Are my lips basically ruined?! 😫

[Smutternutmosh]

Hi,

So possibly a slightly dramatic title, but my lips are soooo dry all the time!

They've been like this since I was a young teenager. Basically since I started slapping on the lip balms...but constantly! The more I used, the more I needed it and I honestly think it's ruined my lips. I'm now late 30's 😬

They're not just dry. They have this constant cycle of thick, dry skin, peeling off, then back to cratery dry skin again. Nice 👍

It doesn't matter what kind of lip balms, treatments I use. I've even tried that nipple cream (name escapes me) and I know that's very popular on here as a lip conditioner, but it just didn't really do anything. I do wear lipstick everyday, which probably isn't helping, but I feel a bit naked and plain without it. I always wear lip balm underneath though.

Any other magic suggestions? It really is driving me mad!

TIA 😊

My lips get like this when I use certain lip balms. I've found the only thing that stops the soreness is good old Vaseline.

Hi OP,

So this is going to sounds very random but trust me - try Lansinoh nipple cream. It's like Vaseline on steroids and it's very hydrating.

Before using it I'd recommend getting a cloth like the Liz Earle hot cloth (basically a thin cotton muslin), run it under hot water and gently rub it over your lips for a good few minutes - that will gently exfoliate your lips. Once dried use the Lanisoh nipple cream and keep applying it as needed. Repeat the gentle exfoliation with a hot cloth morning and night, keep up with the cream, and you'll see a big improvement.

Once under control you can switch to Vaseline. Hope that helps

I've even tried that nipple cream (name escapes me) and I know that's very popular on here as a lip conditioner, but it just didn't really do anything.

@MotherofKitties I expect that's what OP is referring to here...

Try Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream!

For me the magic lip balm is Blisteze, the little metal tube of white cream that smells medicated. Lip balms and vaseline help a little but this is the only thing that works properly.

Agreed. But first put some hylauronic acid on clean, damp lips and then follow with the 8 hour cream to trap in the moisture. 8 hour cream actually contained lansinoh so picks up earlier suggestions too

Are you sure it's not a symptom of another problem like a food allergy?

There are some ingredients in lipbalms that can cause irritation, commonly menthol. Some people also think you can become dependent on them. I've tried loads of different ones and some I thought were good (carmex) were only good if applied very, very frequently. I now use eucerin aquaphor soothing balm mainly but Elizabeth arden 8 hour cream and Vaseline are also good.

I think you need to go cold turkey on products. The more stuff I use the more I need to use. Using nothing is best. But will be horrible while you push through.

I stopped using lip balms and I stopped having sore and peeling lips. Now I just rub some of my facial moisturiser into my lips morning and evening and that keeps them happy.

Another one who swears by the Blistex relief cream in the metal tube.

I had this and discovered that I have a contact allergy to lanolin (in a lot of lipsticks and lipbalms and especially in the nipple cream) and also to sodium laurel sulphate in toothpastes. If I avoid those two ingredients I don't need lipbalm very often at all. I use the palmers cocoa butter one when I do need one, but while my lips were healing even that was irritating. So maybe try just plain vaseline and no lipstick for a while and see if that helps?

Stop using them altogether and just pop some of your moisturiser on if you really need it. Most of them 'seal in' moisture but if you have no moisture to start with its just keeping them dry.

I have the same and recently bought Laneige Lip Treatment Balm. Apply it overnight and it's totally sorted my lips in a couple of applications.

I was going to suggest the same exact one. It's a tiny little tube and I typically pay £2.99 in home and bargains and it's just magical sweet relief no monster how sore and cracked my lips are. Within 48 hours they are great.

Lip balm often just creates a barrier rather than moisturising so maybe you need to stop , exfoliate and then use something that will moisturise your lips apply lightly then clean them gently and apply if they feel sore during the day, perhaps will stop the thicker layer of skin building up. Avoid the lipstick for a bit as that’ll only stick to the dry bits and look patchy.

Do you drink enough water?

Have you tried exfoliating your lips? I found using a sugar scrub on my lips really helpful. It helped remove dry flaky bits but also left them feeling a little oily and moisturised. I can't remember what brand mine was and haven't needed it for ages now. But worth trying.

OP, products aside, are you drinking enough plain water throughout the day? That really makes a difference.

I was like that then I drank lots of water it sorted it right out

@Snoken

Snap!

My lips are in a bad way. I was allergic to lansinoh cream. I can't wear certain lipsticks (really itchy). Toothpaste burns my mouth and makes lips go bright red, sore. I get peeling and dry skin. Gentle exfoliation with a scrub and toothbrush helps (beautician advice). Vaseline I'm ok with so I put that on frequently. I have SPF for my lips too. Scalp also has similar problems (food allergy related).

The two things that have sorted mine were 1) discovering Medicated Chapstick (no longer sold in the UK but you can buy it online). I bulk buy it. It's the only one that actually does anything for mine
2) realising that eating soya lecithin and palm fats makes my mouth and lips sore

I use a lip scrub followed by aldis knock off of Elizabeth Arden's miracle cream never fails

Blisteze - it's a miracle in a tiny tube. It's the only thing that works for me - forget balms, they are useless (and I've tried just about every single one on the market over the years)