Lip/Skin allergies--- Please Help!!!
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free skin care · Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:41 pm

Ok, so as many of you who have gotten to know me on this board already know, I have very, very sensitive skin. As a matter of fact, my skin is so sensitive that it can even develop new sensitivies out of the blue. For example, I used to be able to use sulfur treatments with impunity, but now if I even SAY the word sulfur, I get a rash. (I feel it coming on right now, LOL.)

So, for the past few months, I've been having a terrible problem with my lower lip--- it tends to get this scaly patch, and I'm not exactly sure what triggers it because I have so many lip products. Right now, my derm has me using JUST petroleum jelly until the scaliness goes away, and then I can start trying to test out lip items one at a time to try to figure out what works and what doesn't. (ONLY petroleum jelly??? That's like the least glamourous thing I've ever heard of! It feels like a jail sentence!!!) Ugh, the thing is, I'm also sensitive to petroleum products, so this darn vaseline makes my lips burn like I'm wearing lip venom. (which is fine for a hot date, but who wants that feeling from morning til night??) Soon I'll begin trying to figure out what lip products are safe for me to use, but first I wanted to ask you guys what ingredients could possibily be causing my reaction. I just read in another thread that beeswax and lanolin can cause reactions in some people--- is this true? Can you guys think of ANYTHING else that my lips could be objecting to? What about castor oil--- I read that it can be drying---can it also be irritating? Please, I'm open to ANY ideas, no matter how out there they are. I simply can't wear vaseline for the rest of my life!

free skin care · Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:52 pm

I know some people can't use any lip items with nut oils like, macadamia or shea butter. You don't have any nut allergies, do you? Gee, I dunno! That's the only thing I can think of. It could be a combination of products, not just one thing.

free skin care · Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:00 pm

No nut allergies (that I know of), but I will still put those items on my "watch" list--- thank you, violetanne!!!

free skin care · Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:00 pm

Liz, is that scaly patch just dry skin? If so, then I had it just two days ago. I used the Body Shop Lipscuff and it get rid of the dry patch. That Lipscuff was rough on my lips though. I only rubbed it for a couple of seconds on my lower lip and it got rid of the dry patch. Afterwards, I applied some Burts Bees Lip Balm and I've been fine ever since.

free skin care · Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:41 pm

manslayerliz, is it only the skin on your face that is sensitive or is it all over your body. For example, if you put something on your face or lips and you have a reaction, if you put the same product on the inside of an arm, would you have a similar reaction. I am just trying to determine if something has caused this wretched sensitivity on your face or if your whole body is affected in which case it could be a food or a chemical not associated with skin care.

free skin care · Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:13 am

So what are the current lip products you are using? Sometimes its not the main or obviuos ingredients in the product that causes irritation.

My lips chap so easily even with those expensive/big brand products that claim to provide moisturisation.

The only thing I can use now is pure lanolin.

Have you tried various plant butters or just plain products for your lips? I know it's so unglamorous!!

I feel so tempted to try things like SC and Valmont lip serums but I just KNOW my lips will not feel amazing after them, and I'll probably get milia or whiteheads ...

Us sensitive gals have it hard Sad

free skin care · Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:29 am

Did you ask about this problem in another thread recently? It sounds familiar and I think I replied to it then, but...

Is the scaly patch on the lip itself? I agree that it could very well be severely dry skin. Have you ever tried exfoliating your lips to see if you can prevent it from happening?

There are different methods for exfoliating:

• Some people prefer to just use a very soft (i.e.: child’s) toothbrush and a bit of lip balm to gently buff the entire lip area;

• Others – like me and Yen, apparently! – like to use a lip scrub product. Of course you can buy one like the brand Yen suggested but I prefer to make my own. A very simple lip scrub/scuff would consist of white, granulated sugar and some type of oil such as olive, jojoba, grapeseed, vit-E, avocado, etc). You would just take a bit on your finger and spread it onto your lip area and massage it GENTLY for a minute or two to loosen and remove the dead skin and then splash off the sugar granules with lukewarm water and pat lips dry, then follow with your favorite lip balm or treatment. I use my lip scrub every night – just because I’m orally fixated and obsessive at my mouth! – but most people find 2-3 times per week is sufficient.

For my personal lip scrub, I get a bit fancier and use a combination of oils : typically jojoba, grapeseed, aloe, borage and Emu – the latter two because they are actually able to penetrate multiple layers of the dermis and be absorbed by the skin cells to prevent dry/chapped lips, as well as a bit of honey because it acts as a humectant to attract and retain moisture.

I also add a couple of dissolved aspirins and a couple drops of orange and cinnamon EO to give it a little flavor and because the dissolved aspirins help keep clean the pores on the skin around the perimeter of my mouth where milia sometimes form from using lip products with ingredients that are too rich. I also add a couple drops of hyaluronic acid concentrate and MaxiLip (topical lip plumping ingredient – y’all should know by now how I am about plump lips!). It sounds like a lot of work, but it actually only takes about five minutes to blend a large batch and store it on a clean jar.

Anyway, I think you are on the right track in trying to pin down the exact ingredients that are causing the problem. Obviously, it would be ideal if you could recall what product you were wearing immediately prior to a “flare up” and then take a hard look at the label of that product and see what it contains.

If vaseline (i.e.: petroleum jelly) gives you problems, I was recently educated by a lovely EDS member regarding a product called “Unpetroleum” that you might want to take a look at. I agree that Lanolin could be the product to use instead of Vaseline, although the scent and texture take a bit of getting used to....

Actually, I have a couple of other ideas for you to try, but I’m going to take it offline and send you a PM with my suggestions so be sure to watch your in-box!

free skin care · Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:31 am

Wow, thank you for all the replies, ladies! To try to answer your questions: Although my face/body ARE prone to sensitivities, this current one is only manifesting itself on my lip. The scrub ideas are definitely brilliant, but I tried it sometime ago with olive oil and sugar, thinking that maybe my lips had just become really chapped or whatever, and my top lip was as soft as a baby's bottom aftwards, but the scaly patch on my lower lip had not budged, so that's when I knew I was dealing with some kind of allergy. I'm seriously considering going to an allergist (my derm said it could be the next step), but I'm not sure if she'll be able to test for beauty-type allergies rather than the usual pollen, dairy, etc---- has anyone ever gone to an allergist before?

You're right miranets, us sensitive gals have it so hard!!!

free skin care · Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:41 am

Manslayerisz, That is what I was going to suggest. Could this possibly be a food allergy? Unfortunately they are just as hard to diagnose unless you actually have a positive result on a blood test. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time, good luck and defintely see a good allergist.

free skin care · Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:28 am

manslayerliz wrote:

Right now, my derm has me using JUST petroleum jelly until the scaliness goes away, and then I can start trying to test out lip items one at a time to try to figure out what works and what doesn't. (ONLY petroleum jelly??? That's like the least glamourous thing I've ever heard of! It feels like a jail sentence!!!) Ugh, the thing is, I'm also sensitive to petroleum products, so this darn vaseline makes my lips burn like I'm wearing lip venom. (which is fine for a hot date, but who wants that feeling from morning til night??)

Liz why are you using petroleum jelly if it is irritating your lips. I don't care what your derm says if you are sensitive to it DON'T use it!! How are your lips going to heal if you keep putting something irritating on them?

Just a thought, is it possible that something like your toothpaste may be the cause? I have sensitve lips and have trouble finding products that work so I know how frustrating it can be! I have the lip balms figured out but I still have trouble finding lipstick that doesn't irritate my lips.

free skin care · Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:37 am

That's a good question Theresa, LOL! I guess the plain truth as to why I've been using the petroleum jelly even tho it's irritating is because at least it doesn't cause the scaliness, which is far more uncomfortable than anything I experience with the vaseline. And, I can't go "naked" because my lips get too dry. If you don't mind, could you tell me the balms/glosses that work for you?

free skin care · Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:46 am

I guess what you are saying about the petroleum jelly makes sense. I use Burt's Bees Lip Balm during the day, despite having a little bit of lanolin and peppermint for some reason this does not bother my lips. At night I use the Chidoriya Yuzu lip balm which I believe you have. The only time I use any other lip balms is when I am in the sun and my lips regret it, unfortunately I have not found a good lip balm with SPF!

free skin care · Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:53 am

manslayerliz wrote:

And, I can't go "naked" because my lips get too dry. If you don't mind, could you tell me the balms/glosses that work for you?

The Juice Beauty Lip Plumper isn't worth a damn as a topical lip plumper but it is a LOVELY soothing lip balm with a lotiony texture that sinks in and doesn't feel exceptionly greasy or "tacky."

Or why don't you just use an oil like jojoba, avocado or Emu oil to smooth directly onto your lips? You can't get much more natural and non-irritating than that!

free skin care · Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:47 pm

OK, so I got up at the butt-crack of dawn today (so... painful...) and went to see a skin allergy specialist. At first a resident came in and talked to me about my symptoms, what I've been using, etc. Trying to save time, I went ahead and explained to him that I had been systematically trying to eliminate anything that could be a potential irritant, for example, ceramides, petroleum derivatives, parabens, chemical sunscreens, etc. The resident stopped writing, looked up at me, and said "You're a doctor, aren't you? People outside of the healthcare field just don't talk like that..." LOL, wouldn't he get a shock if he got a look at our little board, huh?^-^ ANYWAY, what's going to happen is next friday I'm going to go back in and get some patches with various potential irritants on them. The monday after that I'm going back in to get some UV light on them to see if it causes a reaction, and THEN the following firday I go back for results. No big deal, right? Well, there's one catch: I can't exercise or shower for the whole 7 days. Exercise I can take a break from, but SHOWERING????? I've already booked two washes at my salon, although I think I should book at least one more for good measure... what a nightmare.

free skin care · Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:58 pm

Liz, I didn't have to go through all that when I had my allergy test done. They just scratched up my arms and added droplets to see if there were any irritation (ie. redness, bumps, etc). Let us know how the testing goes. Good luck!

free skin care · Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:18 pm

Wow, Liz, you poor thing...sounds like quite the ordeal!! And no showering?? Not to be stupid, but are they saying no bathing AT ALL for 7 days? If so, you are gonna have to have the best smelling, most luxurious bath EVER after all this is done!

Mary Smile

free skin care · Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:48 pm

LOL, well, they said that I can sponge bath so I won't scare people away with how I smell, but still, it's not the same as a nice, thorough shower!! (I'm a VERY clean woman--- if I don't get my daily shower, something is very wrong! What a long week it will be...)

free skin care · Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:08 pm

Okay...that makes a little more sense! Laughing

I was wondering how they could possibly expect you to not bathe at all?? But I hear ya...a nice hot shower or bath every day is just part of the routine!

Please keep us posted as to the results...I hope they figure out exactly what's up after putting you through all this!

Mary Smile

Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:45 pm

Quote:

So, for the past few months, I've been having a terrible problem with my lower lip--- it tends to get this scaly patch, and I'm not exactly sure what triggers it because I have so many lip products.

Olive oil at night and Bigelow's Rose Salve (Bath & Body Works, $7) all day. I had the same problem with my lips and this took care of it. I put lipstick on over the salve, but you can put it on before as well.

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