Your lip balm may be by secretly destroying your lips – that’s why

Welcome to question Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week, Dr. Zac Turner explains how lip balm can damage the lips.

Question: Hey Dr Zac, I’m addicted to lip balm. I apply it at least 10 times a day – before breakfast, after brushing my teeth, before I go out, when I get inside, and in front of the bed. If I forget it at home, my whole day is destroyed. I have heard that using the lipstick can often make lips dry. Have I created a problem for myself? Can you really come with bip with bip ?? â € ”Milly, 28, Perth

Reply: Dear Milly, you are not absolutely alone. I was a serial user of the balm -there was one in every pocket, every bag, the handle box, the gym closet -I was basically the version of the lipstick of Mary Poppins.

So let’s clear something clear: the lip balm is not chemically addictive, but the habit? This is another story. What you are likely to develop is a loop of behavior – your lips feel dry, you apply balm, you get immediate relief â € ¦ Then your lips feel dry again. And repeat.

Your lips are slightly high compared to the rest of your skin. They have no oil glands, which means they cannot moisturize themselves. They are also constantly exposed – in the wind, sun, spicy food, Aircon, you name it. They are fully relying on outside aid to stay hydrated.

But here is the kicker: not all lip balm are useful. Some create what we call rebound dryness. They calm down for a moment, but then actually dry the lips with time. Likes how to write your ex after some drinks – feels good for a second, but always end up regretting it.

Much of the problem comes down to the ingredients. Menthol, camphor and phenol can feel delightful and tired, but they are actually irritating. Aromas and flavorings are entertaining, safe, but they are also a leading cause of allergic reactions. And salicylic acid? Excellent for a acne, not so great when it is cleaning your lips in oblivion.

Even the oil jelly, when used alone, can fall short. It is blocked in moisture, yes – but if your lips are already dry and glowing, all that closes is â € ¦ Flame. You want something that hydrates and protects.

Really important to read the ingredients of your lip balm – and immediately switch to these alternatives recommended by your doctor. Go for balsams with ceramides, which help repair your skin barrier. Shea Butter, Lanolin, bees “they” they are being fed and soft. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid attracts moisture to your skin and help keep it there. Yes, lips can burn – so if your balm does not have SPF, it is essentially letting your lips mature like the contestants in the survivor.

Now, let’s talk about the so -called “Balm Detox.” Some people go to cold turkey for 48 hours to break the habit. It can work, especially if your lips are not too damaged. That is to say, if your lips are cracked, bleeding or peeling, throwing balm completely can worsen things. Infection is a real danger and no one wants to end up explaining it to a chemist on Monday morning.

Instead, switch to a spicy balm, rich in pottery and limited use several times a day, after meal and in front of bed is ideal. Drink a lot of water, too. Dehydration often appears on your lips before anywhere else.

If things do not yet improve, it’s worth checking with your doctor. You can deal with a form of cheilitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the lips. It can be allergic, fungi, bacterial – or simply the result of linking your lips very often (a strangely common habit in winter and during stressful magnification meetings).

At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. Lip balm supervision can damage your skin barrier and leave you hanging. Its subsidiary can lead to painful, cracked lips and even sun damage. The goal is not to throw your balm into the bin – is to use it wisely.

So Milly, keep your balm-but choose what is soft, moisturizing and spicy. Use it several times a day. Think about it as your skin routine, or your love to marry at first glance can be comforting. Many? A sliding slope.

Your lips deserve care – not chaos.