organs and dairy products. Juices from carrots, tomato and spinach are also good sources of Vitamin A.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is important in the production of collagen. With elastin, collagen is needed to strengthen the skin tissues. Shortage of vitamin C causes lips to chap. Oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits as well as green turnips, broccoli and green leafy vegetables are good sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is responsible for the production of healthy and moisturized skin. People who have a deficiency of vitamin E will have lips that are irritated and chapped. Many vegetables and fruits are packed with vitamin E. They include avocado, beet greens, guava, papaya and spinach.
Drink More Water
Since dry and cracked lips are signs of dehydration, doctors recommend a daily intake of 8-10 glasses of water. Water will help to carry vitamins to your skin as well.
Vitamin Supplements & Topical Creams
To be certain that one has enough vitamin intake, it is advisable to take vitamin supplements. They are readily available in the market. You can also find creams and lip balms that contain vitamins to repair your lips. Ascorbic acid is a good vitamin C supplement. The most active among vitamin E supplement is Alpha-tocopherol. B complex vitamin supplements are enriched with Vitamins B1, B2, and B6.
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