HERE’S a novel way to beat dry and chapped summer lips - injections of dermal filler.
The warmer months can be a nightmare for anyone prone to dry lips, as sun exposure and a lack of hydration causes them to crack.
But now Dr Bashar Bizrah, founder of the Beyond Med Centre clinic in London, says there could be a scientific reason why fillers might have a moisturising effect.
He explains: “You typically see an explosion of dry lips in either hot or cold weather.
“The colder the air is, the less humidity it carries, while the summer months cause sun damage and dehydration.
“But dermal fillers in your lips could, in theory, help to prevent chapped lips if it’s a problem you’re particularly susceptible to them.
“The filler - hyaluronic acid - attracts a degree of water and this might help rejuvenate that area.
“We’d hardly ever perform a treatment for that purpose, but if lip fillers add hydration and protection to a vulnerable area, then it’s certainly a welcome secondary effect.”
One woman who’s struggled for years with the problem says having injections of filler has caused her symptoms to vanish.
Sara Kawadri, 28 and who had treatment at Beyond Med Centre, says the decision to get fillers in the first place was to help boost lips she felt were too small for the rest of her face.
And when her dry mouth suddenly disappeared, too, she realised she’d hit on a welcome side-effect.
Sara, a personal assistant from Wimbledon, south west London, explains: “In the last few years, my lips started to get really, really dry.
“I’m only 28 year old, so I shouldn’t be getting wrinkles, but I noticed my lips were always dehydrated and little lines were starting to appear.
“I always used moisturiser but nothing really helped.
“And because I was constantly biting them, too, I was just exacerbating how dry they were.
“But since having fillers for the first time ever, the dryness has suddenly disappeared.
“I obviously didn’t get lip fillers to stop them getting chapped - like everyone else, I just wanted to change the way they looked.
“But it’s definitely a welcome side effect of the treatment and if it can help me, it could help other people who struggle with dry lips.”
There’s a number of things that could be causing you to struggle with dry lips.
The sun’s UV rays can cause skin damage and a lack of hydration in your diet can also translate to chapped lips.
Ddeficiencies in Vitamin B2, zinc and iron have also been linked with dry lips.
Repeatedly licking or biting your lips is also a no-no - as saliva will cause the skin’s natural grease to wash away, leading to dryness, meanwhile some fragranced lip balms can also wick moisture away from the places where you need it.
"Wed hardly ever perform a treatment for that purpose, but if lip fillers add hydration and protection to a vulnerable area, then its certainly a welcome secondary effect."
Dr Bashar Bizrah, founder of Beyond Med Centre
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