What to Apply on Children’s Lips in Extreme Weather?

“What to Apply on Children’s Lips in Extreme Weather?”

By Dr. Mohd Rizwan Khan

Dr. Rizwan’s Skin, Cosmetic & Laser Clinic, Shahjahanpur

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Cracked, dry, red, or even bleeding lips — many parents see this in their kids during winters, hot summers, or even after dust storms.

You may apply Vaseline, sometimes ghee, or even leave it alone thinking “bacche ki to skin soft hoti hai, thik ho jayega.”

But lips need care — especially in extreme weather.

Let’s make it simple. Here’s what you should (and should not) apply on your child’s lips, based on the weather.

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❄️ Winter Worries: Dry, Cracked Lips

Cold winds and indoor heaters pull moisture out of the lips.

Kids often lick their lips, which makes them worse.

✅ What to apply in winters:

• Petroleum jelly (Vaseline-type) – classic and safe

• Coconut oil – light, soothing and natural

• Lip balms with shea butter, beeswax or lanolin

• Ceramide-based lip moisturisers (if lips are extremely dry)

🚫 Avoid:

• Lip balms with fragrance or strong flavours

• Adult lipsticks or glosses

• Ghee/butter directly from kitchen (can cause irritation or infection in some)

📝 Pro Tip: Apply a thick layer at bedtime when the child is not eating or licking.

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🌞 Summer Sun: Burnt, Tanned or Peeling Lips

Yes, lips can get sunburn too, especially in hot places like UP where dry hot winds (loo) blow.

✅ What to apply in summers:

• Lip balm with SPF 15–30 (look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide)

• Aloe vera gel-based lip balm – soothing and cooling

• Coconut or almond oil if no balm is available

🚫 Avoid:

• Licking lips repeatedly (educate your child gently)

• Glossy lip balms (they attract sun more)

📝 Pro Tip: Choose matte-finish lip balms with SPF and reapply every 2–3 hours if outdoors.

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🌬️ Dusty Windy Days: Irritation + Allergies

Dry winds with dust can trigger irritation, especially in sensitive kids.

✅ Use:

• Barrier lip creams with petroleum jelly or lanolin

• Ointment-based balms (not lotions or gels)

• If lips are red and itchy, consult a dermatologist — may need a mild prescription balm

🚫 Don’t apply:

• Kitchen oils or balms with essential oils (like clove, peppermint) – may cause stinging

• Home remedies like lemon or malai – harsh on kid’s skin

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👶 Which Lip Balm is Safe for Children?

Look for products with these features:

✔️ Fragrance-free

✔️ Color-free

✔️ Hypoallergenic

✔️ SPF if used in day time

✔️ Dermatologist tested or recommended

Some common safe ingredients:

• Shea Butter

• Beeswax

• Coconut oil

• Petroleum jelly

• Ceramides

• Panthenol

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💡 Quick Tips for Parents

• Apply lip balm before school and after washing face

• Teach your child not to lick lips again and again

• Keep a travel-sized balm in school bag

• At night, apply a thicker coat for healing

• If lips are bleeding or crusted, don’t ignore – seek medical advice

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Real Case from Our Clinic

A 9-year-old girl came with cracked and bleeding lips in January.

Her parents were using ghee and boroline. But it wasn’t helping.

We gave a ceramide-rich lip ointment and advised a non-flavoured, SPF lip balm for school use.

Within 3 days, her lips were healing fast.

Moral? Sometimes simple switches bring better results.

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Final Thought

Children’s skin — especially lips — is thinner and more delicate.

They don’t always say what’s bothering them, so you have to keep an eye.

In Shahjahanpur, where summers are hot and winters are dry, seasonal lip care is essential.

Keep a child-safe lip balm in your home kit, just like you keep Dettol or band-aids.

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📍Need help choosing the right lip balm or worried about your child’s cracked lips?

Visit Dr. Rizwan’s Skin, Cosmetic & Laser Clinic, Shahjahanpur – we treat kids with gentle hands and safe solutions.

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#DryLipsSolution

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