Chapped Lips - Bothell,WA

I use lotion first--even on my kids. It doesn't taste great, but it's more moist than lip balm, and then when you put the balm on top, it's much better.

I do the same for winter elbows... my elbows always tend to dry out more in the winter, so I lotion them and then put a little vaseline on them. A week of that, and the callused skin is gone.

I'm another fan of Aquaphor. Also, drinking lots of water. If you want a lip balm, then I think that the hemp one from the Body Shop is the best around. (I'm not a hemp freak, so my recommendation doesn't have some secret agenda. I don't think hemp is some kind of miracle product. The lip balm just works great.)

We also use Aquaphor. My seven-year-old has a tendency to lick chapsticks, etc. off, which just makes the chapping worse so I usually lube him up really well after he's fallen asleep. It works wonders!

You need more water. People don't realize that they need more water when the weather is cold and slow down on their intake. Also, stop using products like Blistex, Chapstick, etc, etc. Half of their ingredients actually draw moisture out of your lips and cause more drying requiring you to keep using them. If you want a good lip balm, use an all natural one with ingredients you can read. My favorite is the one by Earth Mama Angel Baby called Mint Herbal Lip Balm. You can find others in the health food section of stores like Fred Meyers or at Whole Foods, etc. For something on hand, use olive oil with some mint leaves soaked in it to help with the smell and flavor. You can also infuse vanilla beans or other items. It is gentle all natural and affordable, most likely you have it on hand! Do not use vaseline as it is a petroleum product and with cracked and bleeding lips, it will go into your bloodstream.

My dermatologist recommended Aquaphor. I used to be a Carmex addict, but he actually told me the chemicals in Carmex dry out your lips worse than if you did nothing at all.
Since changing over I have had nothing but good luck with Aquaphor. It coats well, stays on long, and really sooths.
I have had a little problem finding it but usually have luck at Safeway.
Best of luck in the blistering winter!

Hi L.,
You're dehydrated. Very rarely do lips chap if there is enough moisture in your system. Avoid petroleum products. All they do is give a layer against the elements but toxins in the product absorb and they really don't help. Try a bee's wax base product or a lanolin oi for comfort. That's what I use.

lansinoh lanolin or aquaphore- either works really well for me and takes just a dab.

a lot of times for cracked lips you are not getting enough water, liquid. It is possible you need to try to drink more water. Some doctors say you need 8 glasses of 8 oz water per day. Others say you need 1/2 of your weight in oz of water. So if you weigh 100 lbs you need 50 oz. of water.

N.

Lansinoh works great for lips!

Old fashioned Blistex in the white tube is the Only lipbalm that works for me. I have tried and tried other things but the only thing that works is Blistex. I did breakdown and use some some face moisture one night and it did seem to help too.

My friend's family makes a mash of cocoa butter and vitamin e. Kinda hippie, but it works!

Hi L.,

I have a couple suggestions. :) 1. try a "mask" of honey. just apply and leave it for as long as you can - really heals lips well. 2. I LOVE Lip Clear Lysine Plus Ointment. It's a "technically" for cold sores but it's AMAZING for regular old use and has only natural ingredients including olive oil, calendula, goldenseal and honey.

Good luck!
T.

We had the same problem in our house every winter. I had tried everything, too! I found a "miracle" product - Aquaphor. It will fix your problem after only one day. I don't know why it works so well...but it does. You can find it at Target. You will see the tub, large tube and now they sell a small lipstick size tube. It's not by the lip balm, its found in the lotion section.

Exfoliate their lips with a wet washcloth. Apply lip balm. Teach them NOT to lick their lips, ever! Re-apply lip balm every hour, just like sunscreen. Make sure that they drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Plus put lip balm on before bed. It will stay on the longest at that point in the day, helping their lips to heal.
Good Luck!

I see it here a few times already - but Aquaphor! Aquaphor! Aquaphor! Aquaphor! That and making sure your family drinks plently of water should help.

I use Burts Bees during the day and Aquaphor at night.

I use berts bees, its all natural. But my question is, are you all drinking enough water? Dehydration can increase chapping.

The lansinoh lanolin breast cream works wonders on chapped lips/
Are you using the carmex in a tube or the tub? The stuff in the tubes always make our lips worse but the tub works. The ingredients are different.

We use Baby Kisses and love it. It is made by Bourdeaux's - the ones who make the Butt Paste. Found it at Target in the baby section. I use it all the time for me and my daughter. Works great on little kids cheeks too! Feels really good on lips.
Also love Mary Kay's lip balm(really smooth and soft) and Burt Bees.

I think most of the medicated lip balms have stuff that actually works against the moisture on your lips and makes you use more thinking it will help but they really dry your lips out.

I love the plain chapstick in the black tube. LOVE IT. I also use the Bert's Bees shimmer for color and I love it too.

You can apply lotions and chap sticks until the cows come home, but the dry winter air will suck the moisture right back out. It is important to set up a humidifier in your home to replace lost moisture in the air. Use lotions as soon as you get out of the shower and apply chap stick as needed to seal in moisture.

I also love Burt's Bees

I'm loyal to my Carmex :) Blistex Medicated works really well too. For my 3 year old I use Burt's Bees. It's the only thing that she'll let me put on. It doesn't burn like a lot of them and it's natural, so I don't worry about her licking her lips. I have REALLY dry lips so I've tried about a zillion different kinds of lip balms. The best thing is to not lick them, put lip balm on before you go outside, and stay hydrated.

I use Burt's Bee's or Kiss My Face.

The drying comes from within too thought so make sure you're all getting enough water to drink.

Carmex, Blistex, etc end up prolonging the problem. Don't use them. Try Neosporin for a while and then plain old chapstick.

The old fashioned Carmex in the little jar has always worked well for me and my daughter once the lips are chapped. Medicated chapstick works well also. I use moisture therapy from Avon everyday which helps to prevent it.

It sounds like your house may be very dry. Do you use humidifiers? Try turning down the heat a few degrees at night. Also, remember to stay hydrated and drink lots of water.

I have had good luck with Aquaphor. I have a huge tub of it and it works great on dry skin and lips. I would make sure you are slathering it on at bedtime and whenever you go outside.

Bert's bee balm--you can find it at Super supplements.

Mary Kay's Satin Lips set...it's AWESOME!

Someone told me years ago never to use medicated lip balm. That's worked for me ever since I stopped. It actually dries your lips.

My favorite is Body Shop Vitmain E lip balm.

J.