Badly chapped lips

[catsofa]

Every winter I get badly chapped lips. This year I've already gone through an entire pot of Body Shop lip balm, and my bottom lip is in danger of proper, painful cracking any minute now. I'm terrified of leaving the house and forgetting to take the balm with me. It hurts.

Is there something else I should be doing or using? I am pregnant, if it matters, so medicated balm might possibly be forbidden to me (it's really weird some of the stuff contraindicated in pregnancy!), but probably not.

Is there anything I can eat or do to help apart from keeping lip balm on my lips? I know some people say that balm makes it worse/keeps you dependent on balm all the time, but I really couldn't have avoided it with how dry and painful and cracked they got early this winter.

Should I start wearing a balaclava? Would that scare the shit out of people walking past me in the street? Might that be quite fun?

I swear by vaseline. lots of it

ELizabeth Arden, 8 hour cream put on just before going to sleep really helps.

During the day I use Lanolips - pure lanolin.

Am afraid that both are a bit pricy but last for years & 8 Hour cream is also wonderful on any other minor skin problems.

Carmex. I keep some in all my coat pockets and handbags, and in the car in have a few in the house. I also panic if I'm without.

Neutrogena lip salve.

Definitely Vaseline, I'm the same in winter, but use Vaseline and its cleared up in no time, and keep using to keep chapped lips away, I think I keep Vaseline in business at this time of year...

Lip cream with bees wax in is supposed to be really good.

Could you be allergic to lanolin? Most lip balms contain it and it took me ages to realise that it was actually the lip balm causing my agony. My lips have been much better since avoiding any with lanolin in. Lush do some good ones.

Thick Vaseline overnight and thin coat every time you leave the house.

All the other lip 'balms' just irritate my lips and make them more dry.

I suffer from this too - looks awful as well as being quite sore. Elizabeth Arden 8 hour balm is the best. I did read that petroleum based balms make it worse as they are drying. It is expensive but if you can apply it at the right time to catch the attack before the skins splits, a tub should last all winter.

I think I'm allergic to lanolin and Vaseline type stuff. They dry my lips out even more.

I now avoid most balms and use that proper medicated type blistex stuff - looks more like a cream.

Vaseline makes my lips very sore before they were sore and if I put it on before bed, my lips look like prunes in the morning.
Weird how it seems to work for others.

Relief cream m.boots.com/mt/www.boots.com/en/Blistex-Relief-Cream-5g_1258505/

Intensive moisturiser m.boots.com/mt/www.boots.com/en/Blistex-Intensive-Moisturiser-Hydrating-Lip-Cream-SPF10-5g_1145/

Should say Neutrogena Norwegian Formula to be precise.

I use Vaseline but when my lips get really dry I switch to carmex (in the pot, not the tube, which is softer and less rich), as I find it more heavy-duty. And when you have it on, try to avoid rubbing lips together - I used to do that but find it stops the balm working ... you just need to let it sit there and sink in.

Blistex, the one in the little metal tube, works really well for me, I don't lick it off like I do balms. Then use balm (or wear lipstick) every time you step out the door when it's cold in this weather.

Vaseline and most lip balms are made from petroleum jelly, which many people finds dries their lips out more with prolonged use. I'd try to find a balm that has genuine moisturising qualities such as Burt's Bees lip balm which I find brilliant, it's made with beeswax and natural oils.

Having tried just about every brand, I think Chapstick is the best, especially the medicated one You can get it in Boots and Superdrug.

Ooops sorry just read the medicated bit in your OP! All chapsticks are good though.

I make sure I apply my normal moisturisers to my lips especially at night. Estée launders night repair serum has made a huge difference to both my lips and fingers. Which really get chapped

Are you licking your lips/rubbing them together? I second 8-hour cream recommendation. When you put it or Vaseline on, make it a very, very thick layer sitting on top of your lips. Try not to dislodge it by licking or rubbing. Vaseline acts as a hermectant (sp?) so it stops moisture leaving your lips. It should do the trick if left on long enough. I've also found Blistex works very well.

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream. There is nothing I've found that beats it!

I've just got back from the supermarket where I bought a Chapstick Original, so glad to see that's recommended here. It does seem a bit thicker than the Body Shop stuff I've been using.

I will slowly work my way through all your suggestions for the rest of the winter, thanks everyone!

Carmex. Multiple pots. One in your bag, one in pocket, one next to the bed...you get the picture. I get panicky if I don't have any with me.

I also use 8 hr cream at night if its particularly bad...find it a bit sticky for daytime.

I've also read that drinking lots of water is helpful

I drink loads and loads of fluids and it's slowly becoming a problem, with being pregnant and needing to pee all the time! The midwife is always impressed with my nice pale pee though.

I definitely need more than one pot, I need to keep something in every pocket and bag that I might ever take out of the house.

My poor cat smells of cherries due to being kissed on the head with Body Shop lip balm!

Nipple cream works wonders on mine... got a free sample by Dr Lipp and it was amazing. I imagine the bog standard nipple creams you get in the nappy aisle would do the same job.