Lip Balm Addiction

"Revealing Reasons For Craving Lip Balm"

Some people truly believe lip balm addiction has them in its grips. With so many brands, ingredients, flavors, colors, and scents, it can be easy for one to accumulate and use dozens of treatments designed for the lips. It’s a fun experience to try different brands and luckily, using these products can usually be done without harm. The treatments act as a barrier for the lips, sealing in moisture and providing protection from the elements including heat, sun, and wind. But, sometimes the situation can get out of hand.

Treating Chronic Dry Lips

Actually, the addiction is not to the lip balm, but rather to the uncomfortable and often painful feeling of dry, chapped lips. Excessive dryness can cause lips to crack and bleed. The natural reaction to lick can lead to a bacterial issue called angular cheilitis - better known as perleche - which is the very painful and unsightly cracking at the corners of the mouth.

Application of lip treatment products to soothe dry lips does give immediate relief and needing that constant relief might just seem like you have a lip balm addiction. What really needs to be looked at are the underlying reasons why the lips become dry and chapped. Sometimes it’s fairly easy to figure out on your own, but for tough problems it’s best to see a physician.

The 5 Main Causes Of Dry Lips

1. Dehydration is the most common, obvious reason behind dry and chapped lips. Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep your cells healthy and hydrated. People who spend a lot of time outdoors, in the heat, or who lead very active lifestyles, must pay extra attention to be sure that they drink enough water. Sometimes this is all it takes to make what seems like a lip balm addiction disappear.

2. Hormonal changes can result in skin and lip dryness. Thyroid hormone imbalance or vitamin deficiencies can lead to dry, chapped lips. A more varied, balanced diet, along with prescriptions or supplements may be suggested by a doctor in order to alleviate these imbalances. Changes in hormones have many causes and will best be diagnosed and remedied by a medical professional.

3. Certain medications may result in the drying and cracking of your lips. If the medication is only for a short period of time, or if the cracking can be relieved with balms, then you may be able to stick it through. However, you may need to consult your doctor for a remedy or even substitution for the prescription if the medication that you are taking is long term or if the dryness is unbearable.

4. The elements can wreak havoc on the skin and lips. Just as sunscreen and sunblock are used to protect the skin during a summer day at the beach, the lips too must be protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It may be that an SPF lip balm with a higher sun protection factor is needed. If the exposure is to dry cold wind then dding moisture to your lips and topping with protection is sometimes indicated. In this case, a lip treatment product with a penetrable moisturizing ingredient, such as shea butter, should be applied. Atop that, a more protective layer of lip balm, such as petroleum jelly, should be applied for further protection. If this is insufficient, you may want to consider a physical barrier such as a handkerchief or mouth guard to shield your lips.

5. Excessive face washing with harsh soaps may also be causing your lips to dry. If you cannot limit how often you wash your face, try to use a milder soap and be sure to follow with a moisturizer. The answer may lie within your lip balm as well. There will be no benefit to follow a cleansing with an ineffective lip balm. Some lip treatment ingredients have more moisturizing properties than other ingredients, which tend to sit atop the lips. Research some ingredients and figure out exactly what you need to moisturize and seal your lips.

Related Pages?