Beauty Remorse: Sunburnt Lips

It's all fun and games when you're out in the sun, but if you don't protect your lips with SPF, you're asking to get sunburnt. I scorched my pucker last weekend because I forgot to reapply my SPF balm. For a few days, my lips felt and looked like Bozo the Clown. Burned lips feel awful—talking, laughing and eating suddenly became a chore. Don't worry Beauties, we've got the solution to remedy your problem pout, just keep reading.

It's important to first assess what kind of burn you have. If you have a first-degree burn, your lips will appear red and swollen, with mild discomfort. Similarly, a second-degree burn has similar symptoms with more blistering. If you have a third-degree burn (we hope not!), your lips are charred and you've probably lost partial sensation in your mouth. Take a trip to your doctor if you think you have anything more severe than a first-degree burn. If you only have a minor burn, here's a guide to heal lips quickly.

HOW TO Heal Sunburnt Lips

1. If your lips aren't blistered or cracked, lightly apply a cold compress to reduce redness and swelling. Make sure you cover the ice with a cloth so you don't directly apply ice to your lips. 

2. Slather your lips with a cooling ointment. Make sure your balm is formulated with soothing ingredients like vitamin E, aloe, or shea butter. Avoid petroleum, benzocaine or lidocaine-based products products because they trap heat, which will cause more blistering and discomfort. 

3. Keep your body hydrated—drink lots of water and avoid direct sun exposure. To temporarily relieve the pain of the sunburn take the recommended dosage of aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

Beautylish Tip: Remember Beauties, fight the temptation to lick or pick at your damaged lips for quicker healing time. 

Image courtesy of Jose Villa Blog