Children often suffer from chapped lips in the colder months. Because the skin on the lips is thinner than the rest of the body, the cold and dry heat often causes chapping and irritation.
There are steps you can take as a parent to help ease this issue.
- Use a petroleum based lip moisturizer, not wax based. Lip glosses can make chapped lips worse with their perfumes and dyes, so they can also be considered ineffective. Vaseline and Aquafor are great products for dry lips, especially for people with sensitive skin.
- The best way to treat chapped lips is to prevent them. You can do this by making sure your child is well hydrated, and apply moisturizer immediately following bath time.
If a child is excessively licking his or her lips, causing a rash or irritation around the mouth, you can treat this skin with the same ointment used on the lips. If the skin becomes scabbed or crusty, set up an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss the risk of infection.
This article is sponsored by the Fishkill NY pediatrican office of Children’s Medical Group. From Fishkill to Wappingers Falls, Beacon to Poughkeepsie, our doctors have been caring for children in Southern Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties for over 15 years.
Source: CMG