The pandemic has affected our lives in more ways than one. Apart from bringing life as we know it to a grinding halt, the constant feeling of doom has upped anxiety and stress levels — causing our skin to act up. And if that's not enough, the need to wear a face mask every time you step out of the house just adds to list of skin woes. Most of you'll might already have a dedicated routine in place to calm your angry, irritated skin, we bet you haven't given much thought to the skin on your lips — yes, you totally forgot about them. Wearing a mask for longer periods can lead to a unique problem called mouth sores and even majorly dry out your lips (no kidding). Read on as we give you the complete lowdown on what causes mouth sores and how to effectively tackle this problem.
01Why does this problem occur?
One of the main causes of mouth sores and dry lips is the warm, trapped moisture in your mask. The damp environment is the perfect breeding ground for a host of bacteria and leads to problems such as acne flare-ups around the mouth (yikes!).
02The candida attack
Speaking of bacteria, there is a highly notorious one called candida, which particularly thrives in the damp environment in your mask. So, if you are someone who has dry lips and is used to licking them, you are unknowingly creating a very comfortable home for this bacteria to grow in. Sounds gross, but it's true. When both these factors – the moisture from your breath and saliva from the constant licking — come together, it leads to them getting trapped in the crevices and lines around your mouth, leading to soreness around the mouth as well as chronic dry lips.
03Here’s how you can avoid this:
- The first and foremost way to avoid this problem is to stop licking your lips.
- Secondly, you must apply a good antifungal cream around the mouth to prevent the growth of bacteria and reduce the chances of a fungal infection.
- Avoid wearing a super greasy lip balm under the mask as the dampness inside the mask, coupled with the greasiness of the lip balm can worsen the problem of acne and chapped lips.
- If the problem persists despite these precautions, it would be wise to see your dermatologist ASAP Main image courtesy: @thepracticalluxury
