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    Beat The Burn: Your Essential Guide To A Heartburn-Free Summer!

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    As we enter the festive season, prioritising our health becomes paramount, and unravelling the intricacies of our well-being takes precedence. Acknowledging this, Adcock Ingram, a prominent pharmaceutical company, proudly lends its support to shed light on Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD), a common yet frequently underestimated health issue.

    Experiencing frequent heartburn can significantly impact your everyday activities. Finding effective remedies for heartburn can be a game-changer for individuals managing Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD). Among various interventions, adopting a diet that includes foods to alleviate heartburn is a natural and sustainable approach.

    READ MORE: Apple Cider Vinegar Might Actually Help Your Heartburn

    Implementing specific lifestyle and dietary adjustments can frequently provide relief from Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD) symptoms. For mild symptoms, attempting these heartburn remedies before consulting a medical professional is an option. However, if your symptoms are more severe, it’s advisable to consult your doctor before making any changes. They can guide you on integrating these approaches into your personalised treatment plan.

    Tips For A Heartburn-Free Summer

    Tip 1: Stay active and maintain a healthy weight

    Regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce your risk of GORD.

    Tip 2: Opt for smaller, frequent meals

    Instead of three large meals, go for smaller, more frequent meals. This can ease the pressure on your stomach.

    Tip 3: Trim the fat

    Cut back on high-fat foods like full-fat dairy products and fatty meats. Choose leaner options for a healthier gut.

    Tip 4: Mind your posture

    Sit or stand upright while eating and continue to do so for 45 to 60 minutes after your meal to minimise reflux risk.

    Tip 5: Dine early

    Avoid eating right before bedtime. Give yourself at least three hours before you hit the hay.

    READ MORE: The Ultimate Training Guide For Your Gut

    Dr Thiruvasan Govindsamy, Head of Medical Affairs at Adcock Ingram, says, “Understanding the symptoms and impact of GORD is vital for early intervention. It is essential for individuals to be aware of the potential complications and the available treatment options. Seeking medical advice plays a pivotal role in managing GORD effectively.”

    Visit www.heartburn24.com to learn more. More

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      Summer Adventure Awaits: Nurturing Bone Health With MenaCal.7™

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      In the tapestry of a woman’s life, strong bones are the threads that uphold vitality and empower adventures. MenaCal.7™ emerges as a beacon, urging women to invest in their bone health from the early years, an act of self-love that paves the way for a life of boundless possibilities. As summer beckons, it’s time to embrace the warmth and embark on adventures, supported by the strength that MenaCal.7™ brings.

      Summer Adventures Await 

      With the arrival of summer, the call for adventure grows stronger. Hiking through scenic trails, exploring new destinations, or revelling in the joys of outdoor yoga – all these experiences are enhanced when supported by strong, flexible bones. MenaCal.7™ stands as your partner, ensuring your bones are up for every exhilarating challenge the season brings.

      Self-Love: Nourishing Your Foundation 

      Caring for your bones is an act of self-love, a promise to your body that it will carry you through a lifetime of experiences. MenaCal.7™ embodies this self-care, infusing your bones with the nutrients they need to face the world with strength and grace. It’s a reminder that taking care of yourself is a beautiful, powerful act.

      READ MORE: Empower Your Journey: Unveiling The Secret To Strong Bones With MenaCal.7™

      Investing in Your Future Self 

      The early years are the foundation of a robust future. MenaCal.7™, with its dynamic blend of calcium, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 (MK-7), helps bones grow strong and resilient. By investing in bone health early on, you gift yourself the promise of an active, adventurous life.

      MenaCal.7™ is more than a supplement; it’s a commitment to your future self. By nurturing bone health early on, you set the stage for a life of vibrant adventures and self-love. As the summer sun warms your spirit, let MenaCal.7™ be the foundation that supports every step of your journey.  More

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      What Is Medical Gaslighting? Here’s How To Tell If Your Doctor Is Doing It To You

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      Gaslighting by medical professionals can have dangerous health consequences. Learn how to spot signs of medical gaslighting and take control.

      What Does Medical Gaslighting Look Like?

      Mallory San Nicolas was 29 and pregnant with her second son when she started having double vision. Her doctor blamed pregnancy-related hormone changes, saying she’d see clearer postpartum. With her delivery – a second cesarean section – came a new symptom: weakness in her legs that was so profound, she had to manually lift them to get into a car. And the double vision remained. Two months later, there was no improvement on either front.

      Her doctor said the weakness was probably related to a hernia, she recalls, and suggested core exercises to help her regain the strength to lift her legs. As for her sight? Well, nursing produces hormones similar to pregnancy, he said, so things would finally return to normal after breastfeeding. But deep down, San Nicolas, a CrossFit coach, knew herself well enough to know something was really wrong.

      READ MORE: Finally, A Medical Aid Is Offering DNA Tests To All Members

      Then What Happened?

      Yet, a year passed. She stopped nursing and, as suspected, nothing resolved. Each time she approached her provider with worries and questions, he urged her to wait it out. Her next move was making an appointment with a physician, who also shrugged her off, saying the mom of two just wouldn’t bounce back as easily after multiple C-sections. San Nicolas stressed to her doctors that her deteriorating vision was impacting her ability to drive her car safely, and she was offered an ophthalmologist referral. After a vision exam, San Nicolas remembers the eye specialist saying, “Your vision is 20/20. What do you want me to do for you?” and chalking it up to migraines. She was sent on her way with instructions to work on reducing the stress and anxiety in her life.

      Symptoms piled up until the weakness struck her arms and she couldn’t put her hair in a ponytail or hold a coffee. She also couldn’t swallow or force the right side of her face into smile. “It was almost as if I’d had a stroke. But I still waited a couple months to go to the doctor because I was so concerned I would be blown off like I had been the last two years,” she says. “We look to doctors to know everything, and mine tried to slap an explanation of anxiety onto whatever I explained.”

      After a deep dive on Google, she finally had an answer: myasthenia gravis. It’s a rare autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack the communication channels between nerves and muscle, leading to profound weakness that can also affect the eye muscles. Eventually, via an Internet search, she found a neurologist, who validated her symptoms, ran tests, and finally diagnosed her with the disease. Her experience is not uncommon, sadly.…

      What Is Medical Gaslighting? 

      San Nicolas, now 36, was a victim of something called medical gaslighting. “The term refers to when a health care professional dismisses, invalidates, or belittles a patient’s concerns or symptoms,” says Jennifer Sebring, an MSc candidate and researcher at the University of Manitoba, who also has chronic illnesses and experienced the emotional labour required to prep for appointments knowing that symptoms might be brushed off. Sebring’s recent research article, published in Sociology of Health & Illness, examines the long history of medical gaslighting and lays out how invalidating patient concerns perpetuates health inequities. 

      READ MORE: “Social media had me romanticising my mental illness and put me in a hole”

      Why Does Medical Gaslighting Happen?

      The medical field hasn’t, overall, been centred on the patient experience – especially when it comes to women, people of colour, and trans and intersex individuals. “Health systems have been developed with the cisgender, straight, able-bodied, white male in mind,” says Sebring. Deviate from that and medicine has a tough time knowing what to do with you when you don’t show up with understandable symptoms that fit a mould. 

      “Up until recently, a lot of research was based on white men, and we used that as a gold standard for how to treat disease,” says cardiologist Dr Jennifer Mieres, senior vice president of Northwell Health’s Center for Equity of Care and a patient advocate.

      What Happens When You Experience Medical Gaslighting?

      When you know your health team isn’t all ears, you start doubting yourself and your doctor. That distrust often leads people to withhold information out of fear of judgment, which can result in “catastrophic consequences,” Dr. Mieres says, like misdiagnosis.

      The positive and very recent development: Gaslighting, as a term, is having a viral moment. (See: The Bachelorette, The Real Housewives, and TikTok influencers utilizing #MedicalGaslighting to circulate stories.) So while it’s still happening all the time, we’re at least becoming more attuned to the concept overall. 

      The Signs Of Medical Gaslighting

      Um, hello?! Five clues you’re not being heard.

      Your complaints are dismissed as stress, anxiety, or depression – and your doctor is uninterested in investigating further. 

      You feel ignored or not taken seriously, or that they’re pushing their degree or expertise to prove you wrong or less-than. 

      Your intuition tells you something is off, even when your doctor tells you it’s all fine. 

      You feel talked down to or minimised, instead of engaged in a two-way convo. 

      Your provider isn’t willing to run more tests for you – and won’t adequately explain why you don’t need them.

      READ MORE: We Need To Talk About Hysterectomies And How They Really Affect Women

      What Can You Do If Your Suspect Your Doctor Is Gaslighting You?

      To be clear, it’s not up to you to transform the medical system. But approaching care like a partnership can help you grasp your individual power, says Dr. Mieres, who offers a game plan for how patients can best interact with doctors in her book Heart Smart for Women.

      The most helpful thing you can do:

      Prepare for your visit – including by knowing what gaslighting at an appointment looks like (see “Spot the Signs,” above).

      Bring copious notes too. How, exactly, have you felt over the past six months? How has your lifestyle changed?

      Direct the conversation by being as specific as possible, and ask your provider to document everything, including why they won’t run a test, adds Sebring. 

      If you ever need to employ a last-ditch tactic, say this: “I know my body. I’d love to brainstorm with you a few options for next steps to solve this, or you can refer me to a specialist to investigate further.” You don’t need to play the role of Good Patient, Dr. Mieres says.

      And San Nicolas – who can finally enjoy hiking now that her condition is in remission – reiterates that “we know our bodies more than anyone.” In other words, it’s worth it to find a doctor who will listen. “The only one who suffers by waiting is you,” says San Nicolas. Hear, hear. 

      *Words By Jessica Migala

      *This article was originally published by Women’s Health US More

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      At-Home Test Kits: From Ovulation To STDs, Here’s How To Get Results At Home

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      Ah, technology. We’ve come a super long way from sitting in stirrups for test results to now, where we can simply buy an at-home test kit to know our status. From finding your fertile window to knowing your STD status, these at-home test kits are well worth the purchase, especially when you’re feeling uncertain and don’t want to sit in a queue at the clinic.

      Zoie HPV Self-Test Kit

      HPV remains one of the biggest risks to women’s overall health since it’s a major precursor of cervical cancer. South Africa has really high rates of cervical cancer. Since testing can be tedious, get results at home without visiting the clinic.

      VIVOO V3 Advanced Urine Test

      Think of this as your all-in-one health test kit. It’ll measure your levels of Magnesium, water, vitamin C, calcium, pH levels (alkaline diet, anyone?), ketone, protein, oxidative stress and sodium. There’s also an app tie-in so you can make sense of the numbers and what it means for your body, right now.

      Easy@Home Ovulation Test Strips

      This test identifies your fertile window with a whopping six days of opportunity with 99% accuracy. A complementary app lets you compare all your test results, with interactive graphs that lets you track your menstrual cycle.

      Clearblue Digital Ovulation Test

      This test identifies your two most fertile days – and it works. The digital test gives you a cute smiley face when it’s ovulating. Plus, it gets to work in just five seconds.

      DNX Medical UTI-AID Test Strips

      With accurate results in just 60 seconds, this is the same kind of kit used by doctors. Use the colour chart provided to see how your urine holds up.

      Exacto Vaginal Infection Rapid Self Test

      Gets to work in seconds. Simply insert the test into the vagina, press it onto the vaginal walls for ten seconds, then remove. Compare your result to a colour chart and get your results. Easy peasy.

      ESO Test Syphilis Rapid Screen Test

      This is an antibody test, which tests for the presence of antibodies in the human body that are produced in response to the TP bacterium. Results are delivered in 15 minutes.

      INSTI – HIV Self-Test

      Keen to know your HIV status but scared to visit the clinic? Get yourself tested at home with this quick kit. The INSTI kit provides accurate results in 1 minute, and is used by healthcare professionals, too.

      ESO Test Herpes Rapid Screen Test

      You’ll need one to two drops of blood for this test, but that’s negligible. Results are delivered within 15 minutes – no lab testing required.

      ESO Test Gonorrhoea Rapid Screen Test

      This is an antigen test, which tests directly for the presence of the gonorrhoea bacteria in the body, with high clinical accuracy. Expect results in less than 15 minutes. More

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      What General Health Checks You Should Be having, According to Your Age

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      Haven’t had a health check in a while, or ever?
      You’re not alone. Most people wait until they’re sick to see a GP, so there’s not usually much time in a consultation to also talk about preventative health.
      So, should you book a check with your GP just to talk about what you can do to stay well? And if so what should you be discussing?
      It depends on your life stage.

      Doctors won’t check you for everything
      It may surprise you there is no evidence that a “general health checks” will give you better health outcomes. But at varying ages, it’s hard to know exactly what you need to get at the ‘general’ health check.
      Some preventive checks in low-risk and otherwise well patients have shown no benefit, including some blood tests and imaging investigations, such as whole body CTs or MRIs for cancer screening.
      As well as being a waste of your time and money, there is another concern with generic health screening: it may lead to overdiagnosis, which results in additional tests, appointments, anxiety, drugs and even operations. Ironically, this can leave you less healthy.
      This is why doctors don’t “check you for everything”, but are guided by what you personally would benefit from, based on your individual history, as well as which tests have evidence for their benefits outweighing any harms.
      One of your doctor’s key considerations will be your age.

      READ MORE: How To Adapt Your Fitness and Nutrition For Every Age

      Young adults (20–30s)
      The main evidence-based screening check for young adults is the cervical screening test for women. This is a five-yearly cervical swab which looks for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and pre-cancerous cells.
      When young women present for their cervical smear test, several other important preventative discussions often take place, including pregnancy prevention or planning.
      As young men don’t need an equivalent screening test, they often miss out on the chance to talk about prevention.
      Both men and women in this age group should find a GP with whom they feel comfortable discussing STI (sexually transmitted infection) checks, skin cancers, mental health struggles and intimate partner violence.
      Even otherwise fit and healthy young adults should consider talking with their GP about what they can do to prevent chronic disease down the track. Health behaviours such as diet, sleep, smoking and exercise levels in young adulthood increase or decrease the risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and cancer down the track.
      Finally, regular checks from dentists and optometrists can pick up problems early.

      READ MORE: 4 Ways to Support Healthy Ageing

      40–50 year olds
      Despite the adage “life begins at 40”, this is the age at which many of the things that can cause an early death are worth screening for.
      Current evidence shows benefits in assessing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and skin cancer.
      If you have a higher risk for certain cancers (such as breast or colorectal cancer), then screening for these may start around this age too.
      It’s also not too late to improve your longevity with some lifestyle changes so discussing things like losing weight, stopping smoking, and improving your exercise are all important.
      As with young adults, women should continue getting a cervical smear test every five years.
      And everyone should consider getting checked by a dentist and optometrist.
      Mental health may deteriorate around this age too, because the strain from looking after children, ageing parents and demanding careers can all come to a head. Input from a psychologist may be helpful.
      50–65 year olds
      Patients often comment on the 50th “birthday present” they find in the mail: a stool sample collection kit for colorectal cancer screening. While it’s not the highlight of your 50s, it is effective in saving lives through early detection of this cancer, with checks recommended every two years.
      Women will also be invited to start mammograms for breast cancer screening every two years (unless they have already started in their 40s, depending on their individual risk).
      The third health issue to start screening for in your 50s is osteoporosis, a condition where bones become fragile and your risk of a fracture increases. Osteoporosis is painless and therefore often not discovered until too late. You can start checking your risk for this at home via an online calculator, such as this one from the Garvan Institute.
      Oral health and eye checks remain important in this age group as well.

      READ MORE: 6 Anti-Ageing Products That Will REALLY Make You Look Younger

      Over-65s
      Several immunisations are recommended from the age of 65, including shingles and influenza, as your immunity starts to wane and your risk of serious illness increases.
      Other preventative checks include those for your vision, dental health, hearing, and your risk of falls. These often involve allied health providers who can screen, monitor and treat you as needed.
      Some of your other regular screening will stop in your mid-70s, including for colorectal, cervical and breast cancer.
      This article was originally published on The Conversation.

      READ MORE ON: Health Tips Health Tips For every Age More

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      This is how you get out of that scroll hole

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      Have you ever found yourself stuck in a scroll hole? This is what happens when you want to get to the end of the internet.
      Doom scrolling
      Just refreshed your Twitter feed for the umpteenth time today? You’re not the only one. “The tendency to endlessly scroll from one bad news story to another has grown over the past 18 months,” warns Tanya Goodin, digital detox expert and author of My Brain Has TooMany Tabs Open. This habit, also known as doom scrolling, is specific to your smartphone. Unlike your TV, your iPhone is always there, offering you continuous access to, let’s face it, the now rather depressing world.

      READ MORE: Is Your Smartphone Addiction Causing You To Gain Weight?

      We love misery
      This may sound strange, but your brain loves to cling to negative news. “And the algorithms that drive news feeds know this all too well,” explains Goodin. Reading bad news triggers the fight-flight response, but your brain also hates leaving things unfinished. And so arises the psychological phenomenon where you have a fear of interrupted or unfinished tasks, also known as the Zeigarnik effect. And you just want to soak up more bad news.

      READ MORE: Should You Go Through Your S.O.’s Phone? A Flow Chart

      Pandemic = infodemic
      This harmful effect is particularly associated with digital media. In the early days of the pandemic, consumption of stressful online news (which some researchers have called social media’s first “infodemic”) was associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Research found that this was not the case with newspapers or magazines. The choice of your reading material therefore determines a lot.

      READ MORE: 15 Best Journalling Apps To Start The New Year With More Mindfulness

      Vibe check
      It is not only news that can temper your mood. If scrolling through your perfectly filtered feed fuels your anxiety, it can be just as damaging. “If you find yourself getting gloomier, log out and do something completely different,” Goodin advises. And that really doesn’t mean you should delete all your apps: ‘Dissociating yourself from (social) media is not good for your mental well-being, any more than overconsumption of news or social updates is.’ Keep it in balance.

      This story was first published in WomensHealthMag.nl

      READ MORE ON: Health Tips Life Mental Health More

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      Covid-19: What’s Next for South Africa – And When Will It Be Over?

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      Since the last wave of Covid-19, Omicron, hit South Africa at the end of last year, it seems that things have been looking decidedly up. Schools have done away with rotational attendance, and most workplaces are even opening up, which means regular commutes are back. Masks seem to be worn less and less, and Coachella just announced zero Covid-19 regulations at this year’s festival.
      However, some places still uphold Covid-19 restrictions, while others are lax. The uncertainty is confusing, perhaps summed up best by that *highly* relatable moment Chrissy Teigan had on Insta. There’s just way too much confusing, and contradicting, info up in the air.
      So… is Covid-19 over?
      The short answer? No. Professor Salim Abdul Karim, an epidemiologist who shared the latest insights on the virus during interview on JacarandaFM, noted that while there’s been a decrease in virus rates, we’re not out of the woods yet. However, the noted dearth in infections raises economic opportunities that we can capitalise on while it lasts, he advised. “It’s not that we’re only acting on the science, we’re having to balance it with the needs of the economy,” said Karim.
      READ MORE: How Can I Tell If My Symptoms Are Allergies, Or A Possible COVID-19 Infection?
      Expect a new wave
      According to the pattern of the virus, Karim reckons that we’re looking at another wave of infection in the next few months, likely around April. Whether or not this will prove devastating is a different question considering South Africa has only reached a vaccination rate of 30%. Karim and many other health professionals advise that it’s important that the population gets vaccinated, since this is the fastest way to lessen restrictions and the burden of disease.
      Furthermore, experts have warned that the virus is unlikely to go away at all. Instead, we will probably face more waves, each with different intensities. Plus, having the virus once doesn’t mean you won’t be infected again.
      READ MORE: Nearly Half Of COVID-19 Infections Could Be Asymptomatic, New Study Suggests
      What you can do
      If you haven’t yet, you can go get vaccinated. If you’ve had your shot, you can schedule a booster dose when you’re due.
      The reality is that Covid-19 is far from over, but we’re definitely a lot closer than we were before.

      READ MORE ON: Coronavirus COVID-19 Health News Health Tips More

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      Cold versus COVID — How To Tell The Difference

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      There’s been a lot of confusion over cold versus COVID symptoms since the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic, it was easy to brush off symptoms like a runny nose, cough, and congestion as just the common cold. But now, those symptoms can send anyone into a panic spiral of worrying that they have COVID-19.
      Enter the latest COVID-19 variant, omicron, and you have an even more complicated picture. Medical doctor and Wits University Associate lecturer Dr Nthabiseng Kumalo advises that omicron symptoms tend to present themselves fairly quicker than those of previous variants. “Fatigue, congestion and a cough are amongst the top three omicron symptoms,” says Dr Kumalo.
      Real talk? “There are no easy ways to tell the difference,” says Lewis Nelson, MD, the chair of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Each illness can have its own range of severity, he points out, leaving a lot of grey area.
      READ MORE: Are COVID-19 Outcomes Worse For People Living With HIV?
      A common cold and COVID-19 share some symptoms, but there are differences in other symptoms, and their impact on you. Here’s how to tell them apart—and when you need to see a doctor.
      What’s the difference between the common cold and COVID-19?
      You probably have this memorised by now, but it never hurts to go over it again: COVID-19 is a disease caused by the respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2, according to the CDC. The virus is thought to mainly spread through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
      The common cold can actually be caused by many different viruses, the CDC says. These include rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenoviruses, and coronaviruses—excluding SARS-CoV-2, of course. The viruses that cause colds can also spread from infected people to others through the air and close personal contact.
      But how serious these infections are can be very different. “COVID, if unvaccinated, can lead to hospitalisation or worse,” Dr. Nelson says. “Clearly COVID is readily spread, and it can lead to more severe disease, primarily in the lungs at first.”
      READ MORE: The To 3 Cancers Affecting Women In SA — And How Much They Cost To Treat
      “The best way to think about cold viruses is that they’re pretty harmless,” adds Timothy Murphy, MD, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “We all get the common cold, sometimes several times a year. People get through colds just fine as opposed to COVID-19, which can cause a systemic illness and be far more dangerous.”
      What are the common symptoms of a cold and COVID-19?
      Common symptoms of a cold can include the following:

      Runny nose
      Sore throat
      Coughing
      Sneezing
      Headaches
      Body aches

      The CDC lists these as the most common symptoms of COVID-19:

      Fever or chills
      Cough
      Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      Fatigue
      Muscle or body aches
      Headache
      New loss of taste or smell
      Sore throat
      Congestion or runny nose
      Nausea or vomiting
      Diarrhoea

      READ MORE: 4 Ways to Support Healthy Ageing
      So, how can you tell if you have a cold or COVID-19?
      Dr. Murphy says it’s hard for even doctors to know just from examining you and hearing about your symptoms if you have a cold or COVID-19. There is one symptom, though, that makes it more likely that you have COVID-19: losing your sense of taste and smell.
      “Though that does occur sometimes with colds, it’s far more likely with COVID,” he says. “With colds, you would typically get really stuffy first before you lose your sense of smell. With COVID, many people just lose their sense of smell altogether.”
      Still, plenty of people have COVID-19 and never lose their sense of taste and smell. Given that we’re still living through a global pandemic and COVID-19 is practically everywhere, Dr. Murphy says it’s important to at least consider that you could have the virus if you develop even mild symptoms.
      Dr. Nelson agrees. “Anyone with viral illness symptoms, particularly if they’re not COVID vaccinated, should wear a mask and take a COVID test,” he says.
      *The article Cold Vs. COVID: How Do I Tell The Difference In Symptoms? was originally published on the Women’s Health US website.

      READ MORE ON: Common Cold COVID-19 COVID-19 Symptoms Health Advice Health Tips More

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      12 Reasons Why Your Lips Are Always Chapped

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      Having chapped lips is one of those health annoyances that’s technically survivable, but can still make your life miserable. After all, dealing with dry lips is the opposite of fun — especially if they reach bleeding point.
      Here’s the thing: There’s a reason behind your super dehydrated lips. While it could be something as simple as not drinking enough water, licking your lips too much, or eating salty foods, the root cause can sometimes be an underlying health condition like sunburn, allergic reactions, or skin cancer. If that’s the case, no amount of lip balm — yep, even the really good stuff — is going to fix that.
      Before you panic, know this: “Most cases of chapped lips can be treated in just a few weeks without a dermatologist’s intervention,” says board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, MD, the founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics and Professor of dermatology at Howard University and George Washington University. And sometimes peeling is just a side effect of the physiological makeup of your lips, according to Doris Day, MD, and Adam Friedman, MD.
      But it’s always a good idea to know how to tell if you’re dealing with your average dryness or something else. Dermatologists break down some of the biggest reasons for all that peeling and dryness and how to fix the situation ASAP.
      Why are my lips peeling so much?
      Lips are naturally dry. “Your lips don’t have oil glands,” says Dr Day. So, it can be very difficult for your lips to retain moisture (that’s why they don’t ever get pimples, btw!). The absence of oil glands also means that your lips do not produce natural moisturising factors, or elements that keep your skin’s outer layer protected and hydrated.
      In fact, your lips don’t have much of an outer layer at all. Dr Friedman points out that, unlike the rest of our skin, many areas of the lips do not have a stratum corneum (a.k.a. the top layer of skin). “This is kind of like our armor,” he says. “It’s an intricately woven barrier comprised of fats, proteins and dead skin cells.” This barrier is used to help protect the skin when it’s dry, and is also responsible for some of your body’s built-in UV protection. “It has an SPF of roughly five,” says Dr Friedman. (Who knew?)
      You can usually fix the situation in two weeks with the right lifestyle changes. “However, if you see no improvement or if your lips get progressively worse, you should consider seeing a dermatologist,” says Dr Rodney. If your lips are naturally dry, she recommends being on the lookout for consistent signs of bleeding, large cracks, fissures, pain, and peeling that don’t get better for several weeks. If you find yourself constantly peeling off the skin on your lips or the dryness does not seem to stop with a medicated balm, you may need to check in with your doctor.
      That said, there are other factors that could be contributing to your lips peeling — from diet to dire health conditions. Let’s talk through each one.
      1. Your diet consists of a lot of salty or spicy foods
      Big fan of snacks like pretzels or chips? They could be the reason for your peeling lips. Salty foods, particularly those that have a lot of salt on the outside that can end up on the lips, can definitely affect the skin in that area, says Dr Day. “Salt holds water, so it can absorb the water away from the lips and just dry them out,” she explains. Another food trigger? Spicy snacks. They can also cause skin irritation and water loss, adds Dr Day.
      Treat it: Steer clear of salty foods for a while and let your lips heal by using a paraffin wax-based lip balm.
      2. You’ve been licking your lips a bunch
      This is probably the worst thing you can do for dry lips, says Dr Friedman. “Saliva is comprised of enzymes that are meant to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, which are what your lips are made of,” he says. “You are literally digesting your lips when you do that.”
      Treat it: Easy with the lip licking. Keep a lip moisturiser with you (in your pocket, gym bag, etc.) so that when you have the urge to lick, you swipe instead.
      3. You fried your lips in the sun
      Remember: Your lips are already missing that top later of skin with built-in UV protection. So if you’re out in the sun without an SPF lip balm on, chances are the skin on your lips will peel. “Sun cooks the water out of your skin and that can leave it drier in areas that are already naturally on the drier side,” says Dr Day. Plus, the inflammation from a sunburn can leave your lips peeling as skin cells turn over and try to replenish.
      Treat it: You can rely on some of your typical sunburn remedies for chapped lips as well (think: aloe and anti-inflammatory meds).
      4. You’re dehydrated
      Because of the quick turnover of skin cells on the lips, you’re more prone to dryness if you aren’t properly hydrated, explains Dr Rodney. Technically, this can happen any time of year, but it’s more common in the winter, when dry indoor air can zap your skin (including the one on your lips) of natural moisture.
      Treat it: Drink more water. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that women get about 11.5 cups of fluids a day, both from liquids and foods. Water is best, but other beverages count too.
      5. You’re constantly exposed to dry air
      Whether you live in an area with low humidity year round or you’re just sensitive to drops in moisture that can happen with the changing seasons, dry air could be why you have chapped lips. “The lack of moisture in the air, particularly in the winter, can cause dry lips,” says Dr Rodney.
      Treat it: You can only do so much about the air around you, but Dr Rodney recommends a humidifier — which is specially designed to infuse your surroundings with moisture. She suggests running one around you, especially at night and during the winter months, to get relief.
      6. Your medication is drying out your lips
      Certain medications can easily cause dry, peeling lips. Dr Friedman says this is a common complaint for many of his clients using acne meds. “I tell my patients who are on Accutane that that’s the number one side effect—dry, cracked lips,” he says. “I tell them that they should be using a lip balm so often that their friends should be asking them, ‘What the heck is in that stuff that you’re using it so much?’”
      It’s not just Accutane that can mess with your lips, though. These medications can also screw things up, according to Dr. Rodney:

      Chemotherapy drugs
      Common skincare ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, retinol, or salicylic acid
      Antidepressants
      Antihistamines
      Antibiotics
      Some OTC pain meds

      Treat it: First, talk to your doctor about whether the meds you’re taking could cause dry lips. If that’s the case and you can’t stop taking your medication, be sure to follow DrFriedman’s advice to apply a moisturising lip balm to combat the side effects. If the peeling gets more severe, a trip to your MD might be worth it to make sure you’re not allergic to something you’re using.
      7. You’re experiencing yeast overgrowth
      Do you have an underbite? Or maybe you drool in your sleep? These factors can cause yeast overgrowth (and in turn, a yeast infection in the mouth area). This type of infection can lead to dry, flaky skin around the mouth — and sometimes even fissuring (small cracks on the corners of the mouth), says Dr Day.
      Treat it: Like yeast infections anywhere else, a prescribed anti-fungal medication is your best bet. Consult a dermatologist.
      8. You have actinic cheilitis
      “This is a condition where the skin has been damaged from chronic sun exposure so much so that it can’t repair itself,” explains Dr Friedman. Actinic cheilitis is more common among older individuals.
      It’s this sort of long-term sun damage and inflammation on the lips that can lead to skin cancer. “In this kind of dry, cracked area, it’s very easy for skin cancers to emerge, and so we do see a lot of squamous cell carcinomas in older individuals on the lower lip because of that,” notes Dr Friedman. Actinic cheilitis is characterised by dryness and scaly patches or plaques, typically on the lower lip, as mentioned.
      Treat it: Treatment involves topical field therapy, or photodynamic light therapy, to either produce an immune response or kill off damaged skin cells. But first, your doctor will need to diagnose you via a skin biopsy.
      9. You have a vitamin deficiency
      “Various vitamin B deficiencies can result in dry, cracked, angry, red lips,” says Dr Friedman, and these are usually accompanied by a similar looking rash around the mouth. Dr Rodney points out that most cases come down to a B12 deficiency. This vitamin helps your body with cell growth, healing, and cell turnover — and a lack of B12 causes dryness and slows down healing, she explains.
      “A vitamin C deficiency can also cause chapped lips, but this is rarer since most diets contain the recommended daily intake of vitamin C,” adds Dr Rodney.
      Treat it: Through a blood test, your doctor will be able to determine what your exact vitamin deficiency is and prescribe necessary supplements (or suggest dietary adjustments) if you require them. If you’re lacking in B12, a B12 or B complex supplement can help get your levels back on track over time.
      10. You’re having an allergic reaction or irritant contact dermatitis
      An allergic reaction won’t only cause peeling, but also diffuse redness and swelling around the lips, says Dr Day. An allergic reaction is usually also itchy, rather than scaly. It could be caused by ingredients in your makeup, skincare, or even your toothpaste. “Cinnamic acid or cinnamon derivatives are a common allergen in toothpaste that people can get irritated lips from,” explains Dr. Friedman.
      Irritant contact dermatitis, on the other hand, is caused by friction on the lips, brought on by metal mouth implants like retainers. “Metal implants or various composites of dental implants can be a chronic source of lip peeling,” notes Dr Friedman.
      Treat it: A topical steroid or oral medication will usually do the trick for either issue.
      11. You have lichen planus
      Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin condition. It usually shows itself in the form of itchy, purple bumps on the body. “But it can also appear on the lips,” says Dr Friedman. And when it does, it usually shows up as purple or brownish cracked areas on the lips.
      Treat it: A prescribed anti-inflammatory or topical steroid will help.
      12. You have paraneoplastic pemphigus
      This is a *very* rare condition, but we’re covering all the bases here! Paraneoplastic pemphigus is an “autoimmune blistering disease associated with underlying cancer,” says Dr Friedman. While it can appear in the form of a skin rash, the hallmark of this condition is erosive oral disease. Ttalk to your doc if you think your lips are showing signs of something more serious and blistering. With this particular condition, your lips will typically crack open and bleed, causing sores, redness, and swelling around the mouth.
      Treat it: If you are diagnosed, your doctor will likely prescribe steroids and topical antibiotic ointment for the actual skin lesions and blisters and guide you through any other treatment necessary to address the underlying cancer if there is a malignancy. More