Lip balms provide only temporary comfort, and some types can make scaly lips even drier. That's because, in part, when the thin film of moisture from the lip balm evaporates, it dehydrates your lips even more. "It starts a vicious cycle," Dr.
"Lip balms that contain only humectant ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, can actually make lips more dry because they attract moisture, and if the air is very low in humidity, then they can pull moisture out of the skin, and then the moisture evaporates away," King says about healing lip cracks.
Lack of moisture can make the problem worse, whether it's weather-induced or related to a lack of self-care. Little humidity in the air during the winter months is known to cause chapped lips. Frequent sun exposure in the summer can also worsen your condition. Another common cause of chapped lips is habitual licking.
Does Burt's Bees lip balm dry out lips? From my experience, no, Burt's Bees lip balm does not dry out lips. It's designed to keep the moisture in and prevent moisturise loss. It contains several moisturising ingredients that make skin smoother and several ingredients help to relieve any dryness.
But there's no need to toss out our balms and force our lips to fend for themselves. “Even without balm, a lot of us end up with dry lips, so using a balm makes more sense than waiting and hoping that your body eventually produces enough moisturizers on its own,” says cosmetic chemist Dr. Michelle Wong.
Do you use lip balm so often that you think you might be addicted to it? Cross that worry off your list. Lip balm has no ingredients that can cause dependency. And ingredients in these products can't short-circuit your skin's ability to make natural moisture.
"Also, if you constantly apply occlusive products to your lips, this can interfere with the skin's natural ability to adjust to changes in environment." If you feel like you're "addicted" to your lip balm, she notes that it's usually because of irritating ingredients like menthol, cinnamon, and camphor—and if you feel ...
So, should you use chapstick or Vaseline? Both! Chapstick moisturizes dry lips, and Vaseline helps in sealing the moisture in and keeping the skin barrier intact. While you can get away with using just chapstick, there is no point in using Vaseline without applying chapstick first.
And finally, over-use! No matter how good your lip balm is, if you're applying it too often it will end up doing more harm than good. This is because the lips become reliant on the product and lose the ability to moisturise themselves.
“If chapped lips continue for two to three weeks even after you've started moisturizing regularly, are staying hydrated, and avoiding licking, you should see a board-certified dermatologist,” Dr. Browne suggests.
Chapped lips are typically caused by environmental exposures that lead to irritation, including saliva and licking your lips, spicy foods, and cold, dry weather, says Dr. Zeichner. The common cold and sun damage can also cause chapped lips, he adds, as well as medication like cholesterol-lowering agents.
Continued use of these formulas can cause lips to swell or even crack and bleed. Since skin irritation can be caused by any number of factors, we spoke to board-certified dermatologist Dr.
If you're not allergic, Vaseline isn't likely to cause harm or make your lips drier — it just may not be the best option for hydrating lips and preventing the delicate skin from becoming chapped. Other things to try for dry lips include: Try lip balms that contain: argan oil.
Always moisten your lips before applying your lip balm. Never apply to a dry lip. The balm will then seal in the moisture." The trick works because Vaseline and other lip balm products help to create a seal around the lips and prevent moisture loss, but often don't add that much moisture to already dry lips.
Saliva, spicy food, the sun and certain products can be irritating to your lips, while some medications and health conditions can cause your lips to be drier than usual. For instance, medications that cause dry mouth can also lead to drier lips.
When you apply Vaseline to your lips, the petroleum jelly acts as a protective barrier and prevents moisture from escaping. It's not going to add moisture. If you lick your lips before applying Vaseline and nothing else, you might make chapped lips worse because lips don't retain water very well.
While five times a day is a good starting point for the average lip balm user, certain groups of people may need to use it more often. For instance, if you live in a place with extreme heat, cold or wind (or all three), the weather may require you to reapply your lip balm to keep your lips smooth and hydrated.
To keep your lips protected, reapply frequently. You need about six to eight coats during the day, so apply first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every couple of hours during the day.
Using chapstick does not make your lips 'dependent' on it, but you may feel like you can't stop using it.
Stop licking, biting, or picking at your lips.
When your lips feel dry, it may feel natural to wet them by licking them, but this can worsen the problem. When you catch yourself licking your lips, apply a non-irritating lip balm instead.