1. Dry Mouth During Pregnancy
2. Dry Lips Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings lot of joy and enjoyment in a woman. However, there are many discomforting symptoms a pregnant woman has to face during pregnancy. The good news is that the symptoms improve after the baby is born. Most of these symptoms are associated with hormonal changes and altered metabolic activities in the body after conception.

Backaches, abnormal food craving, stretch marks, heartburn, frequent urination etc, are some of the problems that are normally experienced by a pregnant woman. Aside from the above problems, many women complain of dry skin as well as dry lips and mouth. The severity of dryness varies from one woman to another. It can be mild, moderate or severe. Dry lips are often painful, especially when they are chapped and fissured. The condition becomes aggravated during winter season.

We scoured Amazon for the best lip balms and ChapSticks, including the best lip balm for dry lips, the best lip balms with SPF, and the best tinted lip balm from from Vaseline, Burt’s Bees. I have the worst chapped lips since being pregnant. And it’s winter. I use different chap sticks, lip balms, lip scrubs and it’s not helping. Specifically, that little resting phase that hair goes through before falling out is obliterated. There is no resting period during pregnancy - the hair just keeps growing. And that's why, alongside the obvious knocker-related advantages of pregnancy, thick, luxurious hair is the one thing the ladies have to look forward to. That's the good news. Corradi recommends having your teeth cleaned at the dentist twice during pregnancy and practicing good oral hygiene at home. For periodontitis, your dentist may give you an antibacterial mouth.

Causes for Dry Lips during Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings about many body changes in a woman. Most of them are due to increased hormonal level and metabolic activities in a pregnant woman.

For dry or chapped lips, keep chapstick on hand — and drink plenty of water. If you have other concerns about changes to your lips — above or below — talk to your OB about it. They’ll be able to.

Some women may experience dry lips and dry skin due to slow down of oil secretion and loss of elasticity. Dehydration is another important cause for dry lips due to increased metabolic activity in the body of a pregnant woman. Since the body starts storing increased amount of water to raise the blood volume during pregnancy, it dehydrates the skin surface. Besides, frequent urination can lead to fluid loss. Winter months are harsh for a pregnant woman, especially for her lips as they tend to crack and parch more than a normal woman. Frequent licking can also cause dryness of lips.

How to Treat Lip Drying during Pregnancy?

A dry lip during pregnancy is not a serious condition. In most cases it can be cured with simple home solutions. However, there is one condition known as gestational diabetes, meaning diabetes occurring during pregnancy. When a woman has dry lips together with gestational diabetes it is necessary to consult a physician.

Some of the effective home remedies for dry lips during pregnancy are:

• Keep your body well hydrated. For this you will have to drink enough water and fluid.
• Apply coconut oil to your lips. Coconut oil is safe during pregnancy. The oil keeps your lips moist and heals parched lips within few days.
• Rub cucumber slice on the dry lips as often as you can. Cucumber hydrates the dry lip skin and keeps it moist. It also helps to reduce pain caused due to dryness.
• Another important home remedy for dry lips is applying milk cream. Apply it two times in a day to prevent and cure dry lips.
• Aloe vera gel is another important natural remedy for dry lips during pregnancy. Apply fresh aloe vera gel extracted by cutting aloe leaf or purchase aloe vera gel available in medical stores. Aloe vera gel retains the moisture and keeps the lips moist.
• Do not use cheap lipsticks and prevent further dryness.
• You can also apply castor oil on the lips to keep them moist and smooth during pregnancy.
• During winter months extra precaution has to be taken to prevent dryness of lips. First of all exfoliate the dry and rough lip surface with a moist cloth by gently rubbing. While exfoliating it is necessary not to pick the dry dead skin from the lips as it will start bleeding. Now apply Vaseline or coconut oil to keep the lips well moisturized.
• Consume foods rich in vitamin A, C, and B such as green leafy vegetables, carrots, beets, spinach, milk, fruits and fruit juices, tomatoes, whole grains and legumes. All the essential nutrients are required to keep your body well nourished during pregnancy.

Winter is a hard time for every skin type, whether you're dry or oily. The outdoor air combined with the indoor heat can dehydrate our skin and cause lips to crack, bleed, and peel. Many of us shrug off chapped lips as par for the course, but really, they can be a sign of more significant health issues. Here are seven ways chapped lips could be a sign of something else more serious than a dehydrated pout.

Your peeling and cracked dry lips can be a sign of a number of things, including dehydration, an allergy, or a vitamin deficiency Sure, the typical culprit of chapped lips is licking our lips (using saliva to hydrate our lip’s skin), but that's not always the reason for your rough skin. A good indication that your dry lips are signaling something else about your health is if it seems like they're impossible to hydrate, and they even cause you pain. Those are both signs that may give you reason to seek some medical attention.

If you suspect that your dry pucker is being caused by something more serious than winter's dry and cold weather, take a look at these seven common, but more alarming causes of chapped lips.

1. A Yeast Infection

Did you know that your cracked lips may be a sign of a yeast infection?This is especially true if you have cracks around the corner of our mouth. 'When you lick your lips excessively, the warm, moist saliva encourages yeast to grow, especially when the saliva builds up in the corners of the mouth,' Dr. Michele Green, a New York-based dermatologist, tells Bustle over email. The best remedy is to hydrate — drink lots of water and avoid licking your lips. It can also help to use a moisturizing barrier like beeswax balm or Vaseline to stop the buildup of saliva, Green says.

2. An Allergic Reaction

Dry Mouth During Pregnancy

If your lips look like you just came back from a filler appointment, this may be an allergic reaction. Lip-plumping products are a common reason for allergic reactions, Dr. Debra Jaliman, a New York-based dermatologist, tells Bustle over email. 'Cinnamon and cayenne powder are commonly found in lip plumpers and can cause a reaction,' she says. You could also be allergic to certain foods. Take note of what you're eating and using and adjust until you find the right product for you.

3. Dehydration

Dry lips, mouth, and eyes are all signs of dehydrated skin that lacks a proper amount of water. To avoid dehydration, 'drink at least eight cups of water a day,' Jaliman says. You should also use lips balms with hydrating ingredients such as jojoba oil or shea butter, she adds.

4. Sun Damage

Raptor software, free download. 'Long-term sun exposure can cause the lips to become dry and stiff, resulting in cracking or splitting,' Green says. If you don't protect your lips from the sun's UV rays, that can also lead to inflammation, she adds. Even on the coldest winter days, make sure to use a lip product with SPF in it.

5. A Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamin B plays an important role in the regular functioning of your body. It provides energy, helps your immune system fight off diseases, and contributes to healthy skin, Green says. Without enough Vitamin B in your system, you may experience a variety of skin issues, such as dry lips, she adds. To make sure you're not deficient, eat plenty of Vitamin B-rich foods like eggs and lean meat.

6. Too Much Vitamin A

Dry Lips Pregnancy

On the flip side, dry lips can mean you're intaking too much Vitamin A. Vitamin A toxicity can occur if you're taking too many supplements — you should be careful in taking Vitamin A supplements because most of it should come from your diet. 'The excess amount of Vitamin A is stored in the liver, and it accumulates over time, causing a variety of symptoms, such as excessive cracking on the corners of the mouth, dryness, and peeling of the skin,' Green says.

7. Medication

Certain medications can also lead to dry, cracked lips. 'High blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, and chemotherapy drugs are among some that are known to cause dry lips,' Jaliman says. These drugs decrease the production of saliva, which can dry out your lips and mouth. Consult your doctor if you think a medication is the reason behind your dry lips.

Studies referenced:

Sheetal, A. (2013) “Malnutrition and Its Oral Outcome – A Review.” Journal Of Clinical And Diagnostic Research, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3576783/

Experts:

Dr. Michele Green, New York-based dermatologist

Dr. Debra Jaliman, New York-based dermatologist

Additional reporting by Eden Lichterman.

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