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. Yet dermatologists still get questions about lip balm addiction and lips that stay dry despite regular balm use.
Rodney of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics in Columbia, Maryland, told Insider chapstick (or Vaseline or Carmex) isn't addictive, though there are reasons you may feel compelled to use it more often than you'd like.
Can I use Vaseline on my lips every day? You may apply Vaseline on your lips daily to lock in the natural moisture and prevent dryness. However, avoid doing so if you are allergic to the product.
According to the experts, the power to breaking your addiction lays solely in hands of the products that you are using. Switching your usual balm for a treatment that actually works to heal and hydrate as opposed to 'sealing in' existing moisture is the best way to break your balm cycle.
Keeping it on overnight will seal in the moisture and soften and smoothen your lips.
The petroleum jelly treatment is recommended to be done about 3 times a week in the winter and once a week in the summer (or when it is a rainy season). Your lips might look pinker as petroleum jelly can reduce dark patches on lips.
If you prefer a more natural option, you can use coconut oil instead of Vaseline. Dip a cotton swab into Vaseline until it's coated in a thin layer. Dip the same cotton swab into sugar that you've poured out into a shallow dish. Fine-grained caster sugar works best.
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.
A large amount of petroleum jelly which gets in the eyes or nose, or is used on the skin, the eyes, nose, or skin may cause irritation of these tissues. If petroleum jelly is aspirated (enters the breathing tube and lungs), symptoms may be more serious and may include: Cough. Difficulty breathing during activity.
Is Petroleum Jelly Safe to be ingested? Another myth surrounding petroleum jelly is that it is toxic. In fact, Vaseline® Jelly meets FDA requirements for being safe for human consumption.
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.
Constantly applying these to your lips could cause long-lasting damage to your skin or otherwise dry out your lips instead of making them more moisturized.
Your chapped lips could be caused by something aside from dry weather. An allergic reaction, yeast infection, or something more serious can make your lips feel dry and uncomfortable. Actinic cheilitis is a precancerous condition that turns one or both lips dry and scaly.
If before the application of petrolatum, your lips are extremely chapped or bleeding then chances are the application of petrolatum may trap dirt and might contaminate your lips, and cause an allergic reaction. Petrolatum is known for creating a layer over your lips.
There's no good evidence that lip balm is chemically addictive — in that it causes withdrawal symptoms if you stop. And there's no evidence that it dries out your lips, forcing you to use more over time.
The verdict
Lip balm is good for your lips; your lips won't get addicted to it -- and plain petroleum jelly is an excellent choice. Lotion or cream is good for your skin; your skin won't get addicted to it. Apply it soon after a shower or bath to seal in moisture.
Not for acne
According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, Vaseline can trigger outbreaks if you have acne-prone skin. Don't put petroleum jelly on your face if you're having an active breakout. There are plenty of other moisturizing options if you have acne-prone skin.
Lip balm is a wax-like substance that is applied on lips to moisturize and relieve chapped lips. However, even if it is hot every day, you should not be using lip balm all the time whenever you are out and about. Because too much of a good thing is also a bad thing and unfortunately, it can damage your lips more.
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.
Aquaphor tends to be a better moisturizer because it contains humectant ingredients and is occlusive, while Vaseline is only occlusive. When used for wound healing after surgery, Vaseline has shown to cause less redness at the wound site than Aquaphor. If you have a lanolin allergy, opt for Vaseline over Aquaphor.
What does it look like? Solar cheilitis predominantly affects the lower lip because it tends to be more prominent. The homogenous pink color of the healthy lip (Figure A) is replaced with non-homogenous white/gray, pink, red, or brown areas and the normally sharp vermillion/skin border becomes less distinct (Figure B).
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.
Truthfully, though, they're equally as good for their intended purposes. If you're looking for a medicated lip balm, look no further than Carmex. Likewise, if you're looking for a regular lip balm, Vaseline is the way to go.