Help! My lips are fraying!!

[chippylips]

Just that. I've never experienced this before. My lips are dry and chapped, feel swollen and agony to eat anything remotely spicy. I've been putting a lip mask on at night have tried EA8hr cream - NOTHING is working. I had the awful flu virus over Christmas, not sure if linked, but am at my wits end. Anyone had similar or can offer advice?

Following as I suffer from similar. Coconut oil provides some relief but doesn’t cure it.

The only thing that works for me is pure lanolin. Some people are allergic to it, but if you're not it's worth a try.

Are you able to breathe through your nose? I find when my nose is blocked my lips go dry

Are you sure it’s not contact dermatitis caused by something you are using on your lips?

Or an infection caused by chapped lips?

lanolin for the former, but you may need some from docs for latter.

Try Blistex with the red cap. It's much better than the white cap formula. You can't get it everywhere though - Waitrose and Home and Bargains are the only places I've found it.

Blistex intensive moisturiser is the best thing imo

https://blistex.co.uk/intensive-moisturiser/

I find Blistex in the metal tube with the red top (used to be Blisteze) to be the best, but have had some success with Lansinoh nipple cream when I didn't have any Blistex.

Also make sure you're drinking plenty.

I totally agree. You can also get it in Savers if you've got one of those local OP

Olive oil with vaseline on top to seal

Second Blistex in metal tube.

Aquaphor is also excellent.

I find anything other than these two products actually make chapped lips worse.

iron & vit b12 deficiency could be the cause?

I second Aquaphor, it's good stuff. I always have some in my bag.

My lips suddenly became chapped and painful earlier this week - I think it is due to the cold weather as I've been outside quite a bit. I starting using Aquaphor a few times a day (always before going outdoors, and before bed) and they are now back to normal.

Another vote for Blistex in the metal tube with the red lid. I use lots of lip balms but if my lips are really cracking this is the only solution

You need to make a 'moisture sandwich' (I saw this online and it has honestly saved my winter dry cracked sore bleeding lips)

1. Put some water on your lips
2. Put a thick moisturiser on top (I use the nivea crème - comes in the blue tub)
3. Pop Vaseline on top of that to lock it in

Try it for a night or 2 and see how you get on. Worked wonders for me

I came on to say what @greenacrylicpaint says: it could be low iron and B Vits. Take an iron tonic and B vit spray or tablet. Especially after a bad viral illness you could be very depleted. You could drink a berocca every morning too. Through a straw if it stings

pure lanolin is the only thing that works when they’re this chapped.

I try to use lip salve multiple times a day. And before stepping into the wind if I’m walking or outside for any length of time. If I don’t keep on top of my lip salve to prevent chapping I use Lasinoh nipple cream (and my youngest child is 12 years old!).

I'd recommend the same. Lansinoh or Lanolips are brilliant.

I found Lansinoh cream, for cracked nipples, is amazing for chapped lips. It has a consistency similar to vaseline. About £10 for a small tube so a bit pricey but has lasted me 3 years so far.

If they're swollen and painful/itchy they might be infected, which could be bacterial, but more likely fungal. I've found using a very thin layer of canesten and/or savlon twice a day often helps (but of course, don't lick it off!) Google "chellitis".

I get this. I pile on lip balm and drink tons of water - it's usually a sign I'm dehydrated. Good luck!

Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm. It is £££ but the relief is instant, long lasting and it works fast to heal splits etc

Blistex cream for cold sores is the only thing that ever helps my sore lips.

I've had this on and off for my whole life. Echoing those who say the small tubes of Blistex with the red cap. It's a lifesaver!

Bepanthen nappy rash cream is the only thing that works for me. You may have to try a few things recommended on here though as it seems like, with lips, what works for one person, doesn't for another

Nuxe Reve de mile is the absolute best things for lips. I had terrible lips that would bleed when I smiled and looked at various MN threads for recommendations, I tried them all including Bepanthan, Blistex, Burts Bees, Lanolin, paw paw, cracked nipple cream etc… all a step up from standard lip balm and Vaseline but didn’t fix the problem.

I saw Nuxe recommended and it has been a godsend, my miracle product. I recommend it to everyone. I don’t know what it is that makes it special but it is bloody brilliant!