Sports, some rough-shod games, accidents – any of these can lead to minor cuts or wounds on your lips. Lack of moisture can cause your lips to crack or split too. If you’re wondering how to go about tackling a cut on your lips, simple home remedies can step up and help with the healing process. Here are 10 simple but effective remedies you can try right at home:
1. Rinse The Cut And Apply Pressure And Ice
[pullquote]Don’t blow on a cut as this can encourage the growth of germs.[/pullquote]
If you cut your lip, apply pressure with a clean cloth for a few minutes to stop the bleeding. Now, wash with soap and water and clean all dirt from the area. If the cut is on the inside, rinsing the area with cool water should suffice. Applying ice or sucking on an ice cube or ice pop can also help lessen swelling and bleeding. As the wound heals, be sure to keep it dry and clean.1
2. Dab On Some Sesame Oil
[pullquote]If a cut doesn’t stop bleeding even after the direct application of pressure for about 5–10 minutes, seek medical attention. You also need to see a doctor if the cut is really deep or was caused by a human bite, an animal bite, or a rusty or dirty object. Also seek treatment if you have signs of an infection like increased redness, warmth, drainage, or swelling and make sure that your tetanus shot is up to date.2[/pullquote]
Research indicates that sesame oil can help heal wounds. As one animal study found, topical application of this oil improved the rate of wound closure and tissue generation.3 Free radicals, which impair healing, are generated when there is an injury and antioxidants have been found to promote wound healing. Lignans such as sesamolin and sesamin present in sesame oil have proven antioxidant activity and may be responsible for its healing capacity.4 So rub a little sesame oil on your lips to help them heal faster.
3. Smear On A Little Grapeseed Oil
Another natural oil that can speed up the healing of wounds and work wonders for cut lips is grapeseed oil. This oil also has antibacterial effects that can protect your wound from getting infected.5 Rich in oleic, linoleic, stearic, and palmitic fatty acids, grapeseed oil can also prevent loss of moisture from your lips by forming a protective barrier.6
4. Apply Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can offer your skin many benefits. One study found that application of this amazing oil resulted in much faster healing, with a marked reduction in the time taken for complete epithelization, helping tissue form over a wound.7 This antioxidant-rich oil also has potent antimicrobial properties and can act against bacteria which could potentially infect a wound. It can also tackle dry skin and keep your lips moisturized. So there you go, apply a little food grade coconut oil and watch any cuts on your lips quickly heal.8
5. Use Aloe Vera
Another remedy that can heal that cut on your lips is aloe vera. Studies show that it can improve the amount of collagen, a protein which provides strength and structure to your skin. Research has also found that the topical application of aloe vera gel can speeds up wound contraction. A compound known as glucomannan present in this plant is thought to be at least partly responsible for these beneficial effects.9 Moreover, aloe vera has antimicrobial effects and can help prevent infection.10 Break open an aloe vera leaf to obtain the gel inside and apply it to injured or cut lips. You can also use an aloe vera lip balm that’s meant for treating wounds.
6. Try Safflower Oil
An edible oil rich in linoleic acid, safflower oil, can also help heal your wound.11 Studies have found that the application of linoleic acid can boost wound-healing factors like the protein and DNA content of wounds as well as the healing tissue mass. Even consuming linoleic acid can be beneficial as research shows that it can induce the formation of new blood vessels and enhance wound healing.12 13 There’s a variety of safflower oil which has a high content of oleic acid instead of linoleic acid so make sure you check and get the right oil – the one rich in linoleic acid.
7. Dab On Some Honey
[pullquote]Any remedy that you apply to a wound must be clean and uncontaminated, to avoid infecting the wound. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before applying them on your lips.[/pullquote]
Honey is known for its healing properties and has traditionally been used for healing cuts and scrapes. And this sweet remedy can work wonders on injured lips too – just make sure you resist the temptation to lick it off! Honey helps with healing as it has antibacterial activity and forms a protective barrier which wards off infection. It also keeps the wound moist, which promotes healing.14 Manuka honey, which is produced by bees that feed on the manuka bush, is thought to be particularly potent. It has been found to stimulate the formation of blood vessels and the growth of new tissue when used topically on wounds.15 Apply medical grade honey to your lips to help the cut heal faster.
8. Use Turmeric And Coconut Oil
[pullquote]After applying any of these remedies, wait for 15–20 minutes and simply dab with a clean, damp washcloth to remove any residue from your lips. Be gentle when you do this.[/pullquote]
Turmeric is another traditional remedy that has been used for healing wounds. Curcumin, a compound present in this spice has antioxidant, anti-infective, and strong wound healing properties. It has been found to improve the formation of new connective tissue in wounds, collagen deposition, and wound contraction.16 Using anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial coconut oil can boost the effect of this remedy.17 Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a teaspoon of coconut oil and apply it to your lips.18
9. Apply Sunflower Oil
Another edible oil that can help wounds heal is sunflower oil. One animal study found that applying the oil accelerated healing, increased wound contraction, and reduced the wound area. Like safflower oil, sunflower oil is rich in linoleic acid, which is thought to be responsible for this beneficial action.19 So dab a little sunflower oil on your lips and experience its healing effects.
10. Use A Chamomile Balm
Chamomile has antioxidant and antibacterial effects which might make it function well as a healing agent. Animal studies have found that the applying chamomile extracts can speed up wound healing significantly. Cleaned and crushed chamomile flowers can be mixed with olive oil and then filtered using a muslin cloth to obtain a rubbing oil that can be applied to heal wounds. Do keep in mind, though, that any remedy that you apply on a wound needs to be sterile otherwise you run the risk of infecting the wound. In case you feel this is too bothersome, use a chamomile-based lip balm which can promote wound healing.20
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