Best Way to Heal Chapped Lips ???

Updated on February 16, 2011
R.T. asks from Allen, TX
30 answers

Hi ladies,

I'm constantly suffering from chapped lips. I know a lip gloss I was wearing was causing some of it but not all if it.
I'm wanting to know the best remedy or best chopstick I can use to help with this.

Thank you in advance

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L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

I keep tubes of Carmex everywhere!!!

It is the only thing that works for me.
I put on a liberal coating on before I go to sleep every night and have not had chapped lips in years.

I agree - some of the lipsticks and glosses on the market are incredible drying - yet I wear them anyway. LOL

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

I have the same problem in the winter due to the cold winds, heater running at night and stuffy nose! I have started using Satin Lips by Mary Kay, MUCH better! I am a Mary Kay consultant and would love to help you out! E-mail me if you are interested! ____@____.com

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

My MIL says chapped lips are a sign you are dehydrated. When mine are chapped, I drink water and I soon forget about them. Even cheaper than chipstick.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Drink WATER and use carmex! Constantly chapped lips are a big sign you aren't drinking enough water! Right before you brush your teeth use your tooth brush to gently exfoliate them and use carmex, as needed. And drink more water :)

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V.P.

answers from Dallas on

I'm shocked someone hasn't already recommended Berts Bees. It was the only thing that worked for my daughter several years ago when she had severely chapped lips. It's a little more expensive than Carmex, but SO worth it. Your chapped lips will be smooth and soft in no time:)

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E.C.

answers from Dallas on

Every time you brush your teeth, brush your lips with your toothbrush.

Then, apply a good chapstick (like blistix)

Always, always, always drink plenty of water!

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

neosporin lip therapy. works like a dream.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I have chronic chapped lips and here is what I've learned, although nothing has ever made it stop completely or forever but here is what helps me tremendously...

Water, yes drink lots of water, as chapped lips are a sign of dehydration.

Chapstick - not all chapsticks are created equil, and this is the most important lesson I've learned. Some chapsticks have Salicylic acid in them, Like Carmex, which is good to cause the lips to slough off or exfoliate dry skin, however you shouldn't slough everyday or you will just perpetuate the problem. when your lips are really bad use a carmex/salicylic acid product to exfoliate the top layer and then follow up with traditional moisturizing chapstick, (of your choice) Personally I've begun to use the "Chapstick" brand in the bright blue tube that is labeled "moisturizing" it seems to really provide me with a good moisturizing lip barrier and I do apply it frequently if I am not wearing lipstick. but if you use Carmex or any other Salicylic Acid product on your lips, it will continuously exfoliate your lips, mimicking dry lips, and perpetuating the problem, so maybe carmex for a day to take care of the top layer then Moisturizing Chapstick after that. I've used Bert's Bees also, it is good but more expensive than "chapstick" brand although just as affective.

for lipsticks and glosses, the ones with more flavor or sugar in them seem to be more drying than moisturizing, in my experience and the glittery ones are drying also. I find that I can use the Mary Kay lip glosses very well with a lip pencil and have great success with keeping my lips hydrated and pretty! Mary Kay also has (or at least they used to have ) a lip product that was recommended for helping your lips stay hydrated and help keep you lipstick from bleeding, it came in a thin tube and it worked really well but it was a bit expensive for me to use al the time so I haven't bought it in a while, but it was really good, Channel has a similar creme in a jar and it was great too but more expensive than the Mary Kay. I'm not a Mary Kay Rep. so I have no interest in selling you products, but if you want to try those products you can contact your favorite MK rep. I've used the Mary Kay satin lips also, and it was good for short term but I can do the same thing with some lip moisturizer and table salt.

lipsticks and pencils that are labeled LONG WEAR, are usually the most drying products that I've ever used, so I try to avoid them, mostly I use a good moisturizing lip pencil with a touch of gloss in the middle and that helps a lot!

try the carmex for a day then the moisturizing chapstick, drink lots of water, and see it that helps restore your lips to their natural state, mine are chronically dry and this combo keeps them in good shape through out the year!

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

Carmex, or Aquaphor...and make sure you are drinking plenty of water too.

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K.R.

answers from Dallas on

I use Overnight Lip Treatment by Chapstick every night. I can't get to sleep without it! It "Moisturizes and conditions while sleeping" and it does not burn at all like Blistex seems to.

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L.M.

answers from Dayton on

My daughter has like a nervous habit of licking her lip a lot! We tried every kind of chap stick out there and they seemed to just make it worse. My grandma told me to put some Vaseline on a Q-tip and put it on her lips when she goes to bed so she wouldn't lick it off and it has helped tremendously!! I would try that and see if it helps.

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

For badly chapped lips, I use Mentholatem(sp?) or Aquaphor ointment. As a prevenative measure, I use a dab of Vasaline under my lipstick everyday before I go out in the cold weather. I reapply it throughout the day as needed and my lips are never dry or chapped. I don't like chapstick. It is too waxy and I don't like anything flavored.

As someone mentioned below,yes, petroleum jelly is made from by-products of oil manufacturing, but is much more highly refined than motor oil.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

When my lips get badly cracked, Vaseline on them every morning and every night helps heal them up quickly.

Additional:
"Whatever you do, DO NOT use petroleum jelly on your lips. (Why do people keep suggesting this?!) It is a lighter colored, thicker form of the oil you put in your car! Might as well go into the garage and smear 10W/40 on your lips!! Think about the name - petroleum. Gas. Oil. Petrol."

This is an urban myth.

Vaseline (petroleum jelly) is absolutely fine. Some facts :

"Myth: Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) used in hair and skin products is a dangerous chemical byproduct of petroleum or gasoline.

Fact: Refined USP Petroleum jelly is not the same as the "Petrolatum" defined by the Chemical Abstract System (CAS) definition found in the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory. This CAS number (8009-03-8) applies to an unrefined, heavy, waxy petrolatum material. In fact, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) white petroleum jelly is not a byproduct but is a refined and purified product of heavy waxes and paraffinic oils. USP White Petroleum Jelly surpasses the safety standards set by the FDA for use in food and cosmetics products as well as for both the European Union (EU) and Japanese Pharmacopeia Chemical Codes.

Myth: Vaseline or mineral oil when applied to the skin creates an impassible barrier plugging hair and skin pores (comedogenic).

Fact: There are no credible scientific studies that prove that Vaseline or mineral oil is in fact comedogenic (block skin pores). In reality, the term comedogenic was developed by the FDA to only classify substances that caused acne by blocking facial skin pores. Later, health and nutritional advocates attempted to extend this definition to include products used for the hair and body. However, the term "comedogenic" was never intended to be used beyond the original scope as defined by the FDA. Recently, new scientific studies have resolved the debate. Technical papers published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (May 24, 2005) and the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (1996, vol. 47, pp. 41-48) demonstrated that white USP mineral oil (FG) and white USP Vaseline do not block skin pores.

PJ and mineral are classified as "occlusive" moisturizers. In theory, occlusives reduce water loss from the skin by creating a hydrophobic barrier when applied over the skin. Occlusive moisturizers diffuse into the intercellular lipid domains and herein lay their effectiveness. Published studies show that although Vaseline exhibits what appears to be occlusive properties when applied to the skin it neither forms nor acts as an impermeable barrier but rather permeates slowly throughout the SC interstices, allowing for normal skin recovery.

In layman's term Vaseline PJ does not clog skin pores but slowly diffuses throughout the skin lipid layer and even assists the body in skin repair.

Myth: PJ is an inexpensive poor moisturizer.

Fact: True, White USP PJ is an inexpensive product but on the contrary it is still the most cost-effective moisturizer used today in the cosmetic industry. Petroleum jelly at minimum concentrations reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by more than 98% and is followed by lanolin, mineral oil, and the silicones, which are effective in the range from 20%-30%. Other substances such as beeswax, stearic acid, shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and sunflower seed oil TEWL values are below twenty percent."

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R.D.

answers from Kansas City on

Neosporin Lip Therapy is wonderful. I also use EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). Try it...you probably already have some, and if you lick your lips, it is safe.

Whatever you do, DO NOT use petroleum jelly on your lips. (Why do people keep suggesting this?!) It is a lighter colored, thicker form of the oil you put in your car! Might as well go into the garage and smear 10W/40 on your lips!! Think about the name - petroleum. Gas. Oil. Petrol. YUCK!!

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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K.W.

answers from Dallas on

Hello, I'm sure you've already heard this already but Mary Kay's Satin Lip Set is great. We also use Aquaphor on our lips and back on hands at night during the winter. Sure MK has products that do the same but love Aquaphor on my babies at night.
And yes I am a MK consulant. Let me know if you would like to try it.
K.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Blistex, Carmex, Vaseline, Burts Bees... chapstick tends to rip already chapped lips, so I usually avoid it.

DON'T lick your lips, especially in cold weather. The rapid evaporation super dries skin out, causing it too chap or chap worse. Drink lots of water.

Vaseline / aka 'petroleum jelly' / aka purified rock oil is often preferred as a lubricant for several reasons :

- It seals the area, preventing infection
- It doesn't absorb; so it doesn't create an addictive effect in the cells (cells that are moisturized with absorbable lube often lower their own sebaceous oil production, because it's not needed) and in fact helps stimulate natural moisture retention & healing / it lasts far longer than absorbable lubricants/ as a hydrocarbon it's not diluted by water and is by nature waterproof (which is important because adding water to chapped skin causes evaporation causing more severe chapping cracking).

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A.O.

answers from Sherman on

Lots of water and Mary Kay satin lips

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G.W.

answers from Dallas on

yes, nipple cream. I think Medela is the best but Lansinoh works too.

K.E.

answers from Spokane on

Any kind of healing balm, like lanolin, or aquaphor. The thing I like to do is apply a thick layer just before bed, and let it stay on all night. I wake up to brand new lips. It's SO nice.

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A.

answers from Dallas on

Mustela Hydra-Stick at Baby R Us. It is a formulated for baby's cheeks and lips. It is quite expensive: $10 for a 0.35 OZ stick, but it is the only thing that works for me.

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

OK, this is going to sound gross, but a friend of mine (and her hubby, believe it or not) swears by Lansinoh! It's that thick cream you put on your nipples when they are sore from breastfeeding! I haven't tried it myself cuz mine aren't quite that bad, but I have used it on my kiddos and it works really well for them!

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L.R.

answers from New York on

try petroleum jelly..

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T.P.

answers from Dallas on

line your lips with lipliner then use carmex - still gives a little bit of color but nourishes the skin . . .I love carmex!

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E.C.

answers from Abilene on

Drink lots of water and don't use CARMEX! I had problems for years and found out Carmex was one of the main problems. Had to use it constantly and when I quit and went to something else, that helped a lot. Also, if your lipstick has any shiny glitter type stuff in it, that can cause problems. I use AVON aloe vera chapstick and it is the best I have found anywhere and no, I am not an AVON consultant!! Try it, it goes on smooth and does not drag and makes your lips feel wonderful. I even put it on over my lipstick sometimes!

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M.O.

answers from Fresno on

Put a good amount of Vaseline on your lips every night before you go to bed. It works great!!!

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A.P.

answers from Dallas on

Hands down Burts Bees... It is the best!!!

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T.C.

answers from Dallas on

Have you tried aquaphor? I use the regular stuff on everything, but they have now come out with a lip repair.

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

I have tried all of these (minus the MK products) and NOTHING works like calendula ointment! You can find it in your local healthfood store/Central Market or Sprouts too (some Krogers might have it too). It's cheap and you only need a TINY amount for the lips. I use it at night only and then I put some on my hands (the top parts) in the winter and it is SUPER healing! It's for cuts, burns, scraps and Yep, chapped skin! I had never thought to use it on my lips until about 2 months ago and was mad that I hadn't been using it long before!

For chapstick during the day the BEST one I have ever found (and I have tried a LOT of different brands, all the ones others mentioned and then a bunch on top of that!) is Badger brand - I can only find it at Central Market though but I know they sell it elsewhere just not sure. It's AWESOME! It's $2.99 or about there so not too expensive (it's a regular size chapstick kind) either and well worth it. They have 5-6 different flavors and an unscented one too. The mint and vanilla are my two favs.

Good luck!!

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A.H.

answers from Dallas on

1. Triple Antibiotic Ointment (helps heal the skin)

2. Burts Bees or Mary Kay Satin Lip (moisturizes)

3. When outside use a wax base like Chap Stick (protection)

If it is heavy and waxy it just protects existing moisture from leaving your lips, it does not moisturize, which is what you need.

And drink lots of WATER, stay away from dehydrators like beer, coffee, etc.

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