Winter weather is dry, and our lips often become dry and cracked. Babies, in particular, tend to lick their lips, which accelerates the evaporation of moisture and makes their lips more prone to dryness and cracking. So, what should we do if a baby's lips are dry and cracked in winter? Let me give you some tips.
[What to Do if a Baby's Lips are Dry and Cracked in Winter]
1. Apply olive oil before bed
Apply olive oil to your baby's lips before bedtime and let it absorb for at least 20 minutes before wiping it off. Alternatively, you can mix a small amount of powdered milk with water to form a paste and apply it thickly to the lips as a lip mask. This will provide sufficient moisture to your baby's lips.
2. Massage the lips regularly
When you have free time, you can massage your baby's lips. Every night before bed, apply some honey to a cotton pad and gently apply it to your baby's lips. Then use your fingers to gently massage the lips to promote blood circulation and nourish the lips, making them more moisturized.
3. Use a face mask
In winter, when you need to take your baby outside, you can have them wear a face mask to protect their lips from the cold wind. The purpose of wearing a face mask is to maintain the temperature and moisture of the lips, preventing them from becoming dehydrated and dry. In addition, wearing an anti-haze mask can also prevent your baby from inhaling haze in polluted weather.
4. Clean the lips properly
After meals, use warm water to clean your baby's lips. Avoid using alkaline cleansers such as soap, as they can cause dryness. After cleaning and drying the lips, apply a moisturizing lip balm. Avoid using adult lip balms, as they often contain many other chemicals such as fragrances that are not suitable for children. Instead, choose a lip balm specifically designed for infants and young children, which contains natural nourishing ingredients, especially those with moisturizing ingredients such as vitamin E.
5. Drink plenty of water
Ensure that your child has a balanced diet, drinks plenty of water, and eats fresh fruits and vegetables. Meat consumption should be moderate, and B vitamins can be supplemented under the guidance of a doctor when needed. When going outdoors in cold and windy weather, you can have your child wear a small face mask to reduce the stimulation of the cold wind on the lips and prevent excessive evaporation of moisture.
Avoid letting your child play outdoors for a long time when it is windy, especially in windy areas.
[Precautions]
1. When your child's lips are peeling, do not tear them off with your hands. Instead, use a clean gauze or handkerchief dipped in warm water to gently apply moisture to the lips. Wait until the skin in the peeling area has completely softened before gently removing it or carefully cutting it off with scissors.
2. In terms of diet, avoid eating oily, overly sweet, spicy, and salty foods. The diet should be light. Avoid giving your baby sweet drinks.
3. If your baby's lips are dry and cracked, do not lick them to moisten them with saliva. Although saliva can temporarily moisten the lips, it will quickly evaporate. Moreover, the protein substances in saliva, such as amylase, will stick to the lips, causing contraction of the deep connective tissue, wrinkling of the lip mucosa, and worsened lip dryness, leading to cracking and peeling.
4. If your baby has tongue-licking dermatitis, you can apply 1% hydrocortisone, desonide, or elocon externally to the affected area. If you are concerned about the side effects of corticosteroids, children over 2 years old can also use 0.03% tacrolimus ointment or 1% pimecrolimus cream twice a day until the skin lesions completely disappear.
