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Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:29 am |
Could someone advise as to how to take care of lips?
I don't often get chapped lips, but got a patch for maybe the 2nd time in my life.
Using different oils, and finally Carmex didn't completely help so I was about to go out and get a medicated product, but instead finally drenched it nonstop (i.e. every hour for the last day) in Vit E. It may be on its way to being healed, but now I'm afraid to apply anything for fear of perpetuating my problem.
I have been using natural, organic lip balms a LOT lately, since I like to use lipstick & sometimes gloss, and want to protect my lips from them, just in case. I never use product without using a lip balm under it first. Plus its winter, so protecting from dry/indoor heating just seemed right, so am using at home too.
I'm wondering if my lips have become to accustomed to the balm and is starting not to produce its own oils. Well I don't want that!
Is there some kind of protectant I can use that won't dissuade lips from functioning/hydrating themselves properly? I'm inclined to just leave well enough alone while at home and apply nothing, and try not to lick them.
Hep! |
_________________ Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:16 pm |
I have been battling exfoliative cheilitis for years, but what finally made it manageable was Aquaphor's healing ointment (the little tubes are handy as hand cream too), The Body Shop's Cocoa butter lip care stick, and now, my favorite of all: Badger's Cocoa Butter lip balm (a big stick) in Creamy Cocoa or Vanilla (the first two ingredients are olive oil and cocoa butter). And Badger's plain lip SPF 15 is nice for sun protection.
I understand that lips don't produce oils anyway, maybe just get a little from the skin nearby, so using a good balm should only help. OTOH, using a bad balm with irritants (camphor, menthol, etc.) will only make it worse. Drinking water to rinse lips after acidic or spicy foods or drinks will help too.
I remember reading elsewhere on this forum that hyaluronic acid, msm, and collagen supplements can help lips. |
_________________ 30-ish, sensitive fair skin, oily and acne-prone, faded freckles; tretinoin since Oct 2010 |
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Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:45 pm |
Correct about the lips not producing oils, before modern times lips were protected by the animal fats people ate. (fun fact, my first career was an archaeologist)
I protect mine a couple times a day with Rosbud salve, which actually doesn't get that great of reviews on here but I've tried everything and this is the only thing that works for me. I have huge lips. I avoid beeswax based products because bee propolis (im a Burt's bees hater) used as a topical irritates the heck out of my skin. Also beware of toothpaste, another major irritant. |
_________________ Late 30's, fair skin, dark hair. Retin A, DIY potions. Missions completed- acne, acne scarring, 11's, redness, contact dermatitis. Working on maintenence and cellulite. |
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Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:59 am |
Lips don't have sebaceous glands so cannot really produce oil. The regular Carmex is salicylic acid (drying and exfoliating) with petroleum jelly (barrier but not nourishing) - it seems to work better on dry lips than on irritated lips IYSWIM. I absolutely love Lanolips; lanolin is similar to some of the fats naturally in our skin so can help repair the barrier. It is not the cheapest but a tube lasts months.
I agree with Avawithwings that toothpaste is an irritant - I recently switched to Aloedent which is sulphate free and now need to use balm far less often. Be sure your mouthwash is alcohol and sulphate free too. You have probably 'heard' me banging on about sulphates before saying that shampoo bubbles trigger my mild atopic eczema! |
_________________ Sensitivity, forehead pigmentation & elevens, nose & chin clogged pores. Topicals: Aloe vera, squalane, lactic acid, Myfawnie KinNiaNag HG: Weleda calendula, Lanolips, Guinot masque essentiel, Flexitol Naturals, Careprost. Gadgets: Vaughter dermarollers, Lightstim. |
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Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:27 am |
Lately I've been liking Clinique All About Lips, this is a cream that sinks in your lips. On top of that I apply Paula's Choice lip & body balm. I also like the Paula's Choice lip scrub (but you could easily make your own lip scrub with sugar and oil). |
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Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:46 am |
Thanks for setting me straight about lips not producing oils. I just read that some doctors recommend, if product isn't available, using oils from the side of the nose to moisturize lips since that's what they're naturally after anyway! Ew?
I've been careful with foods (even when drinking tea!) & actually do apply balm before using toothpaste. I knew that the others may be irritants, but wanted to at least try Carmex since I'd heard so many raves.
Its interesting that even beeswax may be problematic though... yikes!
I like using balm, so based on what I've heard here, I'll keep using it. I'm now guessing a small injury (a hot chili burn or an accidental bite, maybe aggravated by mild dehydration), just hasn't had a chance to heal properly due to what I'd been applying. Vit e seems to be working well though and I'll keep your comments in mind when choosing my regular balms.
Thank you everyone, that was all very helpful! |
_________________ Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:21 pm |
Firefox- I'm also a sulfate hater!!! They are just poison they add because consumers love bubbles. |
_________________ Late 30's, fair skin, dark hair. Retin A, DIY potions. Missions completed- acne, acne scarring, 11's, redness, contact dermatitis. Working on maintenence and cellulite. |
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Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:58 pm |
My lips get chapped if I'm dehydrated, like if I slack in my water intake.
I find Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick and Blistex DCT to work nicely in keeping my lips looking good.
Carmex or anything with menthol not only gave me dark patches but just made my lips worse. So did frequent exfoliation. I found a lip balm with sugar in it and menthol (I forget the name) at Bath and Body Works and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread: it exfoliates and makes lips soft and cool with a shine like lip gloss. But after a few uses of this, it seemed my lips would be worse when it wore off than they ever were before I started using it. I'd get this tough skin (like a hide) that needed to be exfoliated more frequently, not to mention the dark blotches that made my lips appear to have some weird patchwork.
So yes, I can't do menthol or exfoliation and I do well with sunscreen. But staying hydrated, taking my essential fatty acids seems to be most beneficial in keeping my lips soft and moisturized, as is eating fruits and veggies which I usually never slack in coz I enjoy them. |
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Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:17 am |
I suffer from dry lips so am constantly using lip balms. On two separate occasions in the past I developed a fungal infection on the lips and I'm sure it was from applying so much stuff.
My go to lip saviour at the moment is plain Zinc Ointment - the baby nappy rash type. I apply it before going to bed. |
_________________ Born 1950. There's a new cream on the market that gets rid of wrinkles - you smear it on the mirror!! |
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Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:35 am |
Ava with wings wrote: |
Firefox- I'm also a sulfate hater!!! They are just poison they add because consumers love bubbles. |
I honestly think that they are the cause of or a contributing factor in many skin complaints, even ageing! I've just got my mother off them - scalp eczema and face rash healing nicely. Next target is my father's chapped hands ... |
_________________ Sensitivity, forehead pigmentation & elevens, nose & chin clogged pores. Topicals: Aloe vera, squalane, lactic acid, Myfawnie KinNiaNag HG: Weleda calendula, Lanolips, Guinot masque essentiel, Flexitol Naturals, Careprost. Gadgets: Vaughter dermarollers, Lightstim. |
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