Why Lip Filler May Be The Cause Of Your Dry Lips

Plump and precise, lips full of filler are the new norm. Providing a newfound confidence, fillers are now a common occurrence in the beauty treatment regime. Despite the glorification of bigger lips and improved facial structure, lesser known are the side-effects that lip injections sometimes bring. 

Swelling, bruising, redness, and tenderness are the most common side effects, yet subside within a few days. If your lips are swollen, cast your minds back to that Keeping Up With the Kardashians episode where Kris Jenner had an allergic reaction whilst on vacay in the Dominican Republic… need we say anymore. Despite these well-known accolades, one of the least spoken about effects is that of dry lips. Most procedures leave people with substantially more hydrated and moisturised lips due to the fillers being made up of hyaluronic acid; a naturally occurring substance in skin that attracts water.  

Patients who tend to suffer from more lip swelling may be prone to peeling or dryness. The lips can feel dry due to stretching as a result of filler placement. As with an inflammatory reaction in the skin, the top layer may become dry and peel. The plumping process exploits the functioning barrier of the wet part of the lip. The centre of the lip tends to be the driest area due to it being taken from an interior, wet part of the lip, to an exterior, dry air that is exposed to air. With a 28-day turnover, skin cells that expose the wet part of the lip should start to resume practice. Alongside many theories, bruising is of prominence when it comes to having dry lips. Bruising can sometimes be uncomfortable and therefore lead patients to lick their lips more, resulting in dry, flaky, chapped surfaces. 

Compensate the lack of moisture with a hydrating lip balm. Avoid lipsticks and glosses as the emollient formulas lack lip-moisturising qualities. Frequently applying ointments such as Vaseline and Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, both high in vitamin E, not only prevents dryness, but also prevents lip licking. And remember, no pain no gain. 

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