双语：润唇膏对干裂的嘴唇有帮助吗？
双语：润唇膏对干裂的嘴唇有帮助吗？
Does Lip Balm Help Chapped Lips?
A tube of lip balm may seem like the perfect antidote to dry, cracked lips.
一管润唇膏似乎是干燥、干裂嘴唇的完美解药。
But do these over-the-counter products soothe flaking or can they make it worse?
但这些非处方产品能缓解嘴唇起皮吗，还是会让情况变得更糟呢？
Though dry lips can happen year-round, they're most common during the winter. The cold outdoors paired with the low-humidity indoors can strip moisture from soft, pillowy lips.
虽然嘴唇干燥全年都可能发生，但在冬天最为常见。室外的寒冷，再加上室内的低湿度，会带走柔软、饱满嘴唇上的水分。
Lip balm can help seal moisture into the lips, said Dr. Jenna Lester.
詹娜·莱斯特医生说，润唇膏有助于锁住嘴唇中的水分。
"That is a good barrier for the external forces," like against cold wind, said Lester, a dermatologist at UCSF Health.
加州大学旧金山分校医疗中心的皮肤科医生莱斯特说：“润唇膏对于外界因素来说是一道很好的屏障”，比如抵御寒风。
Does lip balm work?
润唇膏有效果吗？
For most, lip balm is a worthy ally in the fight against chapped lips. But some people can't take fragrances, flavors and preservatives found in popular balms. When applied, they can sting instead of soothe.
对大多数人来说，润唇膏是对抗嘴唇干裂的得力帮手。但有些人无法接受常见润唇膏中含有的香料、调味剂和防腐剂。涂抹这些润唇膏时，非但不能舒缓，反而会刺痛。
"Those are the people who will say, 'I tried these things. I thought my lips would get better, but they just keep getting worse and worse,'" said Dr. Caroline Mann, a dermatologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
圣路易斯华盛顿大学医学院的皮肤科医生卡罗琳·曼恩医生说：“这些人会说，‘我试过这些东西。我本以为我的嘴唇会好起来，但它们却越来越糟’。”
Ingredients to look out for include flavoring additives and lanolin, a waxy substance that comes from sheep and is found in many moisturizers. A preservative called formaldehyde and an ingredient in chemical-based sunscreens called oxybenzone can also trigger allergies.
需要留意的成分包括调味添加剂和羊毛脂，羊毛脂是一种来自绵羊的蜡状物质，在许多保湿产品中都能找到。一种叫做甲醛的防腐剂和化学防晒产品中的一种成分——氧苯酮，也可能引发过敏。
These allergic reactions are driven by our immune systems, Mann said. They can happen at any time, after any number of product uses and can last for months after using.
曼恩说，这些过敏反应是由我们的免疫系统引发的。它们可能在任何时候发生，在使用任意次数的产品之后都可能出现，而且在停止使用后还可能持续数月。
A fragrance-free, petroleum-based balm —commonly listed as petrolatum on the label —may be the safest bet for people with sensitive lips, dermatologists recommend.
皮肤科医生建议，对于嘴唇敏感的人来说，无香料、以凡士林为主要成分的润唇膏（标签上通常标为矿脂）可能是最安全的选择。
How to soothe chapped lips
如何舒缓干裂的嘴唇
There are lots of ways to soothe dry lips without lip balm. Consider covering lips with a scarf when outside or running a humidifier indoors to stave off the dry air. Dehydration can cause dry lips so drinking water is another safe bet.
有很多不用润唇膏就能舒缓干燥嘴唇的方法。出门时可以考虑用围巾遮住嘴唇，或者在室内使用加湿器来抵御干燥的空气。脱水会导致嘴唇干燥，所以喝水也是一个可靠的办法。
One reflex to avoid: lip-licking. While licking lips may provide short-term relief, the saliva can evaporate quickly and suck more moisture along with it, drying lips out even more.
有一种本能动作要避免：舔嘴唇。虽然舔嘴唇可能会带来短暂的缓解，但唾液会迅速蒸发，同时带走更多的水分，使嘴唇更加干燥。
If you cut back on balms but your lips are still stinging, consider seeing a dermatologist to learn more.
如果你减少了润唇膏的使用，但嘴唇仍然刺痛，考虑去看皮肤科医生以了解更多情况。
"If you do these things, you'll get through the winter with soft, supple lips," Mann said.
曼恩说：“如果你做到这些，你就能带着柔软、滋润的嘴唇度过冬天。”