How to repair chapped lips that are bleeding?

The first instinct when dealing with chapped lips that bleed should be to gently clean and disinfect them, in order to prevent any infection. To do this, start by washing your hands then delicately rinse your lips with lukewarm water, as water that is too hot or too cold could potentially weaken them further. Next, soak a cotton pad in a mild antiseptic solution, such as a saline solution, and gently dab your lips. If the skin is slightly peeling, do not attempt to remove it, as this could reopen the wound. It is recommended to clean and disinfect chapped lips once a day until they heal. This step should be followed by the application of a moisturising and repairing balm, which helps to protect the skin while maintaining its hydration, a crucial element for its regeneration.

In the event of active bleeding, initially apply a lightly moistened sterile compress to halt the blood flow.

Once the bleeding is under control, it is crucial to restore the skin barrier of the lips. To achieve this, the regular application of an emollient and restorative lip balm is recommended. This rich product provides immediate relief to chapped lips, by creating a protective barrier on their surface that fights against external irritants, retains moisture, and promotes the healing of weakened skin.

We advise you to opt for a treatment containing both emollient agents, such as ceramides or vegetable butters, which help to limit water loss, healing ingredients, like panthenol or the Centella asiatica, to ensure the regeneration and healing of the lip area, and anti-inflammatory agents, such as bisabolol or calendula macerate, to immediately soothe tight lips and provide them with comfort.

If the use of a lip balm is not sufficient, you can turn to a thicker treatment, such as a mask or ointment.

Many people have the habit of licking their lips when they are dry or chapped. However, this is a counterproductive reflex that promotes further dryness. Indeed, when we lick our lips, saliva, although moist at the point of application, causes a rapid dehydration of the skin when it evaporates. A vicious cycle then sets in: saliva temporarily moistens the skin, but its evaporation accelerates the loss of hydration, which intensifies the feeling of dryness. Moreover, while saliva is primarily composed of water, it also contains enzymes such as amylase, which can alter the structure of the skin on the lips. Designed to break down food in the mouth, these proteins can weaken the lip's skin barrier.

Another bad habit to eliminate if one wants to heal chapped, bleeding lips: touching them. This action seemingly harmless can lead to additional cracks and wounds that will exacerbate the problem and delay the healing process. That's why it is strongly recommended to avoid trying to remove the peeling skin, as it risks causing further bleeding.