Chapped chap
Question
My lips are really dry and I have to apply vaseline to them every day. It makes me self-conscious - I've never even kissed a girl. What's wrong with my lips and what can I do to make them better?
Answer
Dry lips can be caused, amongst other things, by very hot and cold temperatures, general dehydration and stress. There are preventative measures you can take to protect your lips, including making sure you drink lots of water.
Skin conditions such as eczema often cause dry lips, as do allergic reactions to any product you use on or around your lips.
Licking your lips when they are already dry and cracked may cause them to become even more dry once the saliva has evaporated, so try to avoid doing this if you can. Applying an unperfumed lip-balm or simply petroleum jelly throughout the day will help prevent any more moisture escaping from your lips and help soothe any soreness.
If your dry lips are causing you discomfort, or continue to cause you problems over a prolonged period of time, you may like to get in contact with your local doctor (GP) to check that it is not a symptom of an underlying condition.
It seems that your dry lips are having an impact on your confidence around girls. This is understandable, but try to remember that hardly anyone is completely happy with their appearance. It's quite likely that any girl you meet will have some concern about her appearance too.
Updated: 13/02/2007
Question answered by bss
