Understanding Lip Dehydration
by Inman Hebert
A recent polar vortex brought extremely low temperatures to much of the United States. Horn players from temperate-weather zones encountered record-breaking snow. Who thought 10 inches of snow would be seen in New Orleans? Whether an anomaly for your region or the standard for your area, some of us, including myself, are experiencing dry, chapped lips. Gaining insight into this phenomenon can help us protect ourselves and maintain consistency in our horn playing.
First, we must understand the concurrence of factors. As lips have only a thin protective barrier, they become easily susceptible to dehydration. Winter acts as a catalyst. Colder, low-humidity air, in combination with wind, creates conditions for dry, stiff lips. Buildings that provide relief from the bitter temperatures keep their heating systems running constantly, and this evaporates moisture out of the air. Breathing through the mouth while sleeping or because of sinus congestion leads to additional dryness.
Constant exposure to dry air, outdoors and indoors, dehydrates the lips and may cause pain, sores, and cracked skin. These conditions make the lips more prone to infection. Dryness and stiffness also affect the embouchure, decreasing flexibility when playing the horn.
What can be done? If your residence constantly has a heating system running, consider using a humidifier to add moisture back into your environment. While we consider wearing a jacket outside in the winter, covering the mouth with a scarf should be a priority. Avoid practicing or warming up outside in the cold weather. Drinking water throughout the day keeps your whole body hydrated and restores moisture to the lips. While licking the lips seems instinctive, it can have a detrimental effect: the digestive enzymes in saliva remove the protective layer on your lips, damage the skin, and, as the saliva dries, draw additional moisture from the lips.
Lip balms can help provide a protective barrier on the lips, but horn players should be cautious. Balms containing camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, or even aspirin may seem helpful initially but may also dry the lips faster and worsen dehydration. Some lip balms also contain chemicals which can irritate your lips over the long term. Search for ones that are more friendly to musicians’ lips.
Finally, whether walking across campus for a rehearsal or flying north for an audition, consider the weather and give yourself extra time to warm up. Even if you had your usual warm-up for the day but had to spend some time outdoors, give your lips additional time to warm up with lip slurs or buzzing exercises. Don’t go into a rehearsal, lesson, or audition “stone-cold.”
