Dry Lips in the Sun? How SPF Lip Balm Can Help

Sunny days and outdoor adventures can take a toll on your lips. Many people diligently slather sunscreen on their face and body, but forget about their lips. This often results in dry lips in the sun that feel uncomfortable. If you’ve ever experienced sunburned lips after a day outside, you know how painful it can be. The truth is, your lips need protection just like the rest of your skin. In this article, we’ll explain why using sunscreen for lips is crucial and how it helps keep your lips healthy

Why Do Lips Get So Dry and Sunburned?

Your lips are uniquely vulnerable to the elements. The skin on our lips is much thinner than elsewhere and contains very little melanin, the pigment that helps shield skin from ultraviolet light. This means lips have almost no natural defense against UV radiation. Lips lack oil glands, so they don’t produce the moisturizing oils that the rest of your skin does. With lip balm for dry lips, you might temporarily soothe chapping, but without sun protection, those lips will quickly dry out again under UV exposure. Constant dry air exposure can rapidly strip moisture from the delicate lip tissue, leading to peeling.

The Dangers of Sun Exposure for Lips

Unprotected lips aren’t just at risk of minor dryness. They can sustain real damage. Anyone who has had sunburned lips knows how miserable it is: intense redness, swelling, blisters, and peeling that make it hurt to talk or smile. Repeated sun exposure without protection can cause a chronic condition called actinic cheilitis and increase the risk of skin cancer on the lips. The lower lip is about 12 times more likely to develop skin cancer than the upper lip. Over the years, UV rays also break down collagen in the lips, leading to premature aging signs like lip wrinkles and discoloration. So, aside from short-term pain and chapping, too much sun on your lips can have serious long-term consequences. This is why using a UV protection lip balm whenever you’re outside is so important to safeguard your lip health.

How SPF Lip Balm Keeps Lips Healthy

Think of an SPF lip balm as sunscreen customized for your mouth. It creates a protective shield on the thin skin of your lips. Below are some of the key benefits of using SPF on your lips regularly:

• Prevents painful burns and chapping: By blocking UV rays, an SPF balm wards off sunburn on your lips. No sunburn means less blistering and splitting of the lip skin, so you don’t end up with cracked lips after a day in the sun. This keeps your lips more comfortable during summer outings.
• Reduces risk of lip cancer: One of the most crucial benefits is lowering your cumulative UV exposure, which in turn helps to prevent lip cancers from developing on sun-damaged areas. A daily habit of using SPF chapstick adds an extra line of defense against harmful rays that could otherwise trigger abnormal cell changes.
• Keeps lips moisturized: Most SPF lip balms don’t just contain sunscreen. They also have nourishing ingredients to hydrate and seal in moisture. This means you get two-in-one benefits: your lips stay soft and supple and protected from drying UV exposure. If you struggle with chronic chapped lips, a moisturizing balm with SPF can be the best treatment for chapped lips during outdoor activities.

Over time, unprotected sun exposure leads to wrinkling around the mouth. By wearing SPF, you shield the collagen and delicate skin on your lips from UV breakdown.

Choosing the Best Lip Balm with SPF

Not all lip balms are created equal, especially when it comes to sun defense. Here’s what to consider to find the best protection for your lips:

• SPF rating: Dermatologists generally recommend a lip SPF of at least 30 for adequate protection, especially if you’ll be in strong sun. Higher SPF offers more margin of safety. For example, an SPF 50 lip balm provides robust shielding during intense sun exposure or at the beach. One such high-SPF option is Standard Procedure’s SPF 50 lip balm, an example of a broad-spectrum formula designed for surfers and beachgoers. Whether you plan to hike, swim, or just lounge in the sun, choosing a high SPF will better protect against cumulative damage.
• Broad-spectrum UV coverage: Check that the lip balm is labeled “broad spectrum,” meaning it filters out both UVB (burning rays) and UVA (aging rays). A product advertised as sunscreen for lips should ideally contain ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which physically block the full UV spectrum. These mineral blockers are great for sensitive skin and are often recommended because they sit on top of the skin to reflect UV away. Some chemical sunscreen ingredients can also provide broad coverage, but if you have sensitive lips, you might opt for formulas with minerals since they are less likely to irritate.
• Water resistance: If you’ll be sweating heavily or swimming, pick a lip balm that is water-resistant. Water can wear away sunscreen faster. A water-resistant lip balm for summer activities will adhere better through a surf session or hike. Even then, remember to reapply once you’re done in the water to protect your lips while swimming and afterward.
• Moisturizing ingredients: For everyday comfort, the best lip balm with SPF will include hydrating, healing ingredients. Look for natural oils and butters, beeswax, ceramides, or vitamin E in the ingredient list. These help repair dryness and form a protective barrier. Avoid balms with too much alcohol or any known irritants in lip products if your lips are sensitive. You want a product that feels soothing, not one that stings or makes you lick your lips more.
• Flavor and fragrance: This comes down to personal preference, but be cautious with flavored lip balms if you tend to lick your lips. You don’t want to ingest your SPF or make your lips even drier by licking. Many quality SPF balms are unflavored or lightly flavored. The key is that it’s pleasant enough that you’ll use it often, but not so tasty that you end up removing it by licking.

When you find a good product, stock up so you always have one on hand. It’s easy to buy SPF lip balm online through reputable brands. Having a tube handy will ensure you actually use it whenever needed.

Lip Care Tips

Treat your lip balm like your facial sunscreen. Use it every single day as part of getting ready, not just when you hit the beach. Ultraviolet rays reach your lips even during daily activities, and they also penetrate through clouds. Make it a habit to swipe on a layer of SPF 30+ balm each morning and again later in the day. Consistent use is key to preventing cumulative damage. A common mistake is putting lip balm on once and forgetting about it. In truth, sunscreen wears off the lips fairly quickly – from talking, eating, drinking, and licking. Reapply lip SPF at least every two hours when you’re in the sun, and even more often if you’re swimming or sweating it off. A good rule of thumb is to reapply your SPF chapstick each time you notice it’s gone or after any meal or swim.

Sun and heat can dehydrate your whole body, and your lips will be one of the first places to show it. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain hydration levels. A lip balm for dry lips works much better on well-hydrated skin. You can also use a humidifier at home if the indoor air is very dry. Hydrated lips are less likely to crack and peel. It may be tempting to lick your lips when they feel dry or bite at peeling skin, but try to resist. Licking provides fleeting relief but ultimately makes lips drier as the saliva evaporates. Picking or biting can create sores and impede healing. 

At the end of the day, especially if you’ve had a lot of sun or wind exposure, help your lips recover overnight. You can apply a non-SPF moisturizing lip treatment or a thick ointment at bedtime to replenish moisture. Many people use plain petroleum jelly or a natural oil-based balm before bed. This overnight treatment ensures you wake up with soft lips and reinforces the lip’s moisture barrier, preparing you for the next day.

How to Treat Sunburned Lips Fast

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we end up with sunburned lips. If your lips feel burned or are starting to peel after intense sun, don’t panic. You can promote healing and get relief with a few simple steps. If you’re wondering how to protect your lips, start with immediate cooling and moisturizing measures:

• Get out of the sun: Remove yourself from further UV exposure to prevent the burn from worsening. Stay in the shade or indoors while your lips recover.
• Cold compresses: Gently applying a cold compress can reduce heat, swelling, and pain in the lip tissue. Soak a clean washcloth in cool water and hold it against your lips for a few minutes at a time. This provides quick soothing relief and can minimize inflammation. You can repeat this several times a day to keep the burning sensation down.
• Aloe vera gel: Aloe is famous for healing sunburns on the skin, and it works for the lips too. Dab a little pure aloe vera gel onto your lips to cool and hydrate them. Make sure it’s 100% aloe. Aloe’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness and pain. Applying pure aloe vera can significantly speed up the healing of sunburned lips by soothing the damaged skin.
• Use a gentle moisturizer: Keeping the burned lips moist is important so they don’t dry out and crack further. Avoid any product with harsh ingredients, flavor, or fragrance on your sunburned lips, as these could sting. Applying a thick layer of plain ointment can provide a protective seal over the skin while it heals.
• Don’t peel or pick at blisters: If you develop any blisters on your lips, do not pop them. Let them heal on their own. Picking at peeling skin or blisters can lead to infection or slower healing. Just keep the area clean and moist. As the burn heals, the dead skin will slough off naturally.
• Protect while healing: While your lips are recovering, treat them very gently. When you do go outside, shield your lips from further sun by wearing a hat with a brim and applying a gentle SPF balm frequently. You want to prevent additional UV damage to the compromised skin. Also, avoid hot foods or spicy foods that could irritate your lips as they heal. 

Sunburned lips will usually start to feel better in a few days with these steps. The redness and peeling typically resolve within 3 to 5 days for a mild burn. If you follow these tips on how to treat sunburned lips fast, you’ll maximize your lips’ healing rate and comfort. However, if you experience severe swelling or any signs of infection, you should seek medical attention. Those could indicate a more serious reaction that needs a doctor’s care.

Our lips often take a beating from the sun without us realizing it. Incorporating lip sun care into your routine is a small step that pays off with big benefits. A quality SPF lip balm is your lips’ best friend when it comes to sun protection. Use it daily and reapply it just as you would reapply sunscreen on your skin. Coupling this with good hydration and avoiding habits that dry out your lips will ensure that even in the height of summer, your lips stay comfortable and kissably soft.

Sources

• McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston – Sun Exposure and Lip Cancer Risk med.uth.edumed.uth.edu

• Healthline – Rachel Nall, “Sunburned Lips: Swelling, Healing Time, and More” (Medically reviewed, April 20, 2023) healthline.com

• Medical News Today – Amanda Barrell, “Treatment options for sunburned lips” (Medically reviewed, Aug 19, 2017) medicalnewstoday.com

• Prevent Cancer Foundation – Skin Cancer Prevention Guidelines (Lip Protection) preventcancer.org

• American Academy of Dermatology – “7 Dermatologists’ Tips for Healing Dry, Chapped Lips” aad.org