Lip balm doesn't contain any addictive substances. Using it excessively doesn't cause the lips and surrounding area to stop producing natural moisture.
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.
Stopping chapstick usage just reveals the underlying inflammation. You may feel dependent on the stuff if, for example, it's winter, your lips are super chapped, and you're constantly coating them. "Then, when you stop, the inflammation flares, and you experienced the discomfort again," Rodney said.
Dermatologists unaffiliated with the billion-dollar lip balm industry have a clear consensus: you cannot be physically addicted to your lip balm. There are no potentially addictive ingredients in cosmetics – as nicotine is in cigarettes.
"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 ...
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.
Putting on a little lip balm before you go to bed will go a long way toward preventing your lips from drying out as you sleep. This is also important since most people breathe through their mouths when they sleep, which has a natural drying effect on the lips.
If you find yourself constantly reaching for a lip balm during the day, Dr Bijlani advises the following precautionary measures: Try going cold turkey and don't use any lip balm for at least two weeks to let your skin go back to naturally hydrating your lips.
Or maybe you don't have any lip balm around and want relief without running to the store. Never fear! You can soothe and heal your lips naturally by avoiding irritants, taking simple measures to keep them protected, and applying natural moisturizers and soothing agents.
Severely chapped lips may take longer to heal, but the average time is two to three weeks to recover completely. If you treat chapped lips as soon as you notice a problem, your lips will heal much faster and you can avoid potential complications like infection.
Chapped lips can sometimes heal on their own, but if that isn't happening after a day or two, try using a lip balm, suggests Zeichner. Lip balms contain a combination of waxes and oils that form a protective seal over the skin, he explains.
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.
Unlike the rest of your skin, your lips don't have oil glands, which means they can't moisturize themselves and quickly become dry.
Apart from wax, many of these balms contain numbing agents like camphor and menthol, which cause the nice tingling feeling you get when you put the balm on your lips. These ingredients are what people most often point to as the reason why lip balm might be addictive.
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.
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.
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.
Well, golfers used similar tactics to manipulate ball flight. By putting sunscreen, chapstick, Vaseline, or other similar substances onto the face of the driver the player could reduce unwanted spin. This was especially helpful for a popular, fade-hitting major-winner on Tour.
Staying hydrated and drinking enough water throughout the day will help prevent your lips from drying out. You can even drink coconut water as it gives the body the minerals it needs to stay hydrated.
Drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin and lips hydrated. While dehydration isn't the only cause of dry lips, it can be a factor. Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day to remember to hydrate.
Chronic chapped lips that won't heal could be a sign of serious medical conditions or infections, which include actinic cheilitis, an early form of skin cancer that requires immediate treatment.