Do you remember to put sunscreen on when lying around the pool, vacationing at the beach, or spending the afternoon outside at the ballpark? If you are adamant about safeguarding your skin from a potential sunburn, how mindful are you about shielding your smile from the same possible consequence? If you haven’t thought about why it’s important to protect your lips from the sun, keep reading.
Why is Protecting Your Lips Important?
Unlike the thicker skin that covers the rest of your body, your lips are much thinner. They also lack the appropriate amount of melanin to minimize the effects of the sun’s UVB rays. As a result, they remain highly vulnerable to sunburn and potentially, oral cancer.
While a typical sunburn consists of redness, tenderness, and some slight swelling, one that occurs on your lips can also cause small, white blisters to form that are full of fluid. The more damage that occurs to these skill cells over time, the greater the risk of oral cancer – a disease that affects more than 50,000 people each year.
Ways to Protect Your Lips Against Sunburn
If you want to make sure your smile looks and feels good throughout the summer, you’ll need to start by being proactive when out in the sun.
Not only will you want to make sure you’re covering yourself with sunscreen, but you’ll also want to find a lip balm that has an SPF 30+ rating. While many only go up to 15, finding one with a higher SPF will be most beneficial, as this can effectively shield some of the most harmful UVB rays. You’ll likely need to reapply it every two hours, depending on how long you plan to stay outside.
You can also wear a floppy or wide-brimmed hat to block the sun from targeting your face and lips, as well as avoid the times of day when the sun is at its highest and hottest, which is typically mid-morning until mid-afternoon.
How to Treat Sunburned Lips
Should your lips become burned while being out in the sun, there are a few helpful tips you can follow:
- Apply aloe vera to reduce the burning feeling
- Apply a cold compress to help reduce swelling and discomfort
- Alleviate pain with an over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medication
If you notice that the burn is not improving after a few days, seek medical attention from your doctor.
Give your smile the protection it needs and deserves so that you can enjoy the summer without tending to the burn.
About the Author
Dr. Jeremiah Paylor is a trusted dentist in Arvada who understands that summer is when the days are spent outside enjoying the weather. All of this is fine, but only if proper protection is followed. This means making sure your skin, specifically your lips and face, is shielded from the sun’s rays. If you want tips to make sure you maintain a fresh, sun-kissed smile, contact us via the website or by calling (720) 776-4900.