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Healing chronic chapped lips

addictivepersona

addictivepersona

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Joined
Dec 13, 2008
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My lips have been chapped for the better part of two months now. They seem to get better, almost to the point that they're healed, and then start to crack and crust over again and the whole cycle starts back up.

I've been attempting to not pick at them, though it's tough when it's disgusting looking... I've been trying to maintain proper hydration... Though "proper hydration" for me is anywhere from 100-300oz of water, which is tough to drink when I'm at people's houses or out and about. (Yes, I know that seems like an asinine amount, but that's not what this thread is about--I'm not about to stupidly get water intoxication. 8()

I've avoided using chap stick lately as that seems to only help the symptoms--Used it for about a month and it did not help in getting rid of the chapped lips.

I read online about chronic chapped lips being a sign of a thyroid problem, but I don't have a way to get that checked out for awhile. Not to mention I also doubt I have a thyroid issue as this case of chapped lips didn't come out of the blue: It started when I first started getting sick--This is a normal symptom of an illness for me, and it is the last symptom to leave, typically a week or two after the sickness is done... Never left this time. As I've said, it's been going on the better part of two months now.

tl;dr: I have chronic chapped lips--How can I get them back to normal?
 
^ Does that help heal the chapped lips, or just alleviate the symptoms? 'Cause the chap stick I have is pretty decent and does its job while I'm using it, but once I stop my lips are chapped even worse.
 
I'm a chapstick addict. Seriously, I am. LOL I have the black tube always in my purse and around my house. It helps a lot.

Vaseline also sells a lip balm that is pretty good.
 
addictivepersona said:
^ Does that help heal the chapped lips, or just alleviate the symptoms? 'Cause the chap stick I have is pretty decent and does its job while I'm using it, but once I stop my lips are chapped even worse.
Click to expand...

yeah. in the winter when it is really dry my lips will literally crack and bleed. i put this shit on, and within a few days of applying it a few times a day, my lips are healed.
 
Some organic farmers in my town make a product called All Good Goop. It has tons of medicinal herbs in it and works for all types of abrasions and burns. Super great stuff.

Not really sure what is causing your chapped lips...I get them seasonally in the springtime.
 
I've never gotten chapped lips in the spring before... Maybe that's the cause?... :-/

They seem to be healing... Though I know in a couple days they'll probably be worse and I'll be back at square one... :(
 
I had that issue.
Carmex helped me for a while then stopped working so yeah I went to the body shop and bought this hemp lip balm shit that my boyfriend uses.
OMG
the lady said its for reallly bad chapped lips.
OMG.
I love it its the fucking BOMB. Im on my 3rd tube and cant live with out it.
 
I heard somewhere that the major chap stick brands put alcohol in it so your lips continue to stay chapped. I dk how true that is though
 
-Kitten said:
I had that issue.
Carmex helped me for a while then stopped working so yeah I went to the body shop and bought this hemp lip balm shit that my boyfriend uses.
OMG
the lady said its for reallly bad chapped lips.
OMG.
I love it its the fucking BOMB. Im on my 3rd tube and cant live with out it.

THIS

http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/body-products/lip-treatments/hemp-lip-protector.aspx

best shit EVER. kinda pricey.... but if it doesnt stop or carmex wont work for you i would try it.
Click to expand...
I'll have to look into it if my lips aren't healed by themselves or with a more natural remedy soon. I'm hesitant to buy lip balms as I really do not want to become dependent on them. And on that note...

Wolfmans_BrothEr said:
I heard somewhere that the major chap stick brands put alcohol in it so your lips continue to stay chapped. I dk how true that is though
Click to expand...
I've heard that, though not alcohol--Forget what it is, but the major chap stick brands put some chemical in their products to make you keep buying them. Makes sense for them.
 
Evil Chapstick/Lip Balms

I've had a battle with keeping my lips from getting chapped for years, but I've only recently become fully conscious of the problem since reducing the amount of chapstick I use. I threw out products of all sorts (facial washes, lotions, etc) because I don't like the idea of my body becoming dependent on what they supply..
There are periods where my lips are perfectly smooth and I don't have a care in the world, but for whatever reason in the course of a day I will have to reach for a lip balm to sooth random dryness.

I drink from 1.5-2 liters of water a day, the dryness doesn't really correspond with weather like harsh cold, but I do from time to time lick or bite my bottom lip without thinking.
Do I blame this on genetics or my lips being conditioned from nearly a lifetime of regular chapstick use? >.>
 
Merged with pre-existing thread.

Try to stop biting you lips as I'm sure that isn't helping.

Is it possible you're fighting off a cold of some sort? I find my lips always get chapped when I'm coming down with something, whether the full sickness sets in or not.

Also, are you out in the sun a lot? Your lips can get sunburned too!
 
addictivepersona said:
Also, are you out in the sun a lot? Your lips can get sunburned too!
Click to expand...

This, and boy, is it annoying. I can suggest perhaps getting a less heavy chemical chapstick and drinking much more water. Bert's Bees is a good brand for those days when your lips are beyond chapped. I find also that when I drink less than 100 ounces of water in a day (that's three liters), my lips are dry the next morning. Don't forget, your body has been fasting all night and that includes not drinking any water all night. Drink water all day throughout the day and that might take care of the dryness of your lips.
 
Thanks for merging. I actually avoid direct sunlight as much as possible...the heat is really harsh down here and even though i'm naturally tan my skin reacts pretty badly to even a few hours in the sun.
And no, I haven't really been sick lately.. I've got burt's bees I just dont use it so much I guess I'll try just sticking to that :/
 
I've noticed my lips become very dry and chapped at different times throughout the year. Medications + not drinking enough water with said medications is usually the culprit for me (or so I think). I have found Aquaphor to be the most effective, for me, in helping with the symptoms.

While I do not think I have 'chronic' chapped-lips, I do find that Aquaphor relieves the pain, irritation and dryness. I do have to reapply every ~6-12 hours, but the condition usually does not last very long.

I have used Carmex in the past, and it never provided a solution for me -- it seemed to only make the situation worse.

I suppose the only useful information that can be aquired from this post is the ointment I use personally.


Wolfmans_BrothEr said:
I heard somewhere that the major chap stick brands put alcohol in it so your lips continue to stay chapped. I dk how true that is though
Click to expand...

This is like the Coca-Cola company's water, 'Dasani.' They add a 'negligible' amount of sodium to each bottle, just enough so they don't have to list it on the Nutrition Facts.
 
..just put vaseline on your lips before bed. Two nights of that and your lips will be all healed and soft. Then any kind of chapstick/wax to protect them during the day will do, but I use burt's beeswax, kinda expensive but it works great.
 
I use beeswax melted down with a little sheanut butter, some vitamin e or avocado oil and add in lemon oil. I find the lemon oil works as astringent and antiseptic so helps with any infections there, the sheanut butter and vitemin e helps with elsasticity making your lips less likely to chap, the beeswax I find helps keep it on longer with less re-applying needed.
It sounds like it has went to more of a hack level which is a lot harder to heal, try not to let them get to moist as when they dry out it makes it worse, instead use something over it that will help hold in moisture without drying, at the same time replace the elasticity lost in your lips, the recipe above is one I use and you can buy it from make your own soap/make up/ etc sites. Don't know where you are so just google make your own soaps for example to get your closest companies. :)
 
tiggerific said:
I use beeswax melted down with a little sheanut butter, some vitamin e or avocado oil and add in lemon oil. I find the lemon oil works as astringent and antiseptic so helps with any infections there, the sheanut butter and vitemin e helps with elsasticity making your lips less likely to chap, the beeswax I find helps keep it on longer with less re-applying needed.
It sounds like it has went to more of a hack level which is a lot harder to heal, try not to let them get to moist as when they dry out it makes it worse, instead use something over it that will help hold in moisture without drying, at the same time replace the elasticity lost in your lips, the recipe above is one I use and you can buy it from make your own soap/make up/ etc sites. Don't know where you are so just google make your own soaps for example to get your closest companies. :)
Click to expand...

hmm, interesting
 
-Kitten said:
I had that issue.
Carmex helped me for a while then stopped working so yeah I went to the body shop and bought this hemp lip balm shit that my boyfriend uses.
OMG
the lady said its for reallly bad chapped lips.
OMG.
I love it its the fucking BOMB. Im on my 3rd tube and cant live with out it.
Click to expand...

I second this - it works very well.

You speak of healing, but when it comes to chapped lips, the best thing you can do in most circumstances is to simply treat/alleviate the symptoms. If you're concerned it's due to a medical issue (this is relatively unlikely), see a doctor. Other than that, use a good lip balm and stay hydrated.
 
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