Chapped Lips? It could be a Vitamin Deficiency..
Over the years I have tried tons of balms. Some have helped a bit more than others, but even if I stop using them for two days, I'm back to ground zero. I always find it hard to stick to a schedule at night, becoz I'm so sleepy, the lip balm invariably goes unused. Good Morning Chapped Lips!
About four weeks ago I began taking a multivitamin & multi mineral supplement daily. Not for my lips. Just generally.
Two weeks into the meds, I noticed my lips weren't chapping as much. I was still skipping lip balm on most nights. But my lips would be perfectly fine in the morning.
Wanting to know if there was more than a causal relationship between these two events, I went researching (I mean googling!)
And I found that vitamin deficiency is a surprising culprit in perpetually chapped lips.
Chapped lips could be a reaction to a deficiency of *any* or *all* of the following:
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
All these vitamins & minerals are needed to maintain cellular hydration. So some of our skin woes may actually have a genesis in nutrition and the solution may not lie entirely in our skin creams.
Has it happened to you where a skin or hair issue got resolved when you made a change in your diet?
P.S.: Please consult your physician / doctor before starting any pills - even if they are vitamins/minerals. They could react badly as everyone is metabolically different. Overdoses of some vitamins / minerals could be injurious to health.
It happens to me everytime Tanveer. Whenever I stop using my balms, my lips gets dry and peeled off within a couple of days. I think I should take a Vitamin C pill everyday! Informative post.
ReplyDeleteYea, Lancy.. Pls talk to yr Dr. before you take any supplements :D
DeleteCouple weeks ago I suddenly got THREE huge pimples, and I haven't had them in years. So I thought about what I'd eaten over past few days-- mostly out, food with artificial colouring, sauces etc.
ReplyDeleteI was reading the book The Beauty Diet at that time, so decided to try eating right. (will review that book soon).
For the next few days, I ate only healthy home-made food, no bread, dairy or sugar. Didn't do anything to the pimples (no ointments nothing). They ALL disappeared couple nights without leaving a scar!
Wow! That's really nice! Pls do a review soon, I'm waiting to read it :D
Deleteso true Tanveer and its not only with the lips but also with one's skin... abhi am on a strict dietary regimen which sees me take in a lot of fresh fruits and veggies... and seriously my skin has stopped feeling dry, flaky and tight! :)
ReplyDeleteI saw!! U had done a post on eating habits & I saw that u were having a tomato & carrot clear soup - if you don't mind I'd love to have the recipe :D
DeleteIt think its the hormones at play generally for the skin coupled with diet. No matter what i do my lips are just as chapped. I have similar situation like yours.I apply sesame/coconut or olive and have stopped thinking about it. Earlier my skin was smooth now over the years its become reactive,combination even though i take better care of it now than during my teens or 20's.:)
ReplyDeleteI have been researching about peeling nails but nothing has worked till now:(
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is what my doc said when I had a mouth ulcer.
ReplyDeleteYup! It's true. A simple Vitamin B Complex tablet (usually come fortified with Vitamin C) taken once at night everyday resolves the issue of eternally chapped lips. I saw the effects in just under a couple of weeks. Also, if you have a problem of unexplained dark, cracked looking patches appearing in the corners of your mouth; it is a sign of a Vitamin B deficiency as well; and the same tablets will work just fine to resolve the issue.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this! Totally answered my question for when I'm staring at myself in the mirror, thinking about what on EARTH is going to stop them from chapping. Keep 'em coming!!
ReplyDeleteoohhh!!!!...my hubby has this prob with lips...M gonna chk if this makes a diff to him
ReplyDeleteoh..hey can i ask which tab is it?
ReplyDeleteYes, vitamin & mineral deficiency effects not just chapped lips, but skin condition as well..Every time I make an effort to eat right (fresh fruits,nuts,fibrous stuff) my body immediately shows its appreciation, so yes a vitamin supplement would help with skin troubles as well
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm anemic and it affects my body in more ways than I thought.
ReplyDeletethank you for this Tanz!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very lovely article. We do suffer from deficiencies all the time due erratic diets and unhealthy stressful lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteMy skin is gone so bad right now post-father-death due to immense stress and depression that I need to take drastic measures to be back on track.Thats the reason I have again started taking my Herbalife supplements.
Tans, i too suffer from perennial chapped lips...Which multivitamin do u take?
ReplyDeleteThis is an extremely enlightening post...i had no idea this cud be the reason...kept blaming diff lip products...
I have a few deficiencies, and I think my lips are chapped because of it. I think being healthy, is the best make-up.
ReplyDelete