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Original poster

Are my lips basically ruined?! 😫

200 replies

Smutternutmosh · 01/02/2023 10:41

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 😊

OP posts:
NewToRenting · 01/02/2023 12:38

OP I have not read the full thread, but I could have written your post. I've had severely dry chapped lips all my life. So I have tried all sorts of things, including changing toothpastes, and home remedies, various lip balms, chapsticks, ointments, creams, ghee, butter etc etc. At one point only medicated Blistex worked, then that also stopped being effective. A couple of years ago the dryness started spreading around my lips on to the facial skin. Different dermatologists had different diagnoses...fungal infection, cheilitis, dermatitis/ eczema...until one finally managed to sort it out.
Today I am reasonably comfortable. I use ONLY plain Vaseline on my lips, multiple times through the day. I don't work full time so can get away with sparing use of lipstick, but I've found that the Clinique chubby stick is the kindest. My lips are still dry but not peeling, and the skin around my mouth is healthy.
I hope you find what suits you best!

EllieM27 · 01/02/2023 12:39

Dramaalpacas · 01/02/2023 11:45

Its the Lipstick drying out your lips not the lip balm. If you must use it can you try a tinted lip balm or a lip gloss?

@Smutternutmosh ^ This is the answer. It happened to me too and is worse in the winter.

Stop the lipstick altogether and get a good moisturizer to apply to your lips before bed each night. Leave your lips bare/alone as much as possible during the day unless you’re out in the wind or something. If you absolutely must have something with color, get a product like the Dior Addict Lip Glow balm which is really moisturizing. And yes, drink lots of water! I managed to get my lips back to normal by doing this and haven’t gone back to standard lipstick since. It wrecks my lips!

Cremeeggeater · 01/02/2023 12:39

I would say just natural oils like almond works for me, or even just eating a really oily meal like KFC helps my lips not be so dry 😂

GloomyDarkness · 01/02/2023 12:40

Try coconut oil in the evening before bed. It's a cure-all!

Some of DS scalp treatments - he's had issue with huge flakes worse during stressful times like exams - have had or been coconut oil - made it all massively worse.

OP I'd try getting soem medical advice - but also work though what made it worse in case it's some common ingredients you are reacting to as well.

AllOutofEverything · 01/02/2023 12:40

I too got this when I used lip balms. Stopped using them and only apply a little bit of vaseline if they are especially dry, and they are way better.

AllOutofEverything · 01/02/2023 12:41

And expensive lip balms were the worse for me.

drivingavanbacknorth · 01/02/2023 12:42

I agree with pp saying Vaseline.

dudsville · 01/02/2023 12:42

I'd suggest 2 things, try to reduce the frequency of use, and track whether it's worse during certain times of your cycle. I've used lip balm since about aged 10 when my mum finally got tired of my bloody cracked, itching, peeling/flaking lips. Only carmex works for me. But i did learn pretty quick to never, ever lick my lips,and to limit my use to a few times a day. However, in the lead up to a period the problem worsens and I'm back to the lips of my youth, sometimes "scratching" them with an exfoliating Glove.

pattihews · 01/02/2023 12:44

GloomyDarkness · 01/02/2023 12:40

Try coconut oil in the evening before bed. It's a cure-all!

Some of DS scalp treatments - he's had issue with huge flakes worse during stressful times like exams - have had or been coconut oil - made it all massively worse.

OP I'd try getting soem medical advice - but also work though what made it worse in case it's some common ingredients you are reacting to as well.

No, no! I had terribly dry skin a few years ago and was recommended coconut oil and it made it much, much worse. La Roche Posay intensive moisturiser sorted out the dried, cracked lizard-skin effect that coconut oil caused.

35965a · 01/02/2023 12:44

I agree with others saying sometimes it’s your toothpaste. I think if there’s too much SLS it strips the skin off! I also think lip balms make my lips worse as well, so I just put my moisturiser on them when I do my face, it seems to keep them well.

If they’re really bad I agree you should see a doctor in case you’ve had an infection there.

35965a · 01/02/2023 12:45

Also exfoliating them with a sugar scrub too - only once they’ve healed up a bit though.

qwertykeyboards · 01/02/2023 12:45

EspeciallyDetermined · 01/02/2023 11:14

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

This x100!

I suffered with exactly what you are describing for about a year. I used this and applied multiple times a day for a good few months and now my lips are back to normal.

LynneBenfield · 01/02/2023 12:47

NotLovingWFH · 01/02/2023 10:59

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.

Same. The metal tube of Blistex is the one for me, I was gutted when they temporarily discontinued it and thrilled to bits when they brought it back and hadn’t messed with the formulation.

I don’t get on with lanolin based lip products at all, they make my lips worse. I think I’m sensitive to it. The occlusive or waxy types like Vaseline or Nivea sticks are fine so long as I have something moisturise underneath.

Favouritefruits · 01/02/2023 12:54

Go cold Turkey, just apply a thin layer of olive oil if absolutely necessary,p.

littlestrawberryhat · 01/02/2023 13:01

Couple of suggestions- every winter I would suffer this horrendous cycle of lips cracking and peeling and growing back, often too tightly so they would split when i was talking, really really horrible. I now SWEAR by the nuxe honey lipbalm in a little pot. I havent had it since....however, if you are in mid splitting cycle have you tried a hydrocortisone cream? Could it possibly be more of a fungal infection (this is what mine turned out to be, a tube of steroid ointment over the counter at boots totally cured it within a couple of days). Few things for you to think about! x

Ooshie · 01/02/2023 13:05

Definitely go cold turkey, stop using any products on your lips and push through. The more I used lip balms the more dependent I was on them. Drink lots of water and go cold turkey.

HareAndBear · 01/02/2023 13:05

HaroldsWilly · 01/02/2023 10:57

Try Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream!

😁 She said dry, not frozen!

LynneBenfield · 01/02/2023 13:07

littlestrawberryhat · 01/02/2023 13:01

Couple of suggestions- every winter I would suffer this horrendous cycle of lips cracking and peeling and growing back, often too tightly so they would split when i was talking, really really horrible. I now SWEAR by the nuxe honey lipbalm in a little pot. I havent had it since....however, if you are in mid splitting cycle have you tried a hydrocortisone cream? Could it possibly be more of a fungal infection (this is what mine turned out to be, a tube of steroid ointment over the counter at boots totally cured it within a couple of days). Few things for you to think about! x

Steroid creams don’t treat fungal infections, you need an anti fungal to do that. I wouldn’t be putting hydrocortisone on already thin skin like lips either as it can cause problems with thinning of skin.

WarriorsComeOutToPlayaaay · 01/02/2023 13:08

OP I was the same as you. Tried everything recommended on these boards. The absolute winner is Nuxe (in the pot not the stick). It blows everything else out of the water (including the nipple cream!). Please do try it, it is my desert island product as before I used it I couldn’t even smile in winter without my lips cracking and bleeding. It was awful. This fixed them so well. Now I barely even need to use the Nuxe, perhaps once a fortnight if that.

haironmychin · 01/02/2023 13:10

Slightly dramatic. What does your gp say?

SpeckledlyHen · 01/02/2023 13:16

Snoken · 01/02/2023 11:22

Do you drink enough water?

This. With proper hydration from the inside you shouldn't really need lipsalve. I notice the more dehydrated I get the more lip salve I need to use. Also, I think unless you are out in all weathers for hours on end then there should be no need. Water, water, water..

Rainbow1901 · 01/02/2023 13:17

Wilburisagirl · 01/02/2023 11:22

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.

Using a toothbrush gently on your lips also does this and helps to remove the dry flaky bits.

WillowKnicks · 01/02/2023 13:17

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

That's the only thing that works for me & I can't be without it!

Cityzen74 · 01/02/2023 13:18

Smutternutmosh · 01/02/2023 10:41

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 😊

I can only use blistex on my lips. Everything else, even plain vaseline, makes them really dry. Sending sympathies

kitsuneghost · 01/02/2023 13:22

Lush lip scrub is magic