dry lips

jokers_kick

Well-known member
My lips are reaaaally super chapped and sunburned :[ They've actually cracked in two places and its just gross. Does <b>anyone</b> know any at-home treatments I can do to make it heal a little faster? I've been trying to put vaseline on my lips but they still keep on drying out. I need something so bad!! They hurt and they're ugly.

ughh if you could help me find something preferably inexpensive I can use I'd be sooo grateful!
 

mel0622

Well-known member
ummm i use something from wal mart its called natural ice. it might sting a little when u put it on tho. but thats what i like about it cuz i know its healing.
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Gloriamgo

Well-known member
Here's what I found when I did a search on Google:

When to See the Doctor
If your chapped lips do not respond to treatment, they should be evaluated by a dermatologist. Persistent chapping may indicate chronic overexposure to sunlight and could be a sign of premalignant or malignant activity, says Nelson Lee Novick, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. A biopsy of the lips may be necessary.

Cracking at the corners of the mouth that does not heal may indicate a yeast or bacterial infection. Such cracking can spread to the lips or cheeks and should be treated by a dermatologist to prevent serious complications.

Don't lick the problem. Since chapped lips are dry lips, the obvious answer is to simply lick your lips to keep them moist, right?

Wrong: "This is one of the very worst things people can do," says Ronald Sherman, M.D., a dermatologist and member of the attending staff at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "It only increases chapping. When the moisture from licking your lips evaporates, so does some of the moisture from your lips." Another problem is that lip lickers tend to also be lip biters, and biting your lips removes the protective layer of skin.

Water your dry cells. Drinking additional fluids in the winter is a natural and easy way to keep your lips from chapping. "I recommend several ounces of water every few hours," says Diana Bihova, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center in New York City. "As you age, the ability of your cells to retain moisture decreases, so your dryness problem may actually increase each winter. Another way to help counter wintertime dry lips is to humidify the air in your home and office."

Be wise to vitamin B. "Nutritional deficiencies--such as the lack of B-complex vitamins and iron-can play a part in scaling of the lips and cracking at the comers of the mouth," says Nelson Lee Novick, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "So make sure you're okay on that front with a multivitamin/mineral supplement."

Apply lip balm frequently. "You should apply lip balm every hour or two-both to prevent chapped lips and to treat them once you get them," says John F. Romano, M.D., a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

Using petroleum jelly is fine, but if you go with a commercial product specifically made for chapped lips, "make sure you use one that contains sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15," adds Nicholas J. Lowe, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine and director of the Skin Research Foundation of California in Santa Monica.

Give toothpaste the brush-off. "Allergy and sensitivity to flavoring agents in toothpaste, candy, chewing gum and mouthwash can cause chapped lips in some people," says Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in Memphis. "Cinnamon-flavored products and some tartar control toothpastes can be especially irritating. I tell my patients to avoid them."



Also, make sure that whatever lip balm you use does not have salicylic acid, because that will actually make it worse. Maybe try Aveeno Lip Protectant, Intense Relief Medicated Therapy, I like all of the Aveeno stuff, I've never used that specifically, but, you could try
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jess98765

Well-known member
great advice gloria! thanks for that- i suffer from the dry lips symdrome once a year!! already happened to me this year, so these tips will be great for next year when that times comes.... lol
 

Havenly

Member
Oh my gosh you have no idea how much this just helped me! I have been having chronically chapped lips, and I"ve tried just about everything. Now I know what to do next. Thanks for the great info!
 

singinmys0ng

Well-known member
also what i do i use an old toothbrush and use shea butter and exfoliatite my lips and right after that i get a cold rag and wipe away the stuff that was on my lips and put on some more shea butter and my lips are all soft and smooth!
 

nphernetton

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by singinmys0ng
also what i do i use an old toothbrush and use shea butter and exfoliatite my lips and right after that i get a cold rag and wipe away the stuff that was on my lips and put on some more shea butter and my lips are all soft and smooth!

I do that too! Hehe, I think she should wait to exfoliate though, until they arent cracked anymore
 

starlight502

Well-known member
drink your daily needs of water and also try aquaphor on the lips. When i was on accutane this is the killer combo that kept my lips from cracking in 10000 places
 

jokers_kick

Well-known member
thank you guys so much!!! I've been keeping petrolium jelly on them and im drinking more water. They starting to heal FINALLY haha.
 

Endit

Well-known member
I have chapped lips too. Burt's bees makes my lips feel heavy and chapped, and MAC's lip conditioner hasn't done much for me either. Still looking for a HG. Anybody try Clinique's Superbalm?
 

moonrevel

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Endit
I have chapped lips too. Burt's bees makes my lips feel heavy and chapped, and MAC's lip conditioner hasn't done much for me either. Still looking for a HG. Anybody try Clinique's Superbalm?

I feel kind of meh about Clinique's Superbalm...it's been a while since I tried it, but I wasn't impressed, and I think if MAC's didn't work for you, Clinique's probably won't either.

You should check out Neosporin Lip Therapy! It's a tad thick, but it doesn't feel heavy and it really helps me. I have super dry lips, and this is the first product I've found that I've liked and works.
 

magenta

Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gloriamgo
Here's what I found when I did a search on Google:

Cracking at the corners of the mouth that does not heal may indicate a yeast or bacterial infection. Such cracking can spread to the lips or cheeks and should be treated by a dermatologist to prevent serious complications.


i just want to say i definitely had that a few years ago (bacterial specfically) and it was SO painful and gross. gah.
 

sigwing

Well-known member
ouch

Neosporin makes a medicated balm in a little tube, and Chapstick has a medicated one also. It sounds like you might even need to try some regular Neosporin on them, just letting some "soak in" a bit and then rinse it off. Just regular balm is more of a protectant. Blistex is also good...the old fashioned kind in the tube that's a cream. But most of those things, except the Neosporin med. balm in the tube, is going to have menthol stuff that might sting.

I've found that in a hot shower, when you get out, you can gently rub your towel back & forth over your lips & it exfoliates the dead stuff off. I've also used a little sloughing cream, like some I bought ages ago at Bath & Body, and some Clinique stuff that's excellent, or even a tube of Dr. Scholl's that's also wonderful. They're actually meant for like heels & elbows, but I use a little on my lips if there's some flakes that need help coming off. Just don't leave on too long, and use some good stuff on your lips afterwards! You wouldn't want to do it, tho, on lips that have been badly burned & have cracks.

I hope you feel better by now!
 
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