Cracked and sore lips
For the past six weeks, I have suffered from cracked and sore lips. I’ve tried various balms with no success. I do suffer from cold sores from time to time but they disappear very quickly. I have not changed my make-up or moisturising cream, but I have not been able to use lipstick for almost two months.
Cracked and sore lips can be a sign of a deficiency in both some of the important B vitamins and in the essential fatty acids that the body cannot make but must glean from your diet, says Kerrin Booth, a naturopath who runs Blackmores’ practitioner department in London. A good fish oil from an unpolluted source and a good vitamin B complex will remedy this.
There may also be an underlying mineral deficiency, especially in potassium chloride and sodium phosphate and Booth recommends Blackmores Chloride Compound (£4.73 for 84 capsules. Mail order on 0208-842 3956. Take one capsule, three times a day to return levels to normal.
You also need to avoid eating anything too salty, especially crisps or nuts, since these can have an extra drying effect on the lips. In addition, aim to drink at least 8 glasses of pure water everyday to rehydrate the body from the inside.
The Jurlique range of natural products includes lipsticks and an excellent Lip Care Balm which you can use while your lips heal. Made from organic herbs and essential oils, they are free from any synthetic colourings and the petrochemical derivatives that are present in other brands and which will further irritate your lips. It would be worth your while making the switch for good. For details of the prices and the full range call Jurlique on 020-8841 6644.