Lip balm: see how to choose a good one for summer – 12/23/2023 – Balance

In winter, we all turn to lip balms to avoid dry, cracked lips, which sometimes start to peel off the skin. But we don’t always pay attention to sun protection in the summer, which becomes even more necessary, according to dermatologists.

The lips have a very thin layer of skin, with little melanin, which makes them more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, says dermatologist Michele Kreuz, member of the SBD (Brazilian Society of Dermatology). These characteristics predispose the region to the appearance of skin cancer.

There is an even simpler explanation: “The lip mucosa is part of our skin. In the same way that we have to apply sunscreen to the skin of our face and body, we also need to apply it to our lips”, says dermatologist Ana Carolina Sumam .

Lip balm should be used all year round, says Sumam, “rain or shine”, but in summer it is even more essential because of the greater exposure to ultraviolet radiation in environments such as swimming pools and beaches. See here expert tips for choosing a good protector.

Know the difference between lip balm and moisturizer

Lip moisturizer is a dermocosmetic with a composition rich in d-panthenol, hyaluronic acid and vegetable oils such as cocoa or shea butter, and its function is to treat dry or damaged lips, in addition to keeping them hydrated and moist, explains dermatologist Vinicius by Alencar da Rocha, from SBD.

Lip balm, on the other hand, has specific agents in its composition that will protect the lip from some external agent, says the doctor, be it heat, sun, cold, wind or pollution. There are also combinations of protectors with moisturizers.

When to use lip balm

Lip balm can be used all the time, with one application every two hours, experts say.

“When talking, drinking or eating, the lip balm ends up coming off more quickly. That’s why it should be reapplied”, says Kreuz.

What can’t be missing from a lip balm in summer

There are sunscreens with different purposes, but for summer it is important to look for one with a minimum SPF of 30 and good protection against ultraviolet rays, experts say.

Preferably, says Sumam, those with moisturizing components, such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter and antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, should be sought.

“These are active ingredients that help to reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress to the skin and thus also help to reduce the appearance of cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions on the lip mucosa”, he states.

Moisturizing substances are also ideal for trips to the beach or the pool, says Rocha, because the extra aggression of sea salt and pool chlorine dries out and damages the lips even more.