DD constantly licking lips

[mrsoutnumbered]

My eldest DD is 8 and has had red, sore lips for 6 months now. She just can't stop licking them. It's driving me mad! I have told her that licking makes them more sore, that if she stops licking they will get better, but she will not stop. She just says that licking them makes them feel better.

We've tried nice lip balms, cocoa butter, she puts it in when she remembers but because of the constant licking they are just not getting better.

Is there anything we can try? Or should I just keep my mouth shut and let her get on with it, in the hope that she will eventually stop?

That does sound frustrating!! I'm assuming you've checked out any medical causes, is she well hydrated etc? I wonder also if weather has been a factor and summer weather could help them recover. No bright ideas about the licking itself unfortunately.

Interesting! I've got a 4 year old who does this, to the point she frequently has a sore at the side of her mouth 😬 We just slather on lipsalves and chapstick, and sneak on Sudocream when she's asleep if it's really bad.

I sometimes think it's a bit of a nervous habit. But not really sure how to deal with it since there doesn't really seem to be anything specific going on 😕

Yes I think it is now partly down to habit. I'm going to sneak some blistex on a bit later when she's asleep!

She is awful for drinking water, so perhaps it could also be down to dehydration.

I used to have this a lot when I was a child. Mine was caused by constant licking and them drying out from the cold air. I used to have a big red circle of dryness around my mouth.

Cymex cold sore cream all over my lips/dry bits was the only thing that did the job.

I did this as a child too. It was only when we got really strict about putting the lip balm on throughout the day that I managed to break the cycle. As soon as it starts to dry out, put the balm on again. Go intense for a few days!

lanolin on at night might help if you put it on thick as it doesn't really lick off easily and will help to moisturise.

Thanks all. I've just sneaked some blistex on her 😂

I think I will have to be more strict about putting something on during the day too.

Just really blast it for a couple of days, maybe over the weekend when she’s not at school. It doesn’t take all that long to break the cycle enough good luck!

I use the blistex intense moisture one. That seems to be the only lip balm that really helps when I have sore lips. I don't think most lip balms do a lot. Just keep putting it on all day and keep reminding her not to do it for a few days. Must be awful been so sore, I hate sore lips!